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That's a bummer about the loss of time.  You must have had a manuscript policy that provided coverage for the docks. 

For outdoor measurements, I use logger's tape since it covers 300' easily and can reel in quickly with its big lever.  Plus, the tape is vinyl and you don't have to worry about it rusting over time.  While the wheel is quick, I don't trust its accuracy since everytime it hits a bump, your accuracy decreases.

For indoor measurements, I have a Disto made by Leica.  If you are lucky, you can find the Fat Max laser in Home Depot which measures up to 100'.  Last I saw, it costs about $100.  The Leica I have is an older model and I beleive the cost increased to $450.  They have a smaller model that doesn't measure as far, but is more compact and costs around $300.

Hilti also makes a laser device and makes a fine addition to your toolbox.  One particularly novel feature to look for with any laser device is the pythagorean theorem.  This feature allows you to measure dimensions that are simply out of reach.

Important: If you find the Fat Max, make sure it is the laser type and not the sonic.  The sonic one is a peice of crap.  If you haven't already, you will later hear of vendors that send adjusters home caught using them.

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Will wade into this discussion with this comment.

I purchased my first Disto Lazer measuring device in 1998, in VA. It was stolen from my car the second day. I bought another the enxt day and still have it. It works fine.

If you use the sight glass and the red glasses you can read almost 300 Meters with it, or use the accumulation function to add or subtract the total.

IMHO there is nothing better, yet.

Tom surprised me with the Disto Classic 5, in 04.  I had told him for years that I didn't need the expense of a Disto and was happy using tapes.  After one day of using the Disto, I realized that it was worth every cent.  I especially like the lighted display screen.  It's great when there is no power. 

I've only encountered one problem with the Disto.  My Classic 5 will not give me a reading when shooting to a black object.  Has anyone else encountered this?

Dave,

I wasn't clear in my above post.  It's not that it won't give me a reading, but it gives me an error.

Anyone else?

Janice

Janice,

I hung a black terry cloth towel over my back fence.  From the back of my house to the fence was 129 ft 11 inches.  When I moved the red dot to the black towel, I got  a blinking question mark in the upper left screen.  I also get the number 255 which indicates a weak return signal.  Earlier in the day, I was getting an occasional correct reading when holding the A5 steady against the corner of my house and holding the button down while it beeped, getting a min/max reading.  That was against a dark blue towel and during daylight as opposed to the black towel after the sun went down.

I left the A5 in our linen closet while looking for a black towel.  It took us 30 minutes to find it after my wife retrieved the black towel from the trailer :-)

Randy Cox

Randy,

You're getting the same thing with the black towel that I get when shooting to anything black.  It not only happens outdoors, but interiors as well.  Hasn't been much help to me in a fire claim when everything is black.

Janice