Best masthead wind indicator for 33 footer

[Tim O]

Hi

Any strong preferences on a masthead wind indicator for a 33 foot boat (Colvic Countess ketch)?

Ive got a Nasa Clipper speed/direction unit up there but (apart from the fact that the direction vane is jammed!!) i prefer seeing a vane rather than looking at a display unit - call me old-fashioned I find it just more direct and intuitive to use.

So...anyone got any thoughts on the best make - ease of fitting, reliability, robustness, clarity etc....seems to boil down to the following:

Windex 15"
Holt Nautos
Great Hawk

 

[Tranona]

Had good service out of both Windex and a Hawk , latter as part of a vhf antenna. However, all are vulnerable to birds, wind damage or damage when taking the mast down so care is needed. Size of boat is irrelevant when choosing one as they are all a similar size!

 

[savageseadog]

Hawk or Windex as already stated

 

[William_H]

I made my own and it has lasted a long time. The vane itself is made of carbon fibre cloth laid out on a flat surface that will release like polythene or cling wrap. The tail fin is just one layer but the fuselage is made up of several layers. The tail fin can have an area below the level of the fuselage to aid balance. (Stop it toppling) Polyester resin is good being resistant to sun damage and a bit of white resin gives it a colour. At a point about 2/3 from the nose I laid in a piece of bras or ss tubing about 15mm long that makes up the bearing. When all hard yu can add some lead to the nose to get balance.
The mast consists of a piece of SS rod about 3mm in diameter. Small enough to go through the bearing with a bit of free play. It is clamped to the side of the mast top with 2 pieces of ss plate ie screws each side of the mast. 2 plates one at top and one about 50mm down. I use 2 bits of brass tubing out of chocolate block connector to make a stop one above the pointer and one below. 2 screws in the connector tube keep it in place.
There are no guides for 45 degrees as in bought ones but this does not bother me my main use being to indicate a gybe is imminent.

 

[doug748]

This is the strongest I ever had:

http://www.compass24.com/deck/rigging/wind-indicators/91926/wind-indicator?ffRefKey=8EpplToPr

All stainless steel and the support rod is solid bar! Heavy though and not that sophisticated or sensitive.

Otherwise, Hawk for me, I have had a number of broken Windex jobs. For some odd reason they all seem to lose a chunk of the vane at the rear.