Hawk setting

[gull1066]

Hi,

Im just about to fit a new hawk wind direction unit to my mast head and when I came to assembly it i noticed that there are 3 different settings for the indicators, 55, 60 & 65 degrees.

Which setting should i use? I have a sunstar 18.

 

[sailorman]

Hi,

Im just about to fit a new hawk wind direction unit to my mast head and when I came to assembly it i noticed that there are 3 different settings for the indicators, 55, 60 & 65 degrees.

Which setting should i use? I have a sunstar 18.

it all depends how close winded your boat is mine is set from memory @ 60 deg
ie 30 deg off centre each side. if conditions are good we are able to get 27 deg to the apparent wind.
i think you will need the 65 deg setting

 

[VicS]

Hi,

Im just about to fit a new hawk wind direction unit to my mast head and when I came to assembly it i noticed that there are 3 different settings for the indicators, 55, 60 & 65 degrees.

Which setting should i use? I have a sunstar 18.

As Sailorman says ... to suit how close your boat sais to the apparent wind

For my Sea Wych I used the alternative locking piece that allows the arms to be set ant any angle, and set them wider apart than any of the preset ones (best part of 90°)

I'd guess your Sunstar may sail a bit closer to the wind than my Sea Wych, but maybe not a lot.

 

[BAtoo]

To some extent it doesn't matter where you set it; you will soon learn where is the best for your boat - it might be keep the indicator in line or just inside or out of the mark....

I suspect sailorman is right though -go for 65'.....

 

[VicS]

You did not say if its the fin keeled or twin keeled version

I have only knowingly ever seen twin keeled versions but I guess a fin keel one will sail closer to the wind.

 

[Martin_J]

As Sailorman. VicS and BAtoo have suggested.. I would go for the widest angle..

Then, when you're against the wind you will feel happy just meeting the indicators..

If you have the 55deg.. you will always be sailing sloooow trying to pinch up to meet them

 

[gull1066]

Cheers Guys,

Many thanks for for advise. I think I will stick with the 65 d angle. By the way she is a bilge keeler.

John

 

[VicS]

Cheers Guys,

Many thanks for for advise. I think I will stick with the 65 d angle. By the way she is a bilge keeler.

John

You will probably find that at 32.5° to the apparent wind your speed will drop and the boat will make more leeway

Try sailing that close by all means but then try bearing away a little and easing the sheets slightly. I'll bet you will find a marked increase in speed, a reduction in leeway and that your progress to windward will be greatly improved.

It's something all small bilge keel sailors discover.

 

[VicMallows]

I don't know if the same apples to a stand-alone HAWK but certainly with the version that fits onto a Vitronix VHF antenna , a much bigger concern is ensuring that the arms actually STAY locked in the correct position. Looking at other boats I am obviously not the only one to have this problem - despite taking great care during assembly. (when I next get the opportunity, it will be expoxy glued in place!).

Vic

 

[VicS]

I don't know if the same apples to a stand-alone HAWK but certainly with the version that fits onto a Vitronix VHF antenna , a much bigger concern is ensuring that the arms actually STAY locked in the correct position. Looking at other boats I am obviously not the only one to have this problem - despite taking great care during assembly. (when I next get the opportunity, it will be expoxy glued in place!).

Vic

there are several versions of the Hawk wind indicator
The "Great Hawk" comes with a set of 3 locking pieces that set the arms at one or other of the angles mentioned plus a fourth " friction only" that allows them to be set to any angle.
The same applies to the version combined with a Vitronix aerial. Yours has presumably been installed with the "friction only" locking piece
http://www.hawkmarineproducts.com/wind.htm

 

[VicMallows]

Yours has presumably been installed with the "friction only" locking piece

No, that's not the problem. The indicator arms are set to fixed position, and shift together in unison. Problem (on the antenna version) is that the fixed pivot assembly is secured onto a plastic upstand at the base of the antenna whip with a screw which is just a friction grip onto the plastic upstand. The friction is inadequate to resist the wind pressure. Elegant solution would be to drill a small recess into the upstand once set to the desired position to give screw something to locate into.

(Don't need a wind indicator enough to really worry about it)

 

[VicS]

No, that's not the problem. The indicator arms are set to fixed position, and shift together in unison. Problem (on the antenna version) is that the fixed pivot assembly is secured onto a plastic upstand at the base of the antenna whip with a screw which is just a friction grip onto the plastic upstand. The friction is inadequate to resist the wind pressure. Elegant solution would be to drill a small recess into the upstand once set to the desired position to give screw something to locate into.

(Don't need a wind indicator enough to really worry about it)

With you
Thats the bit where the instructions just say, "Tighten the Side Screw firmly into the Antenna's stem."

 

[Martin_J]

The friction is inadequate to resist the wind pressure.

The friction has to be enough to cope with the birds that come in with heavy landings.. If the indicator arms didn't move you might end up with broken indicator arms..

I know what you mean though.. You don't want to tighten the screw too tight for fear of stripping the thread in the outer plastic before the screw tip has had a chance to bite.