Best (affordable) wind indicator

doug748,
Is that the rotavecta unit? Is it accurate?
Regards.

I would strongly suggest avoiding the rotavecta on a sailboat, we had one and although the speed seems to read well, i think the heading is just too hit and miss. Ended up replacing with an ST60 (secondhand) which was still expensive, but i have to say is brilliant with the closehauld display too....do we need it over a bit of string, probably not, but it is nice to have for sure, we probably shouldnt, but all the crew look at it all the time.
 
St Piran's cross burgee (as kindly found by the forum) on a proper bamboo staff does it for me for sailing-the-boat purposes. Must admit though that a numerical readout of windspeed would be interesting from a curiosity point of view. I have no trouble relating the strength of wind I feel to the amount of canvas required, but I'm rubbish at putting a figure (or even a Beaufort force) on it.

If I did start getting involved with electronics I'd be going for one of the ultrasonic sensors, eg http://www.svbeatrix.com/Refit/BeatrixMasthead.php . As well as having no moving parts to break, it's also less visually obtrusive (especially if painted brown) on my old-fashioned masthead than what the previous owner described as "damn whirly things".

Pete
 
doug748,
Is that the rotavecta unit? Is it accurate?
Regards.

As I don't think I have ever managed to calibrate it properly, all I can say is the windspeed and the direction seem steady and consistent in most conditions.
If you look at the photo of the display I think you will agree it is not designed for fancy sail trimming. Within the confines of what it does it seems ok.
 
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