FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Ordering, Payment, and Shipping

You can pay with PayPal or major credit/debit cards using the secure PayPal gateway.

We offer two shipping options:

  • EMS — provided at no extra shipping cost.
  • FedEx — available at a flat rate of 35 USD.

We usually ship the next working day after receiving your order. Delivery times are approximately 10–14 days with EMS and 4–5 days with FedEx.

Yes. Any products shown as “in stock” on our website are available and ready for immediate shipping.

We ship from Taiwan, where all of our devices are manufactured.

Please visit the Products page, choose your desired device, select a color (if applicable), and tap the Add to Cart button. Then proceed to checkout, where available shipping options will be presented.

Yes. All transactions are securely processed through PayPal, and we never share your personal data.

Batteries

Yes. High‑quality Panasonic AA or AAA batteries are included (where applicable).

A leaking battery can cause irreparable damage to the electronic device. Always use high‑quality alkaline batteries and avoid brands known to be prone to leakage. We recommend Panasonic Evolta batteries for use in our devices.

High‑quality batteries last about 1 year for the SB‑42, up to 1 year for the NB‑42 (depending on how often the sound alarm is triggered), up to 6 months for the SWR‑1, and 6 or more months for the MT‑11. Battery life also depends on ambient temperature and the specific operating mode of the device.

Steamrock devices are designed for maximum power efficiency, so high‑quality alkaline batteries provide reliable performance without the need for frequent replacement. Alkaline batteries are also safer than lithium rechargeables, which is especially important on boats where fire risk must be minimized. Installation is clean and simple—no wires, chargers, or cables are required. Unlike rechargeables, which have a limited lifespan and eventually lose capacity, alkaline batteries remain dependable and easy to replace. For these reasons, we recommend alkaline batteries as the most practical, safe, and efficient choice for our devices.

SB-42 V3 Digital Barometer

The Steamrock SB‑42 V3 Barometer can display atmospheric pressure in mb, hPa, and inHg.

The high‑quality alkaline batteries in the Steamrock SB‑42 Digital Barometer last for about one year.

NB-42 Advanced Digital Barometer

The Steamrock NB‑42 Barometer can display atmospheric pressure in hPa and inHg.

The high‑quality alkaline batteries in the Steamrock NB‑42 Digital Barometer can last up to one year.

The Steamrock NB‑42 Barometer offers four alarms:

  • Upper pressure alarm: Triggers when atmospheric pressure rises to or above the selected threshold.
  • Lower pressure alarm: Triggers when atmospheric pressure falls to or below the selected threshold.
  • Rising and falling trend alarms: One of these two alarms will trigger when the anticipated 3‑hour pressure change (based on the previous 1‑hour history) exceeds the selected upper or lower threshold.

SWR-1 Sea Wave Recorder

Yes. The Steamrock SWR‑1 Sea Wave Recorder displays wind wave and swell data separately on the graph.

The high‑quality alkaline batteries in the Steamrock SWR‑1 Sea Wave Recorder can last up to six months, depending on how intensive the boat’s motion is.

The Steamrock SWR‑1 Sea Wave Recorder can display wave height in meters and feet.

MT-11 Precision Moon Tracker

Yes. The Steamrock MT‑11 Precision Moon Tracker calculates and predicts both partial and full moon eclipses, including the date and precise time of the eclipse’s maximum.

GL-57 GNSS Data Backup Logger

The Steamrock GL-57 is a standalone device without data export connectivity. However, it stores the most recent data set in its internal memory and automatically prints it once power is restored or a malfunction is resolved. Additionally, each hourly printed report includes a smartphone-readable QR code containing all the data for that hour.

Yes, a high-quality active GNSS antenna (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo) is included.

Barometer Knowledge Base

While modern satellite internet and GRIB files provide sophisticated weather forecasts, they are still just computer-generated models based on past data. For a sailor, the barometer is the ultimate "reality check." It provides real-time, local observations that a distant satellite model might miss or lag behind.
Atmospheric pressure changes indicate the actual movement of weather systems currently surrounding your boat. By tracking these live trends, a skipper can predict wind shifts, gale-force conditions, and storm fronts hours before they appear on the horizon.
Even in the age of high-tech forecasting, a computer model cannot completely replace the reliability of on-board instruments. The barometer acts as your primary "early warning system," providing the critical lead time needed to reef sails, secure gear, or head for shelter—decisions based on the weather that is actually happening at your masthead, not just what was predicted in a forecast.

While a traditional analog barometer only shows you the pressure at this exact moment, a digital barograph records a continuous history of that pressure over time.
For sailors and weather enthusiasts, the digital barograph is the superior tool for several reasons:
  • The Trend is Key: Weather prediction relies on whether pressure is rising or falling. A digital barograph visualizes this tendency on a clear graph, whereas an analog dial requires you to manually set a needle and wait hours to see a change.
  • Precision & Alerts: Analog barometers lack the ability to sound an alarm. Digital models like Steamrock NB-42 provide high-precision data and programmable storm alarms to alert you the moment a front approaches.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) uses a standardized set of symbols to describe how atmospheric pressure has changed over the last three hours. On a Steamrock barograph, these symbols provide an instant "weather shorthand" to help you understand the current trend.
Here is how to interpret the most common symbols:
  • Rising: A line angled upward indicates pressure is increasing. This generally signals improving weather and clearer skies.
  • Falling: A line angled downward indicates pressure is decreasing. This is often a sign of approaching wind, rain, or a storm front.
  • Steady: A horizontal line means the pressure is stable. This indicates consistent weather conditions for the time being.
  • Falling, then Rising (V-shape): This "trough" symbol is critical for sailors; it often marks the exact moment a cold front or the center of a low-pressure system has passed over your position.
  • Rising, then Falling (Inverted V): This indicates a passing ridge of high pressure, often followed by a change in wind direction.

Why these symbols matter:
While the graph shows you the "big picture" over 84 hours, the WMO symbol focuses on the immediate three-hour window. If you see a "Falling Rapidly" symbol, it’s a direct prompt to check your GRIB files and prepare the boat for a potential shift in conditions.

For the best accuracy, we recommend calibrating your barometer once a year against a trusted, professional weather station. Many sailors perform this calibration before the start of the sailing season or before a major offshore passage.

A significant change is measured by the pressure tendency (the rate of change over a three-hour window). 
  • Higher Latitudes (e.g., Europe/North America): In these regions, a drop of 3 hPa (0.09 inHg) or more within 3 hours is a major red flag, typically indicating an approaching gale-force front or a deep low-pressure system.
  • The Tropics: Predicting changes here is more nuanced due to "atmospheric tides"—a natural daily cycle where pressure rises and falls twice a day. In the tropics, a significant change is any movement that deviates from this regular "tidal" pattern.
  • The "Rule of 12": Regardless of your location, a sustained drop of 12 hPa over 12 hours is a universal signal of severe weather.

Monitoring a barometric pressure drop is a vital part of a storm warning. By observing the Steamrock NB-42 or SB-42 84-hour graph, you can easily see if a pressure change is just a normal atmospheric tide or the start of a dangerous, sustained "cliff" that requires immediate action.

Support

Please refer to the Downloads section of the Steamrock website.

Please refer to the Downloads section of the Steamrock website, or search for them in the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Yes. Our apps are completely free and require no subscription fees.

Please contact us, and we will help you regardless of whether the warranty has expired or not.