Have you given up on a through-hull paddle log?

Paddlewheel is removed at the end of every trip. Remains working and accurate that way.

In the early part of this season we had a big issue with speed. Just couldn't get the numbers we were used to. But... Also didn't seem slow when we were lined up with other boats...
Ran some calibration on the log, and yes it was under reading so corrected. But then next time out same again.
Diagnosed as the 12 year old paddlewheel having worn out its bearings. Replaced the paddlewheel (which has the solid bearing in) for the princely sum of £42.

Airmar Airmar Paddle Wheel Kit for P32 ST650 ST850 B744V

Then ran a calibration afterwards, and it's been fine ever since.
 
Gixer said:
Just bought one and will fit it next month, I'll post on here how I get on.
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We, the owner and I, always replace and remove the paddle wheel every time we sail, but it is still often troublesome.

Very interested in how you get on, particularly in relation to fouling.

The boat in question has Garmin kit.
 
My log has turned up, the control box is bigger than I thought but looks straight forward.
I’d like to test it before fitting it, when wired into the boat do you think putting the transducer in a bucket of water and swishing it about would give me a reading?

IMG_2025-10-21-212029.jpegIMG_2025-10-21-211919.jpeg
 
I'm sure swishing it around a bucket would give you a reading. When operational it will read the tidal flow down to .1 or .2 of a knot. Just how accurate it is at those readings is questionable but it seems to match observations.
Good choice...

Edit: PS it may need to be salt water, not sure if they work in fresh or not...
 
Gave up on paddle wheels 3 boats ago.
It took about 3 weeks for it to stop working after haul out/jet wash and coat of A/F this year and yes studiously ensured it spun freely before relaunch.
 
geem said:
I find if you keep moving they are fine. We have only had to remove it once in 2000nm. We had been anchored for 2 weeks
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Us non liveaboards don’t have the luxury of keeping moving though. Hence all the fouled logs. The fouling is truly terrible on our mooring. I can scrub one weekend, go over her with a scourer, but if we were to race the following weekend, I’d have to do it again.
 
Boats foul. It's just a fact of life and not worth complaining about, though we might whinge about the price of A/F. Along with all the other jobs involved in getting a boat ready for sea, re-inserting the impeller is no great hardship, especially if you have a decent one with a valve.

After my retirement we used to cruise from the middle of May for three months. Going to the Baltic/Dutch canals left the bottom and prop clean until well after our return until mid September at least, and even when we down-Channel it wasn't a lot worse, though I never came to terms with the creepy-crawlies that I would have to fish out at the end of the season.
 
Ours is horribly inaccessible after fitting the holding tank, but there really wasn’t a viable alternative way. Hence a transom mount would be ideal. TBH it wouldn’t matter so much if it where a paddle wheel then, I suppose. I can reach underneath the hull even when on the step.
 
Chiara’s slave said:
Ours is horribly inaccessible after fitting the holding tank, but there really wasn’t a viable alternative way. Hence a transom mount would be ideal. TBH it wouldn’t matter so much if it where a paddle wheel then, I suppose. I can reach underneath the hull even when on the step.
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I owned a boat in which a previous owner had fitted a paddle wheel log aft of the keel. It was completely useless due to turbulence. I refitted it ahead of the keel, where it worked fine.
 
Running it under the tap didn’t work but swishing in a bucket did. Sensor works and integrates with a Tacktick system perfectly.

Will fit it next month.
 
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