NASA logs

[guydickinson]

Wonder if anyone has one which doesn't get stuck with whatever grows on the spinner after a few weeks of the season? Any tips? You can't antifoul obviously as that will also clog it up. Any good alternatives? Are those old ones with an external spinner on a line connected to a measuring device attached to the gunwhale still available for example? With the NASA ones, its pretty difficult to get a reliable reading. I know there is always the GPS - but...!

 

[oldharry]

I wonder if there is anyone with a log of any make that doesnt get stuck....?

 

[pvb]

Any tips? You can't antifoul obviously as that will also clog it up.

You can antifoul log transducers, very effectively. Best to take the paddlewheel out and antifoul it separately from the inside of the housing. On mine, I re-antifoul about every 3-4 months.

 

[blackbeard]

One of the problems with the NASA log (and, probably, with all similar logs) is that the spindle on which the log rotates can attract marine accretions (is that the right word?). The paddle wheel then becomes reluctant to rotate even when clean.

If you take the spindle out (press fit) and clean it up, all will be well. For a while.

 

[cindersailor]

I got so fed up with having to remove and clean the impeller of my NASA log that I removed it and permanently sealed up the hole. I now use a Stowe trailing log which periodically come op on E-bay and go for about £20. Great bit of simple kit which just works, but you have to get used to people telling you that you have a line trailing overboard, and not to forget to bring it in before reversing your anchor in!

 

[Leighb]

I have a log impeller which I just remove and replace with the blanking plug whenever we leave the boat. It very rarely has any fouling, last summer when were aboard for 6 weeks I think I did take it out to check once ( we were stuck in the Crouch for a week) and there was hardly anything on it.

It seems to stay clear as long is the boat moved every few days. If there is the odd creature in it when I take it out it of course dies off once the impeller dries out.

Works for me anyway.

 

[Champagne Murphy]

I have a log impeller which I just remove and replace with the blanking plug whenever we leave the boat. It very rarely has any fouling, last summer when were aboard for 6 weeks I think I did take it out to check once ( we were stuck in the Crouch for a week) and there was hardly anything on it.

It seems to stay clear as long is the boat moved every few days. If there is the odd creature in it when I take it out it of course dies off once the impeller dries out.

Works for me anyway.

+1

 

[Rigger Mortice]

I antifoul mine, using an artists (i.e. small) paintbrush at the start of the season.

It's also worth checking the spindle as they do get worn. When I replaced mine it was much better. I think that the old one had got worn and was letting fouling get in. A replacement paddle and spindle is not expensive.

 

[PLEIAS]

''I got so fed up with having to remove and clean the impeller of my NASA log that I removed it and permanently sealed up the hole. ''
I was forced to do the same after the innertube broke all of a sudden and led to a near sinking situation.Apparently you shouldn't use sikaflex when you install the through hull tube as it eventually weakens the plastic.So get rid of the old log is the advice.Should you decide to keep it use motorcycle chain grease spray.It is so good that i also use it on my prop after having tried almost every other product.