Westcott Folding Parallel Ruler, 18", Clear (1500-18)

The Westcott Folding Parallel Ruler, 18", Clear (1500-18) is a navigation tool that has received a mix of positive and negative reviews from customers. The overall reception of the product highlights its durability and usefulness for sailors and chart navigation, but there are some concerns about its functionality and design. One customer found the device to be stiff, making it frustrating to use when walking a route to the compass rose. They suggest using WD40 to ease the stiffness. However, another customer found the quality of the materials to be excellent and praised the product for being a valuable backup to their Hummingbird GPS when plotting their course for fishing. A common complaint among reviews is the issue with the aluminum links bending easily. While the overall quality and function of the ruler are good, users need to be careful when using it to avoid misalignment due to bent links. One customer suggests that using stainless steel links would have been a simple improvement to address this issue. Some customers mention that the joints of the ruler might be a bit loose, but it still serves its purpose and is especially helpful for large format charts. However, there are concerns about the edges not always being parallel to each other, leading to some play in the hinges. This lack of precision in parallel lines may impact accuracy when using the ruler for measurements and navigation. One customer even suggests that this issue might have affected their performance in a sailing certification exam. In conclusion, the Westcott Folding Parallel Ruler, 18", Clear (1500-18) is generally regarded as a reliable navigation tool for sailors who use charts. It has some durability and functional issues, such as stiffness, easily bent aluminum links, loose joints, and imprecise parallel edges. These drawbacks should be taken into Consideration before purchasing.