Dogs & Logs, Logs & Dogs...

[Guest]

The boat has only been in the water a couple of weeks and already the log/speed impellor is weeded up and not working. Is this a record? Once I have completed the rather alarming ingress of water proceedure with the blank etc what is the best way to thoroughly clean the paddle-wheel and possibly ensure it stays clean? Ta.

 

[stretch33]

Mine as well, though l cant beat two weeks. Don't think there is any magic treatment, just have to do what your doing i'm afraid. I always give mine a quick squirt of WD40 but it makes no difference. Runs smooth as a babys bum until it goes back in its hole.

 

[VMALLOWS]

Just give up on it! My impeller has broken off, and I'm certainly not replacing it. The log has always been more trouble than it was worth, and there's no way I would ever have trusted it for navigation. (not named for libel reasons!).

Rely on the GPS for speed over ground, and work your tidal offsets from the tide atlas...easier that way around!.

(stand by for................)

 

[chippie]

I have to agree with the previous poster. I have a sumlog type cable driven speedo and log and having broken a new cable have decided not to repair it again , and will just rely on my GPS.

 

[extravert]

When the GPS goes wrong (like the log) what do you do then?

 

[chippie]

Fair comment, The point I was making is that it is silly to keep replacing stuff that has a habit of breaking. My cable driven speedo is intolerant of the high(ish) speeds I have achieved in my trimaran.
I might replace it with an impeller type when the refit comes up, but am starting to have my doubts after seeing so many postings about thier shortcomings. After all, if a piece of kit is not reliable there is not much point in having it.
Lately I have been only daysailing so its a fairly academic question.
On coastal voyages I plot a course on a paper chart which at least records the progress and speed up to the most recent entry. My Garmin handheld is disgustingly reliable (so far)

Cheers.

 

[gerryl]

I had the same problem - mine is a Raytheon ST60 - with a removeable paddlewheel unit. Always clogged up, and I had to clean it before each trip. What worked for me is to give it a really good clean then spray liberally with that Teflon spray you use for mast tracks, hatch sliders etc. My boat went back in the water mid March, and I havent had any problems with the log so far....
Hope this helps

 

[WayneS]

Most logs come with a plug to fit in the skin fitting. Why not just take it out at the end of the weekend and plug the hole with said plug. Next weekend, reverse the process.

According to my calculations, this will not require any extra work when compared to a same day removal, clean and replace.

I am on a drying mooring and this is what I do.

Wayne

 

[VMALLOWS]

Either guess, if Im going at a reasonable speed, or use a chip-log if I'm just drifting along. Either would be at least as accurate as my (now totally defunct) paddle wheel log.

 

[rogerm]

While agreeing that the GPS seems so easy compared to the kerfufel of keeping the log going I think it is worth saying 'You do antifoul it don't you?' Use the hard racing A/F on the inpellor itself...

As I don't have one of these (but would really like one....) if you have a flap on the through hull bit I assume it would be possible to retract the unit after each sail without having to fully remove it? I assume this would stop all the nasties getting to it. Of course you would have to remember.....
Roger

 

[chas]

My mooring is in an area near some mussel beds and they play havoc with the paddle wheel. I have found that a liberal smearing with vaseline extends the cleaning period from about one week to two.

 

[yoda]

I believe that Navman (Plastimo) make a stern mounted transducer for their logs, now if you were to mount that on a removable pole you may be in with a chance of avoiding the 'cup full of water situation' (as the handbook says) each weekend. Not a solution to most peoples problems but if you need a new log worth thinking about. Also make high speed transducers which may suit multi-hulls better.

Yoda

 

[HaraldS]

On the two or three pages installation isntructions for the actual transducer (Airmar) of my ST60 speed instrument, I remeber that it was recommended to push out the pin (axle) that holds the paddle wheel and then paint the inside of the transducer and the paddlewheel with anti fouling, then assemble it again. They recommend doing it at the beginning of every season. I did, and it seems to help.