More on wind instruments

[boatmike]

Following my last post on the subject, I have received a "free issue" instrument head from Vetus and tried it with my existing solid state transducer only to find that it is the tranny that is boogered. So, taking the majority view from the forum (for which I thank everyone for contributing to) I trotted orf to spend over 500 quid on an ST60plus. Guess what? Can't get one. Because Raymarine have moved production to Hungary, they have had a supply problem and in fact the wind instruments are on technical recall because of a fault with the transducers!
So what to do now? Looked at TackTick. Over 600 quid and only a digital read out. Surely they recognise that analogue is far better for wind? Then I looked at Navman. Looks OK but I hear stories of people looking for spares out of New Zealand and waiting 3 months.... Anyone got any ideas apart from waiting until Raymarine get their act together?

 

[Pye_End]

Don't use one?

At least for the time being?

How do people use these things anyway? Are they useful or just interesting?

 

[fibz99]

Very useful

 

[Pye_End]

So what, exactly, do you use them for?

Have though about them in the past but not sure how to justify the price.

 

[Talbot]

In a cat with a wheelhouse, the wind instrument is more important than on a mono, cause you dont get the wind in your face as much.

 

[Talbot]

If you want to network, the Silva NX2 range bear a second glance - internal mounting capability for echo sounder, bronze through hulls.

I have the cheaper Star range which are not nmea, but am very satisfied with the accuracy of them.

Alternatively, I have heard good things about the navman range, but dont like the blue line on them!

 

[Bejasus]

PM sent.

 

[Pye_End]

Fair comment. Didn't notice the Snowgoose bit.

 

[boatmike]

And being a really lazy bustard I have a very big super intelligent Robertson autopilot and like to let the windy tell it where to steer when going to windward. Then you set an alarm for 25 knots of wind to tell you when to reef and then go and sit in the settee and drink cocoa. It's called cruisin'..... Of course I do look out of the windows now and again but usually anything big sets of the proximity alarm on the radar...... Yawn..... Of course if you want to get tired, wet, and steer yourself......

 

[boatmike]

Yes I looked at both but Navman, while seemingly good kit is sold through Plastimo that keep diddly squat in spares. Hence the 3 months to get them from NZ
Silva.... well. OK but their analogue windy things don't look wonderful and I don't like digital wind displays.... As I am not getting to use the boat too much at the moment I might just wait until the Raytheon becomes available.....

 

[reeac]

I don't understand your comment re. TackTick wind instruments being digital rather than analogue. Their analogue display [which can also be used to display parameters other than wind] has the conventional layout of analogue for apparent wind direction plus digital for apparent wind speed.

 

[Talbot]

[ QUOTE ]
but their analogue windy things don't look wonderful

[/ QUOTE ]

yes - digital

Analogue

I quite like the silver star wind, which you can link to the log for VMG and true, but is not NMEA

 

[boatmike]

Well your illustrations actually make the point Mark, that I concede I did not make well, but the analogue wind only shows direction so you need another instrument to show speed. That actually makes them expensive as you need two display heads versus ST60plus one. ST60plus shows analogue direction plus digital speed in one instrument. Or have I misunderstood?

 

[fireball]

No - you are right - the ST60plus has an analogue direction arrow and digital speed display. With the ST60plus range you can couple it together with log to give you a calculated "true" wind. You can also couple it together with their autopilots (and tiller pilots) to steer to the wind.

 

[boatmike]

Actually they are a hybrid unless I have it wrong. They show a liquid crystal display which is digital but represents a true analogue display. That in my view is good but not as good as true analogue. (I think)

 

[2nd Wind]

I've got TackTick wind instruments and find them easy and clear to use. Looked at replacing with Raymarine but found that to include a close hauled indication (expanded scale from 25 - 50 degrees) you needed an additional dedicated display head with Raymarine. On the TackTick instrument it is just a button push. This makes the TackTick competitive on price too. Had minor glitch with masthead transducer and found TackTick extremely helpful. New transducer sent out (FOC) immediately and 'cos no wiring just 2 screws to undo at top of mast to change. Dead easy to install and you can take the display to bed for those times when you wake up and think "Oh dear me, it seems a bit windy".
Usual caveate of no connection to TackTick but very happy with their product and after sales service.

 

[Talbot]

You made the point, and I was trying to illustrate it for those who have not looked into these. Personally I am happy witth the digital display from the Star version, but its really what you are used to.

Not putting wind speed into the same display sucks.

 

[Dave99]

Some of the other companies have had similar problems. I quite like the Silva instruments.

 

[boatmike]

Seems like a good point "2nd Wind". Close hauled on Raymarine needs another display... Thanks. Will look again. I laughed at the image of you taking it to bed with you though. Don't you think that might be taking a love of gadgets a bit too far!

 

[dmayes]

have you looked at the NASA clipper wind? It has analogue readout and an NMEA output.