NASA Wind Indicator

[JimC]

I grew so tired of having to replace the masthead unit at frequent intervals and ruinous cost that for years now I've just left the remnants of the last unit up there. The cups are long gone but it does still tell me the wind direction which is handy, especially at night. My mast will have to come down this winter for other reasons, so my question is:- have NASA improved their masthead unit to the point where it will survive a reasonable length of time and be worth buying and, if so, is will it still compatible with a base instrument which is about 6 or 7 years old?

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

Ruinous cost? I've had to replace the cups twice and I think they were about £20 a set. A quick trip up the mast in the bosun's chair, a fiddle about with an electrical screwdriver to remove a cap and a clip, fix replacement and down again!
Compare that cost with a replacement arm for a Raymarine, Simrad or B & G unit. You could probably by 5 or 6 Nasa units for one of theirs! At least 10 years.

 

[alienzdive]

How can Nasa, still sell these things, it is FRAUD!

 

[captainslarty]

FRAUD is a tad harsh and possibly libelous..

the nasa unit is great, no problems with it. also, a wind indicator is a nice toy, not a necessity at all, the nasa is easy to service and cheap as chips.
Get a nice big windex, at night a small white side shielded hi brightness led shining upwards illuminates it fine.
Or, just tie a bit of string to a shroud, or use the flag.

 

[macd]

Couldn't agree more. But you have to admire the bloke at NASA who days "first I've heard of that problem" whilst seeming to keep a straight face.

 

[captainslarty]

The same chap Mac, who sent me a schematic for the older navtex unit to repair it myself, free of charge from him. The same chap who sent over a cover and lcd for a clipper navtex to another boat here, free of charge, cos the owner smacked it with something heavy.. the same guy who exchanged a weatherman rtty unit for a navtex one because the owner bought the wrong thing, free of charge, and after 6 months use..
Yup, bad company, bad people. I dont think.
Couldn't see raymarine or B&G doing that.

 

[macd]

Happy to hear of your good experience...but also same company who insisted I pay for a knackered part with three months use on it when the part in question allegedly failed to reach them in the post. Digital photos of the offending part left them unmoved. Come to think of it, what actually got my goat most was their complete failure to recognise that the offending part wasn't a bit of galley hardware, but 40 feet up a stick.

B&G I can't comment on, but if you need a model for a 'the customer not the sale' company culture, Garmin rate highly in my experience.

Couldn't agree more that wind gauges are less than essential, but if you've paid for something it should damn well work.

How's the cat?

 

[captainslarty]

Hi Mac, Molly is good lol.
I suppose it is only fair to expect good and bad experiences from suppliers. Sorry to hear fo you r problems, I can only say mine were all good with nasa.
Yes, I have never heard bad reports re Garmin, just wish they would use bloody navionics charts lol !.
Joe

 

[ex-Gladys]

NASA cups are about £8 a set....

 

[Jonny_H]

Apparently the new white head units are much better than the older black ones.

As we lost cups and the magnets went for direction I've got a white one - however will wait to install it until next spring (no point risking the cups being blown off all winter!)

If it works, great, if not - its not essential. We've done over 1,500 miles this year with no speed / direction. We've got a hawk on the mast head (with reflective tape so you the tri-colour lights it up at night).

Jonny

 

[Dougal]

The 'cups' on my old NASA masthead unit were literally torn out the bottom of the unit (long story - don't ask!) with considerable force!

Is the whole unit likely to damaged/US? If so, should i replace the whole system, or look for masthead assembly?

 

[Jonny_H]

You can just replace the masthead unit - complete new masthead unit (with cable) is around £110
If its working ok (direction fine) - try just putting new cups on (worth a try for £6!)
You won't need to replace the display unit I wouldn't imagine.

Jonny

 

[ex-Gladys]

Nasa also do a repair service. My unit had lost the pin a few years back, and they replaced it, and the cups for about £25 as I recall

 

[patf]

Worst thing I ever purchased The masthead indicator has so far needed repalceing each year. About to buy a more expensive set up which hopefully will last longer