Handheld Anemometers

[SAWDOC]

Or to put it the other way around, what is the point of knowing what the windspeed is to two decimal places (or whatever), when
a) you don't have that fine a degree of sail, etc., control in response to it;
b) you don't have an equivalent degree of accuracy of knowledge of, say, wave height/shape, exact waterline length at any moment, etc.; and
c) the variation between windspeed in your cockpit and the top of the mast probably far exceeds any error in your hand-held anemometer?

I'm a great believer in precision, but greater precision is only really valuable as part of a feedback system that can make use of the additional accuracy.

To put it yet another way, what difference would it make if your meter read, say, 23.5 knots rather than 25.1 knots when then wind was about that strength (other than in the yacht club bar!)?

If you want great accuracy you probably wouldn't be looking at a hand-held, I would have thought. I would emphasise I have no problem with people wanting to know the wind speed, by whatever means and to whatever degree of accuracy. I'm just not clear what the advantage of great precision would be to anyone.

Can I lodge a gentle protest?
I was not after accuracy to 2 decimal places as we seem to be agreed on its lack of meaning. I would like to think if I was to go to the bother of holding one of these hand helds over my head while standing precariously at the shrouds or wherever in stormy conditions (that is when we want to measure isn't it?) that the reading taken bears a reasonable relation to reality. To the nearest knot or two would do fine - particularly if that can be achieved with a 10 -15 euro ebay purchase.

 

[Norman_E]

thought there were only three wind speeds - not enough, just right and too much!

You lucky begger, the middle one is missing where I sail!

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

I have a La Crosse handheld anemometer which i bought 5 years ago; I am not very happy with it because the batteries go flat very quickly, even when not in use. So when i really needs it, i have to make sure i have spare batteries, otherwise, it works OK

 

[maxcampbell]

We got a handheld, and use it quiet often - it seems to be accurate and precise enough to undertake it's main job, that of brag preventer - ie it's objective and can be seen by everyone.

 

[LittleSister]

it seems to be accurate and precise enough to undertake it's main job, that of brag preventer - ie it's objective and can be seen by everyone.

Are the more expensive models less accurate and always over-reading?

 

[LittleSister]

Can I lodge a gentle protest?

Certainly. Be my guest!

I would like to think if I was to go to the bother of holding one of these hand helds over my head while standing precariously at the shrouds or wherever in stormy conditions (that is when we want to measure isn't it?) that the reading taken bears a reasonable relation to reality.

But please explain to me (I'm not being funny), why you go to that bother. You'll know if you're over-canvassed or under-canvassed, or how rough it is, better by how the boat behaves than by reading a number, however accurate or innaccurate. What do you do with the reading the gadget gives you?

Again, I have no problem with people having one, I'd quite like one myself, just out of curiosity, I'm just not clear what you can do with the information it gives you. (I've only rarely sailed a boat with wind instruments.)

 

[LONG_KEELER]

I have a Skywatch too. It costs about £30 I think.

It's fun to use, particularly for the gusts. Very surprised how heavy they can be.

 

[VicS]

I'm just not clear what you can do with the information it gives you

Record it every hour when you write up the log.

Just noticed they claim an accuracy of 1mph for the Ventimeter

 

[SAWDOC]

Certainly. Be my guest!




But please explain to me (I'm not being funny), why you go to that bother. You'll know if you're over-canvassed or under-canvassed, or how rough it is, better by how the boat behaves than by reading a number, however accurate or innaccurate. What do you do with the reading the gadget gives you?

Again, I have no problem with people having one, I'd quite like one myself, just out of curiosity, I'm just not clear what you can do with the information it gives you. (I've only rarely sailed a boat with wind instruments.)

One example.
If one has to throw in a reef or a second reef, I think it would be useful to know at what wind strength that occurs. It allows a little bit of forward planning next time around. So that one has the reef in before it is required.

 

[SHUG]

thought there were only three wind speeds - not enough, just right and too much!

You're wrong, there are only two
. If the candle stays alight ...not enough wind
If the candle blows out.. too much wind