Spurious wind indications - ST50

[Goldie]

Sailing close hauled on port in about 10 knots of wind, the wind direction needle gradually swung all the way round to a starboard beam reach position. The boat remained close hauled on port. The fault just as gradually corrected itself. The same or similar fault happened twice more the following day. Wind speed indications remained normal. I once had a B&G Hornet indicating 40kts in a flat calm as one of Her Majesty's grey funnel liners swept past (presumably radiating something the Hornet didn't like), but this time there was nothing else in sight. Could be a fruitless (expensive!) investigation for a professional if the fault only exists for a couple of minutes each day. As ever, sage advice much appreciated.

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[Cornishman]

Lick your forefinger and hold it up above your head. Best wind indicator yet devised.

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[Chris_Stannard]

I understand that there have been problems with ST50 software. Check your software issue, the manual will tell you how as it is part of the setup procedure. Then ask your supplier if there has been an upgrade. If you are still in warranty you should get this free of charge. If you can't get any info from the dealer ring the Raymarine help line, you can find the number on the back of the handbook.

<hr width=100% size=1>Chris Stannard

 

[Birdseye]

have had some funny indications from my own st50 at various times, usually related to backdrafts at the top of the mast.

next time, look up and see where the little "sail" on the indicator is pointing. if the direction shown is not correct but the "sail" is correct, then the problem is likely to be electronic. if, on the other hand, the dial is simply following the sail which in turn is pointing in a funny direction, then there is likely to be some odd aerodynamic reason

last thing to do is to remove the masthead bit and clean it as best you can. they do get stiff with airborn dirt, and this does have funny effects since it menas the "sail" follows strong gusts but is much too slow to get back to the correct direction.

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[Goldie]

I should have said; the "sail" remained constant in the correct direction.

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[steve_cronin]

My ST50 funnies....

...are usually in trying to get it to adjust the true vs apparent. Some days fine, others it makes no sense at all. I've had a Windex fitted now and so don't rely upon the ST for anything other than weather reports.

Steve Cronin

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[Birdseye]

got some very odd readings this year before i did my 720 deg circles and calibrated the direction bit. maybe a duff internal memory battery (if they have one)
other than that, it has to be an electronic repair.

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[simonbertie]

Ive got one for sale if yours is kaput

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[NigeCh]

As we are an open board, I'll stay stum.

I've yet to make an ocean passage where the instruments of the same manufacture (all of them) haven't failed. They are IMO too lightweight and unfit for purpose.

A good (or bad example) is the combined radar/plotter screen which mists up so badly that you can't see anything. Another example is when one bit fails and throws everything else out and also suddenly changes half of the units from nautical to metric and the repeaters have gone the other way round - Most confusing.

Yes, the advertiser has full page adverts in YM ... but the proof of the pudding is them failing even when new and all at sea .... and that's NOT GOOD.

Back to wind instruments: The best by day and by night are 1" strips of supermarket bags looped round the capping shrouds. They are free and never lie. They also tell you how to trim the sails.

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[charles_reed]

Wind indicators are always misinforming one - mine started the same way, now it packs in for minutes at a time.
In fairness it usually gives up the unequal struggle when the masthead is dancing around due to wave action and there is insufficient wind to keep the pointer steady.
However, in my case, the windspeed is also affected - it could be the head or a faulty connection.
Whatever it is I'm wasting no energy on it - the masthead indicator does a good job, after dark it's lit by the tri-colour and for fine-tuning I use the tell-tales on headsail and main.

As regards windspeed the extent of heel is a much better indication of wind-speed and of the need to reef.

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