Nasa Clipper wind speed indicator

[atrman]

Hello, i am very new to yachting an have brought my first boat, which I am loving. However, the anemometer (speed) part of the instrument is stuck (not spinning).

Does anyone have any experience as to why its stuck and how fix it?

Thanks

Steve

 

[pvb]

Welcome to the forums! Sadly, Nasa wind transducers seem to be notoriously unreliable. I know this doesn't help you, but it's a fact.

 

[tyce]

Usually if they are not stuck, the cups are flying of into the distance as my second set now has!
A trip up the mast with some WD40 should resolve the issue.

 

[pcatterall]

Yes the bit up the mast does have a bad reputation. Mine has worked fine for 2 years now though. The unit is not expensive to replace ( unlike some!!) but going up the mast can be a pain!!
The new type head unit has a decent plug and socket up top so changing is easy.
Invest in some good mast climbing gear!!

 

[Spirit of Glenans]

Hello, i am very new to yachting an have brought my first boat, which I am loving. However, the anemometer (speed) part of the instrument is stuck (not spinning).

Does anyone have any experience as to why its stuck and how fix it?

Thanks

Steve

I had one on my last boat, for a while, until it fell off! When the mast was was down I bought a replacement part but when I went to fix it in place I found that the spindle on which it revolves was missing. Fortunately, as I'm in the piercing jewellery business I was able to use part of a titanium barbell which I superglued in place. (These come in various diameters and lengths.) That was six years ago and it's still going strong.
Sold the boat last month, and unfortunately, on the delivery trip, part of the directional vane fell off!

 

[atrman]

Thank you all for the fast replies. I guess a trip up the mast is on the cards.

And thank you for welcoming me to the forum.

 

[nigelmercier]

Does anyone have any experience as to why its stuck and how fix it?

It's stuck because it says Nasa on it

Spray lubricant should fix it; preferably a proper lubricant, rather than standard WD-40 which was not designed to be used as such. I think this would be a good candidate for Dry PTFE Spray.

If you are going up the mast, make sure you have at least two other people who have done it before, and that you trust. Use two lines, one to haul you up, one as a safety.

 

[BlackSheep1]

nasa clipper

Yes I purchased a nasa clipper wind instrument a couple of years agn placing the unit on the mast head we found we had no wind speed showing on the instrument face. Contacted Nasa who made all sorts of comments, excuses like weve never had this prob before, that as I had fitted it myself I must have done something wrong. Well finally after checking all the wires etc and finding them ok Nasa reluctantly sent out an other masthead unit. Up the mast yet again and great it worked. Unfortunately about 13 months later, now out of warranty the cups have dissapeared, presumably blown away. I, like many others bought Nasa due to the cheaper cost, however you only get whatyou pay for. I certainly would not recomend Nasa.

 

[pcatterall]

THe cups are ( I admit) a disgrace and not fit for purpose at very little extra cost they could have had those made to last. Having said that the cups from NASA are as cheap as chips, even the whole head is not expensive. A bloke on the next boat to me in Poole had a problem with his ( expensive) model It was taken down and repaired ( £200 for the repair), he told me that it had happened 2 years before but that a replacement head would cost even more.
Several people report long service from their NASAs so I will stick with mine.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Unfortunately about 13 months later, now out of warranty the cups have dissapeared, presumably blown away. I, like many others bought Nasa due to the cheaper cost, however you only get whatyou pay for. I certainly would not recomend Nasa.

Same for me. Failed just out of warranty. Nasa didn't want to know. Never again.

 

[atrman]

All a bit of a worry, but I will have a look at going up the mast and will get some of the dry lubricant. Thanks for the advice one and all.

 

[Laurie]

Perhaps I can bring some better news...?
Yes the wind instrument cups have a bit of a "reputation", but I have always found NASA very helpful and quick. I have found the Clipper range that apart, very good. Give NASA a call?
I had CLIPPERS on my old boat and the wind cups ceased rotating. On NASAS advice, the retaining bit of plastic that holds the bearing in place had come off its fixing, allowing the bearing to move and come loose. The whole gubbins is an inverted design. Not clever.
Yes you have to go up the mast, but a blob of glue fixed it good! Pity , the design isn't better in the first place though....

 

[Graham_Wright]

Invest in some good mast climbing gear!!

Yes!!!!!!

 

[robertj]

Yes I purchased a nasa clipper wind instrument a couple of years agn placing the unit on the mast head we found we had no wind speed showing on the instrument face. Contacted Nasa who made all sorts of comments, excuses like weve never had this prob before, that as I had fitted it myself I must have done something wrong. Well finally after checking all the wires etc and finding them ok Nasa reluctantly sent out an other masthead unit. Up the mast yet again and great it worked. Unfortunately about 13 months later, now out of warranty the cups have dissapeared, presumably blown away. I, like many others bought Nasa due to the cheaper cost, however you only get whatyou pay for. I certainly would not recomend Nasa.

I agree but not all their instruments are troublesome. I've had dealings with tge wind and gave up in tge end and bought a proper one.
The depth and log were fine which were still working after 10yrs if owning the boat and I believe are still going strong.

Their customer relations are weird too.

 

[steve6367]

NASA are very helpful, give them a ring.

I have has these units on 2 boats and they are not fantasticly robust, but they are a fraction of the cost of others. In our Marina the "others" don't seem that reliable either.

Depending on how old yours is the design did change and the new one is much better. If you can get it down and send it back to NASA it is about £15 for them to repair to the new design.

Steve

 

[sailor who]

The spare sparts delivery of NASA is indeed very good, just go on the website from NASA.

I have used a NASA Target Wind for nearly 10 years and nearly every year I had to replace that damm propeller.

On my blog I wrote about the trouble I had with the Target Wind.

 

[atrman]

Thank you all for your advice and replies. I am in the process of having the unit replaced. I hope this fixes the problem,

Steve