? about measuring

[tashak]

I've got a yardstick, an old 25' tape measure somewhere, and two different measuring problems, and need suggestions. My plots vary from fairly narrow long rectangles to small circular basins scattered along the two sides and center front of my acre.

1) What is the easiest way to measure the separate plots, other than rough eyeballing them?

2) Any easy way to measure distance between widely separated plots?

Currently toying with idea of knots every ten feet in a skein of yarn wound around an old fishing reel...suggestions welcome, please....

[TennOC]

Any good hardware dept will have a 100 ft tape. It comes in a flat roll-shaped box, maybe 3/4 inch thick by 5 inches diameter. You hook the end (it has a hook) on something and walk to the other end, then it cranks back in- simple. Costs maybe 5-6 bucks. If you don't want to buy anything new, the knots would work, but it would be a little less accurate. I've had the 100 ft tape for 20+ yrs, used it a bunch. Well worth it if you own a big yard/acreage.

[TennOC]

ok, just realized the price mightta gone up in 20 yrs, lol.

[donsgal]

I've got a yardstick, an old 25' tape measure somewhere, and two different measuring problems, and need suggestions. My plots vary from fairly narrow long rectangles to small circular basins scattered along the two sides and center front of my acre.

1) What is the easiest way to measure the separate plots, other than rough eyeballing them?

2) Any easy way to measure distance between widely separated plots?

Currently toying with idea of knots every ten feet in a skein of yarn wound around an old fishing reel...suggestions welcome, please....

That's kinda how surveyors did it before all this dang technology crept in. Except they used a chain that was marked off every so many feet. In surveying "chain" was an actual measurement because after awhile the distance became standardized.

I would use something other than yarn though, because I don't think it would stand up to a couple of good yanks. Got any of that "spiderwire" fishing line? That stuff is indistructable. Otherwise I would maybe get some really strong sewing thread ("upholstery") at W-M and tie little pieces of cloth every ten feet or so. I think it would be better than yarn.

donsgal

[winter_unfazed]

If you're trying to square off, you can use a 3-4-5 or 13-15-17 right triangle.

[johno]

Most rope or string will sag and stretch, reducing accuracy. The 100' tape is your best bet if you are freaky about precision (like me,) otherwise, stepping the distances off is the landscapers' method. Mark ten of your steps and measure the distance between them, divide by ten and multply by whatever the number of steps is from A to B... Alternatively, learn to step three feet at a time.