are you happy with your NASA wind instruments?

Burnham Bob

Burnham Bob

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I may be in the market for a new set of wind instruments. I was told at the boatshow by one of the dealers that they sell lots of NASA wind instruments and don't get any more complaints than they get with other makes.

Bearing in mind that all my other NASA stuff has been okay, I'm wondering if the bad reports NASA get on here are just because we all whinge when things go wrong, but the vast majority who are happy remain silent.

Rather than tell me how poor your NASA set has been, is there anyone out there using NASA wind instruments who is quite happy with them?
 
I'm not going to go there (you asked me not to), but I would say that in my experience NASA kit without moving parts is excellent value and does what it should (although you hear some criticism of their manuals and software on some items such as their SSB receiver).
 
I am happy with all the insrtuments.........BUT the cups on the wind speed blew/broke off after 11 years, that's not bad and now the the wind direction indicator at the mast head has cracked after 12 years. new one on the way.

Very good and a happy chappie.

Peter
 
I've had NASA instruments on 3 boats and been quite satisfied with them except for the wind indicator's masthead unit which hasn't lasted long - my boat is overwintered ashore in an exposed location and it's not uncommon for masthead units not to survive the winter, including more expensive brands than NASA. Now I manage with just a simple Windex, or it may be a Hawk, can't remember. I don't need any electronics to tell me when I need to reef :o
 
I strongly suggest you

A, question that salesmans' parentage

B, have a look at the many, many past threads here on NASA wind kit.

I have to disagree with the comment that their stuff with no moving parts is fine; I was going to agree as my Clipper Depth is fine, then I remembered their Navtex, which lasted so briefly I'd forgotten I ever had one, and the chandlery - the excellent Marine Superstore at Port Solent - seemed to be expecting me back !
 
Hi All, slight drift but I posted my clipper depth/log unit to Nasa on thursday for testing and repair, early on Friday morning received a call from Nasa to inform me they had already replaced the damaged screen with a secondhand one and tested the unit and no faults were evident, the speed in which they had turned this around was surprising also finding no faults more so as i could not reset any functions however the caller was adamant that the unit was okay in all respects .the costs of £29-00 inclusive of reposting was way below my expectations. I have my doubts that this will work okay when refitted my finger are firmly crossed I might be pleasantly surprised. QUOTE=Seajet;4073486]I strongly suggest you

A, question that salesmans' parentage

B, have a look at the many, many past threads here on NASA wind kit.

I have to disagree with the comment that their stuff with no moving parts is fine; I was going to agree as my Clipper Depth is fine, then I remembered their Navtex, which lasted so briefly I'd forgotten I ever had one, and the chandlery - the excellent Marine Superstore at Port Solent - seemed to be expecting me back ![/QUOTE]
 
For the first year the wind speed under read considerably
Next year it worked ok
Third year bearing went & the 1 mm pin moved splitting the plastic in the sender
I stripped it, rebuilt the broken plastic with epoxy, inserted a 2mm bolt for a spindle
Works perfectly now but one wonders why it did not work from the start & why it fell apart
 
I once had a bit of trouble with a NASA wind unit but I think (on reflection) it was due to corrosion in the deck plug for the signal wires. Then a clumsy crane operator removed the anemometer spindle and cups for me.

I removed what was left from my boat and the boat was much the better for it. Seriously, if you want to know what the wind is doing (on a cruising boat, anyway), look all around you, look at the sails, listen to your boat, consider the angle of heel, look all around you again. A Hawk / Windex or whatever can be useful on a run, but on a cruising boat that's all you need. And you need to be looking all around, not be eyes-down into a display.

Racing may be different.
 
No I removed mine, never knew whether it was telling the truth or not, seemed to me to be very unreliable, fitted a Windex instead...
 
blackbeard said:
I once had a bit of trouble with a NASA wind unit but I think (on reflection) it was due to corrosion in the deck plug for the signal wires. Then a clumsy crane operator removed the anemometer spindle and cups for me.

I removed what was left from my boat and the boat was much the better for it. Seriously, if you want to know what the wind is doing (on a cruising boat, anyway), look all around you, look at the sails, listen to your boat, consider the angle of heel, look all around you again. A Hawk / Windex or whatever can be useful on a run, but on a cruising boat that's all you need. And you need to be looking all around, not be eyes-down into a display.

Racing may be different.
Click to expand...
Handy at night though
 
I only ever fitted a ( NASA ) wind instrument in the first place as it had been a gift and I felt obliged.

After much grief, and expense when I foolishly tried another ( partly to fill the space on the bulkhead ! ) I binned the lot, went back to Windex and wool telltales on the shrouds, much happier.

As for windspeed, I know how frightened I am...
 
I have had a NASA Target 2 wind for 7 years and have been out in all weather 'all year round' without any problems, I broke the wind cup but at a replacement for £12.50 who's complaining ! not me!!

Also have NASA Depth gauge, also workes well for 7 years.

Mike
 
Know nothing about NASA, the boat I bought has Raymarine...

Its biggest use, convincing SWMBO its a good time to reef look at the wind speed...n Looks its blowing 20 knots now, its a bit windy for the light weight no 1 :o

I would be quite happy without although I think SWMBO would be spending allot more in sails....
 
blackbeard said:
Well, you would think so, but I have never had a problem at night. You can feel what the boat is doing, and the Hawk is generally visible in the light from the tri. If all else fails there's the torch in your pocket.
Click to expand...

I do not have a tri & constantly shining lights from torch does not help night vis
Plus the obligatory crick in the neck does not help
 
pcatterall said:
Very happy 2 years no probs.
Click to expand...

I'd be a bit more relaxed if you were saying 15 years and no problems!

From what I have seen the bit that would concern me is the whirlgig at the top of the mast. The Raymarine and similar that I have had have all been serviceable with new bearings, seals etc is needed after a decade or so. I dont get the impression that the Nasa one works like that. The electronics bit OTOH will likely be as good as anyone else's
 
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