barryg
Active Member
why would I need a log for coastal / day sailing I have a small chart plotter to give speed over ground and distance if required plus back up gps. 1 less hole in bottom and a saving as well ? your comments please.
Log or not
- Thread starter barryg
- Start date
FullCircle
Well-Known Member
Well for one thing barry you can see what the tide is doing under you by comparing SOG with the log. Work out lots of things from that.....
LeytonC
Well-Known Member
Speed and distance log works when the GPS system does not...
stevebirch2002
Well-Known Member
You will be able to work out if you are sailing or motoring well. GIves you the actual speed through the water which can point out if you are sailing well, if the hull is fouled - many things. SHould never be without one for tradtional navigation as well. AIMHO
sofka
Active Member
And you could get a Transom mount for the log thingy to save that hole in the hull. Or the old trailing log.
homa
Well-Known Member
Agree with the other posts, plus..
Why not buy a trailing log - no hole in the hull and you can take it with you to your next boat.
I've had an electronic trailing log on 2 of my previous boats, they worked very well and no problems with fouling or when taking the gound.
Why not buy a trailing log - no hole in the hull and you can take it with you to your next boat.
I've had an electronic trailing log on 2 of my previous boats, they worked very well and no problems with fouling or when taking the gound.
m1taylor
Well-Known Member
Can anyone recommend any particular transom mounted log for day sailing? I would be interested in this.
homa
Well-Known Member
Hi Jimminy,
My first boat had a Stowe trailing log, all electronic, with the spinner on the end of an electric cable towed astern. It could run on an internal battery supply or boats 12v supply. A nice big analogue display and very accurate.
I don't know if they are still available new but you might be lucky and pick one up secondhand.
My last boat had a Seafarer towed log of similar design. Again don't know if they're still available. Must be a few around on the secondhand market.
Would recommend either if you can find one, though I felt the Stowe was the better of the two.
Rgds Homa
My first boat had a Stowe trailing log, all electronic, with the spinner on the end of an electric cable towed astern. It could run on an internal battery supply or boats 12v supply. A nice big analogue display and very accurate.
I don't know if they are still available new but you might be lucky and pick one up secondhand.
My last boat had a Seafarer towed log of similar design. Again don't know if they're still available. Must be a few around on the secondhand market.
Would recommend either if you can find one, though I felt the Stowe was the better of the two.
Rgds Homa
chrisgee
Well-Known Member
Used to use a thing called a Walker trailing log which was supposed to be the dog`s whatsits in it`s time -- no electrics involved so completely reliable , sorry-- : don`t know if you can still get them. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
chrisgee
Well-Known Member
re my last post -- there`s a brand new one in wooden box on Ebay at the moment £66.00!!
look under "walker Log"
chris g
look under "walker Log"
chris g
VicMallows
Well-Known Member
I'm going to voice the opposite view to the other posters so far.
I have lived quite happily with just GPS for several years (since my Navico finally failed) and effectively for over 20 years since the paddle-wheel log was so unreliable you could never trust it. Once you get used to a given GPS speed at known slack water it is fairly easy to estimate your through-water speed when a tide is running. Of course, this would never be sufficient for a commited 'racer', but I find it quite adequate for my style of cruising.
I do now have a new combined log/echo, but havn't got around to installing the log paddle as -inevitably- it is a different size and such jobs between tides are not the easiest.
Vic
I have lived quite happily with just GPS for several years (since my Navico finally failed) and effectively for over 20 years since the paddle-wheel log was so unreliable you could never trust it. Once you get used to a given GPS speed at known slack water it is fairly easy to estimate your through-water speed when a tide is running. Of course, this would never be sufficient for a commited 'racer', but I find it quite adequate for my style of cruising.
I do now have a new combined log/echo, but havn't got around to installing the log paddle as -inevitably- it is a different size and such jobs between tides are not the easiest.
Vic
William_H
Well-Known Member
I accept that conditions around here are different to yours however I sail on quite a few different boats and in each case but one the log is out of action. The exception being a doppler type ultrasonic log B&G I think. The paddles foul up in a matter of weeks or days because of warm water.
I had one myself for many years but eventually got sick of removing and clearing the paddle each week. I used to leave it removed and only fit it for a race. I removed the whole thing glassed up the hole and rely on GPS or just feel of the boat. I do wonder though if I should have made up a transom mount that may solve the problems.
My advice though is forget it don't buy a log. olewill
I had one myself for many years but eventually got sick of removing and clearing the paddle each week. I used to leave it removed and only fit it for a race. I removed the whole thing glassed up the hole and rely on GPS or just feel of the boat. I do wonder though if I should have made up a transom mount that may solve the problems.
My advice though is forget it don't buy a log. olewill
Evadne
Well-Known Member
I used to be puzzled by people who found their log unreliable, until I saw a paddlewheel log. The design is not compatible with fouling or running aground. I've always used a trailing log, a Stowe. The biggest hassle is people shouting at you that there is a line trailing in the water, although these days the biggest hassle may be perceived as no NMEA output.
chrisross
Member
Many years ago I had a "Wasp" log on one boat I owned and a "VDO" on another.
They each utilised an underwater propellor type transducer which connected via a bronze cable to drive the mechanical log. Fouling never really was a problem apart from the odd weed that usually fell off when tacking. No power was consumed for operation (except illumination). They seemed to work with no problems at all although I did hear of steel car speedo cables being sold as replacments which of course rusted solid. I think the log is very useful as it allows you calculate the speed of tide, sail tune etc. My present Navico log doesnt work so I am looking for a suitable simple replacement now.
They each utilised an underwater propellor type transducer which connected via a bronze cable to drive the mechanical log. Fouling never really was a problem apart from the odd weed that usually fell off when tacking. No power was consumed for operation (except illumination). They seemed to work with no problems at all although I did hear of steel car speedo cables being sold as replacments which of course rusted solid. I think the log is very useful as it allows you calculate the speed of tide, sail tune etc. My present Navico log doesnt work so I am looking for a suitable simple replacement now.
G
Guest
Guest
Re: Log or not - simple answer ...
Do you need it ?
I had STW on previous boats .... present one thaht I have had for quite a few years hasn't STW log .... never missed it !
Cannot really see reason to dry out boat to cut hole to fit the log that is sitting in locker waiting ...... sad I know !! and I'm a professional marine navigator .... OH Dear ! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Do you need it ?
I had STW on previous boats .... present one thaht I have had for quite a few years hasn't STW log .... never missed it !
Cannot really see reason to dry out boat to cut hole to fit the log that is sitting in locker waiting ...... sad I know !! and I'm a professional marine navigator .... OH Dear ! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Danny
Well-Known Member
I had problems with my log all last season. Paddle wheel type. It kept fouling and I'd curse it, reverse it and get it going until the next time. Eventually it gave up all together and I did without. When the boat was out this winter I had a look and found the paddle wheel had lost it's tiddy bar magnet. Found a suitable magnet and araldited it in and this time I carefully anti-fouled the wheel with hard a/f and lubricated the s/s spindle, etc.
This season the log's worked perfectly every time. Not sure I make any significant use of the information, though!
The boat doesn't seem to sail any faster...
This season the log's worked perfectly every time. Not sure I make any significant use of the information, though!
The boat doesn't seem to sail any faster...
ColinHuggins
N/A
I inherited a fishfinder and gps but nothing was 'right' until separate log and sounder were fitted. Shows my vintage - scores of x-Channel trips trailing the Walker, which I still have. Daft thing is I forgot to remove the shoes from my last; any kind Samaritan have a pair to make me whole again?