Replacing Nasa Clipper Wind Vane Cups

[jusw]

The cups on my Nasa Clipper Wind system dropped off some years ago.

I bought replacements and went up the mast to fit them - talk about a fiddly job, me swinging around in a Bosun's chair trying to fit tiny clips on a shaft pointing downwards.

Needless to say I lost the clips and that was that for the day!

Two years later I have lowered the mast and access is 1000 times easier, I've got replacment clips and washers but have lost the instructions! It's pretty straightforward, but does anyone know how many washers are needed and exactly which side of the boss on the cups they are fitted? I'd hate to get it wrong and find out when the mast is back up again!

As always thanks for your help.

JuSw

 

[kieronriley]

washers

as far as i can remember one inside and one outside(the cups that is)but just ring nasa they are realy very very helpfull,but you will be back up there soon enough to know the set up yourself soon,as the cups seem to fall off quite often .Kieron

 

[RAI]

Yep! Mine fell off last summer. I got the repair kit, this time with a tiny nylock nut included. I still have to brave the mast or lower it to fix the new paddle wheel back on.

 

[Caer Urfa]

Not for everyone but maybe an idea for others!.
Talked with other people who had the same problem for years and after tests I mounted mine to a diy pulpit mast.
The Nasa units are basic but work well and spares are available, but the cups do wear over time and conditions.
Now with easy access it takes me all of 20 minutes to change it.
We tested the same NASA units on two identical Colvic Watsons Motorsailers under full sail sloop rigged but the other one had the wind cup 'ontop' of the main mast.
Over three weekends in various wind and sea conditions we found very little differance in wind mph or direction and being a motorsailer we are not in a race or worried about one knot max differance!
Mike
Archivist for the Colvic Watson Owners Group