NASA new product

Seajet said:
It doesn't matter how accurately a helmsperson can steer, I for one would want accurate info as an aid to aim for, otherwise there would be increasing slop in the system, like an indifferent person on the helm coupled with worn rudder / tiller / wheel mountings.

I only used an original Clipper system when I was given one in an act of mistaken kindness, it was a disaster with the lot failing at 11 months, different people at NASA telling me it was the masthead or display then their refusing to honour the guarantee !

That was years ago and I understand their warranty set-up is better now, has to be as I imagine it's their busiest department...

I get much better wind direction results with wool telltales on the shrouds and a Windex ( lit by a masthead light when required ); for windspeed I just go by how happy or frightened I am.
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Still trying to work out why people need a dial to show them where the wind comes from - I've sailed about 18K miles (including dark) without one over the last 10 years, but definitely use the genoa and main telltales.

And I don't need any # to tell me when it's time to put in any of 4 reefs.
 
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Absolutely!
charles_reed said:
Still trying to work out why people need a dial to show them where the wind comes from - I've sailed about 18K miles (including dark) without one over the last 10 years, but definitely use the genoa and main telltales.

And I don't need any # to tell me when it's time to put in any of 4 reefs.
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prv said:
Isn't it saying 23 knots?

If it is meant to be a direction it's a bit useless - who sails by numbers rather than an arrow (vane/pointer/dial/burgee) pointing the right way?

Pete
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Not sure about that. I once sailed a new boat with a sophisticated pilot that steered by the wind to within a degree. Using that and the vmg read off was a fascinating exercise in getting the best out of the boat using technology.
 
wotayottie said:
Not sure about that. I once sailed a new boat with a sophisticated pilot that steered by the wind to within a degree. Using that and the vmg read off was a fascinating exercise in getting the best out of the boat using technology.
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+1 I managed to coax our recalcitrant wind instrument into action this year. It is great in the dark when you can't see the woolies or windex and even better when networked to the log, gps and autopilot. This allows me to tweak the sails and max out the VMG. Quite surprised me how different tacks needed very different settings of jib and main to get equal or best performance.
 
Having learnt to sail with a windex and then getting a boat with wind instruments I don't need much in the way of accuracy - the wind display is simply in the same field of vision as the view ahead. Most useful I find in tacking when I have to watch other thigs like the way the sheets go across. I will probably buy one of these as my current set up has failed again (the mast head unit has lost its direction indicator although to be fair it's very elderly. Wireless makes installation a lot easier and since tacktick stopped their entry level system I've had no real alternative. And from posts the tacktick system has its own set of problems. If anything is going to fail I'd rather pay NASA prices for replacements, but I'm glad to hear that it's a redesigned unit at the mast head. As for guano blocking the solar panel we get enough rain to clean it on a regular basis.
 
Burnham Bob said:
Having learnt to sail with a windex and then getting a boat with wind instruments I don't need much in the way of accuracy - the wind display is simply in the same field of vision as the view ahead. Most useful I find in tacking when I have to watch other thigs like the way the sheets go across. I will probably buy one of these as my current set up has failed again (the mast head unit has lost its direction indicator although to be fair it's very elderly. Wireless makes installation a lot easier and since tacktick stopped their entry level system I've had no real alternative. And from posts the tacktick system has its own set of problems. If anything is going to fail I'd rather pay NASA prices for replacements, but I'm glad to hear that it's a redesigned unit at the mast head. As for guano blocking the solar panel we get enough rain to clean it on a regular basis.
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Yes, all true! But don't you think the solar panel should have been underneath, away from droppings and solar degradation?
 
Obviously I was missing something - as threads get longer it gets increasingly difficult to remember who said what and i thought it might be you that brought up the guano problem orignally ........and the only reason I can think that the current wind direction indicator has gone is a seagull landing on it so I'm not too keen on them as a breed let alone a guano emitter
 
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Three times I'm really glad we have a wind instrument:

1. Coming into a marina it's nice to see a true wind direction for windage, you often get fooled by wind shadows from other boats.
2. When it falls below 8 knots and it means I don't feel guilty putting the engine on
3. When it's reeeeeeeeealy windy I can sit in the wheelhouse and feel smug

I haven't sailed 18 million miles, my arse isn't as hairy as a grisly bear's, I can't say "bowline" in five different island languages and I'm crarp at telling boring sailing stories in the yacht club bar. Which means it's OK for me to have a wind instrument. When the TT goes TT-up I'm getting one of these NASA ones.
 
I'm with Lazy Kipper on this. I've had my grievances with NASA about their wind-cups although the current ones are now in their 6th year (kiss of death, that comment). I agree with his 3 reasons but would also add that a wind instrument is very useful when sailing in the dark. I can sail without it, as I can without a working log but I miss them when they are not there.
I too will buy one of these when the current set-up packs up.
Morgan
 
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