NASA Clipper Wind not showing direction

Bodach na mara

Bodach na mara

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OK, I know that I will get the advice to throw it away and get something more reliable, but a problem with the direction indicator developed this weekend and I wonder if anyone knows what has gone wrong. The wind arrow on the display now operates only in a quadrant from just to starboard of dead ahead to just aft of starboard abeam. Yes, the vane at the masthead is following the apparent wind OK and the wind speed is working. I have tried separating and re-connecting all the joints to which I have access. The thing was all OK at the start of the season.
 
It could be a fault at the masthead or the display unit. Although I would err on the side of the masthead because it is so exposed, we had a similar problem and replaced it. It's not worth checking voltage in all the wires if the display unit is partly working. If you know someone with the same display unit and can borrow it that will solve which one it is. Hopefully somebody will be along, who has had exactly the same probelem, with the answer.
 
I'll be the first then, throw it away and get something more reliable...:D

Seriously, I ditched mine, which was doing same as yours and just fitted a Windex. Never really trusted it anyway & more than happy without it...
 
djbreeze said:
I'll be the first then, throw it away and get something more reliable...:D

Seriously, I ditched mine, which was doing same as yours and just fitted a Windex. Never really trusted it anyway & more than happy without it...
Click to expand...

+ 1 ! Did the same; it was a few years ago but when I asked NASA at the boat show I was told " definitely the masthead unit " then when I phoned up I was told ' definitely the display '...I went back to a windex and wool telltails on the shrouds, and the offending item is landfill...
 
Thanks to all who responded. I was afraid that the problem would be at the measthead 'cos I am not going up there. It is annoying that the direction is not working but I also have a Windex, so it is not vital. I do actually like the windspeed measurement as sea state can be misleading.

The masthead unit was refurbished during the winter of 2010-11 and the whole thing worked last season. The problem before that was hat water had got into the unit during the previous winters and bits of the electronics had corroded away. The cable was also renewed with the "new" plug/socket joint at the top so that the unit can be removed when the mast is down. Previously the cable had to be cut or drawn up through the mast.
 
Nasa Clipper Wind.

Silly suggestion, but have you tried pressing ILUM whilst switching instrument on.
I might be asking for trouble,but, had my Clipper Wind for several years, no problems except when I tried cutting the cable at mast head to fit a plug.
But Nasa provided a new cable with the mast head plug at a very reasonable cost, so no complaints about Nasa from me.
 
Slight drift, but I am considering purchasing the entry level Tacktick wireless wind instrument in the next day or two, does anyone have anything good (or bad) to say about these?
 
Well my Seatalk is doing the same thing-used to be windspeed that was out-now its direction that was misbehaving-say was because after several days use since mast was put up it seems happy again-just annoying when it permanently reads at right angles off port side all the time!.
Sometimes think that my boat has too many displays-engine oil pressure;gearbox pressure;rpms;charging circuits etc plus depth wind and log.Then there are the two GPS receivers;individual battery voltmeters;conventional compass;autopilot compass!!!!
 
Once again, thanks for all suggestions. The one about leaving it for a while seems to have worked. I didn't leave it 18 months however but it was working perfectly today!

I considered a Tacktick instrument when I replaced an ancient Autonic wind meter that came with boat. I went for the Clipper because the Tacktick was about three times the price at that time. I later read of communication problems but I would also like to read the views of someone who has installed one of these recently, as I may be back in the market again during the winter lay-up.

I also looked at the B&G ranges. IIRC they were types 40 and 60 (which was much derarer than the 40.) I read some critical reports about the masthead unit of the 40 and had almost decided to get a 60 (and hang the cost) when I found out that it did not suit me personally. I was in a marina instrument seller's place waiting for someone to deign to talk to me when I noticed that I could not actually read the small display of the 60 from the sort of distance I would need to. The 40 was OK but I had ruled that out. After I had visited Specsavers, I was in the market omly for something cheap, hence the Nasa choice.
 
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