Replace Vane on Nasa Wind Instrument

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

During one of last Winter's storms, the topping lift of the boat on the other side of the pontoon finger came adrift and wrapped itself around my Nasa masthead wind instrument sender, removing the wind direction vane in the process. The owner of the neighbouring boat has since removed the offending line, but I now have to replace the vane.
While I can find plenty of information on replacing the cups, I can find nothing about replacing the vane. It's been a long time since I have seen the sender at close quarters, and memory fades. I would like to know what to expect when ascending the mast with the replacement vane, and what tool(s) to bring up with me. I would prefer to just have one trip up the mast and not have to make a reconaissance trip first. Can anyone help?

 

[Minerva]

I'd drop Nasa an email or give them a call - they will let you know exactly whats needed and it'll be in the post today in all likelihood

 

[Graham376]

Assaid above, NASA are very helpful. They also have installation manual downloads which should provide fitting info. - Manuals - Nasa Marine Instruments

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Thanks, Minerva and Graham376, but I have inadvertently found a diagram showing how the part is mounted, when I went onto Seamark Nunn's website while searching for the best price and shipping charge.

 

[neil_s]

The vane is secured in exactly the same way as the cups. There is a press-in plastic top cover that you can pop off with a knife blade. Then there is a spring clip that holds the vane onto it's spindle. That might give you some trouble to remove, but if you have a repair kit from NASA there should be a new one, so the easiest way to shift the old one is with a pair of wire cutters.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

The vane is secured in exactly the same way as the cups. There is a press-in plastic top cover that you can pop off with a knife blade. Then there is a spring clip that holds the vane onto it's spindle. That might give you some trouble to remove, but if you have a repair kit from NASA there should be a new one, so the easiest way to shift the old one is with a pair of wire cutters.

Mine was removed during a storm, by a stray line from a neighbouring boat!

 

[Iliade]

Have a bag containing the microscopic spring clip and perhaps a pair of pliers to carefully push it down with; I used my fingers. Said clip looks far too easy to lose, so do it on a calm day.

 

[Malish]

Get the yard to do it - your neighbours insurance should cover the cost (?)

 

[Rhylsailer99]

Nasa Mast Head Unit Replacement Wind Vane Kit V1

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Nasa Mast Head Unit Replacement Wind Vane Kit V1

That's saved me some shopping time, as it's the best price I've seen so far.
Now I've just got to establish whether I need to order the one for the 3-wire-, or the 5-wire version. I assume I will be able to ascertain this at the back of the display ? The unit is the bog standard analogue one, bought in 2011.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Update:
I have established that the masthead unit is the 5-wire version (red,blue, white,brown+ sheath). I decided to do some more online searching and found that the dearest price was from SVB24, at over €36.00 +€8.95 intra-EU postage, and the least expensive was from Aquamare at £12.08.
NASA Wind Vane Kit White - Target and Cruiser - Aquamare Marine
However, questions regarding the cheapest postage, through an accomodation address in the UK, which I must arrange offline, still await answers.