TachTick

It's TackTick with a 'k'.

I have two TT instruments - wind and their dual data, combined with the TT masthead unit, speed/temp transducer*, depth transducer*, fluxgate compass, and some sort of interface unit to a Garmin plotter and Raymarine autopilot. All works well, except it occasionally loses windspeed and direction. The loss can be cured by unclipping one display head and taking it towards the bow where it has a better 'view' of the masthead unit. The suspicion is that some sort of electronic interference generated on the boat or elsewhere causes the masthead signal to be lost, and it then won't re-establish itself without a stronger signal. A mild nuisance, but it only happens about one trip in five, so not a awful hassle.

The set-up allows me to display just about everything including GPS derived info and inside leg measurement on the dual display, although 99.9% of the time I just have it showing speed and depth. The nice thing about the system is that I can add extra displays just by screwing them onto the instrument panel, whenever I wish.

smallnumbers.jpg


*Both transducers actually made by Airmar, so nothing TT specific about them.
 
Last edited:
aitchem said:
Hi,
I am considering going all TachTick in my complete refit.
Just looking for feedback.

thanks
Howard
Click to expand...

I bought their entry level wind system and their wireless nmea interface and both have worked reliably.

However I had to take issue with them over misleading details relating to the wireless nmea interface. The documenation and webite gave the impression that the nmea interface also can act as a multiplexer by taking in nmea data via its wired input and combining it with wind data (or other Tacktick instrument data) and then transimitting through the wired nmea output.

It DOESN'T! It only accepts GPS data which it also uses to calculate true wind data. Other data such as depth is not transmitted.

So my plans to use the nmea interface instead of needing a multiplexer backfired! (A Shipmodul miniplex lite combines depth data and gps + wind for displaying on a notebook and chart plotter)
I

PS I believe only the entry level system requires the wireless nmea interface - the others have a nmea in and out built into the display unit.
 
Twister_Ken said:
My wireless system certainly sends wind, depth and speed info to the plotter and the autopilot. Dunno how, but it does, and there is an interface unit in the system somewhere.
Click to expand...

May be the standalone wireless interface doesn't? I had a heated argument with Tacktick over this, with sales people saying it would send depth data and techies saying the wired input was only for gps data, which seems to be the case.

I presume the interface only recognises sentences with the GP prefix whereas my old Seafarer log transmits SDDBT, so maybe it could be that.
 
I'll go for TackTicks then.
Save me drilling thro' cables at a later date, my least favourite hobby.
Phew.! just seen the price.!
( better not tell the 'al wifey )
 
Twister_Ken said:
Ian,

What I have is this plus a free fluxgate compass - the 2010 boat show special offer!

The T122 wireless nmea interface is probably what talks and listens to my plotter and autopilot, but it was installed for me and so I'm not absolutely certain.
Click to expand...

This works because the speed and depth are from Tacktick transducers.
Mine probably didn't bcause the depth (& speed when I free the paddle wheel!) are from an old antique Seafarer unit.

However, there is still a shortcoming with the Tacktick interface in my view, because my laptop and plotter can handle the data from the Seafarer with no problems if fed in to it via the multiplexer.
But depth data definitely will not pass through the Tacktick nmea interface - only GPS data gets through so I have to use the second multiplexer input for the wind + gps data.
 
My Tacktick wind failed a month after the warranty expired.They were very helpful at first answering my E mails but I had to buy a new wind head.They E mailed me to say it would be fixed price £115.When I went to pay they charged £135.I queried this and they said they forgot the VAT.When I got the new wind head it was a different design from the previous one.I then found out that there had been several failures of this unit and I met others at my marina who had suffered the same problem.I E mailed and phoned Tacktick and queried whether the original was fit for purpose.They did not answer my E mails and left me hanging on the phone so in the end I gave up.Some one said the after sales was a problem after Sunto took them over.Hope Raymarine do better.
 
Wired systems are unreliable enough. Why go one step higher on the risk level. If there is a wiring problem you have a chance to fix it. Wireless not working and it is game over.
 
jfkal said:
Wired systems are unreliable enough. Why go one step higher on the risk level. If there is a wiring problem you have a chance to fix it. Wireless not working and it is game over.
Click to expand...

There may be logic in what you say, but I had many more problems with the Raymarine ST50/60 system on my old boat, than with TT on this one. Essentially, I think, because there are no junctions in a wireless system, and no copper. Remember the chemical formula : Copper + Electricity + Salt = Green Gunk.
 
TT Instruments

We had a full TT system fitted in early 2006 - speed/depth/wind/GPS with three displays [one single line large digit, one double line digit and one wind]. Had initial problems with depth readings - cured by replacing original depth transducer with an Airmar. Had problems after a few years with wind transducer seizing up in light winds [needed new bearings]. Other than those problems we're very happy with the setup and I'd buy TT again if I changed boats. Particularly like the fact that I can tuck the displays away down below in the dry when on the mooring and can take them home in the Winter.
 
Works

Hi,
I had Tacktick sytems on my last and on my current boat (wind, speed, depth, nmea).
the system talks to the chartplotter (garmin 5008) and the autopilot (SPX-1) without a problem. Depth and wind will be displayed on the plotter and the autopilot gets the wind-info as well.
Worked well on my last boat and works well on the current one.
BUT: but there is a problem with the wireless wind instrument.
It only occurs near my mooring in Dublin and once in Falmouth during the delivery trip of my new toy.
The wind instrument lost contact to the wind vane and had to be switched off and on several times to get connected again. Only the wind transmitter dropped out, the rest worked without a problem.
As this was exactly the same on my old boat I am very sure that it is not a mechanical problem. I have the suspicion that there is interference on a certain frequence which results in the drop out. I contacted Tacktick when it first occured on the old boat and they told me that it must be a fault with the wind vane and I should send it in. To be honest I couldn't be bothered to climb up the mast as the error only occured at the mooring. And as the new system has exactly the same problem it must be some transmitter near my mooring.
Anyway, other than that I recently found out that Tackticks customer service is fantastic.
The boatbuilder lost the service plugs for the transducers, I contacted Tacktick in order to buy them, they send me a pair for free.
I then found out that the Airmar speed transducer must be faulty as it gave very intermittend speed readings. Tacktick sent me a new one within days with my promise to send the old faulty one back.

Thats what I call good customer service.
Long post but overall I am very happy, I hope that now that Raymarine bought them it is not going downhill... ;(

Regards,
jow
 
I've raced on boats with electronics from just about all the manufacturers. Tactic are certainly no less reliable than any of the others.

I also liked the ability, on a delivery with less experienced crew, to take an instrument to my bunk. I could then access all the data - distance to waypoint, XTE, depth etc. Quite reassuring!
 
Twister_Ken said:
Essentially, I think, because there are no junctions in a wireless system, and no copper. Remember the chemical formula : Copper + Electricity + Salt = Green Gunk.
Click to expand...

I have had a Tack Tick system for 5 years and am very pleased with it and with the support from TackTick with some minor problems.

However I think someone contemplating buying a system, other than just the basic windspeed, should be aware that there is wiring and connectors. The speed/log transducer and the depth transducer have to be wired to a "Hull Transmitter" which also needs a 12V supply. If you want to interface to a Chartplotter then you also need an "NMEA Interface" which needs a 12V supply and wiring to your chartplotter, the system is not totally wireless.

The special virtue is the absolute freedom to mount the readouts wherever you like, with no need for electrical connection, and indeed to have more than one mounting position if that is appropriate.

I have noticed , only this season though, that the windspeed occasionally goes blank, but reappears on switching off and on again.
 
reeac said:
We had a full TT system fitted in early 2006 - speed/depth/wind/GPS with three displays [one single line large digit, one double line digit and one wind]. Had initial problems with depth readings - cured by replacing original depth transducer with an Airmar.
Click to expand...

I have had problems with the depth readings, which I think are mainly due to inhull mounting, it is generally OK on Starboard tack, but blanks at times when heeled on Port tack.

However I thought the transducers were Airmar, what did you replace yours with, and is it through or in hull?
 
hi

im on my third mast head unit in 4 years very bad design bearings rusted solid . also if you don keep the transducer transmitters fully charged tover the winter then you will run into problems

handy units the other weekend i was on board in bed with the wind unit unclipped beside me watching gust of 35 knts outside

i also changed boats and took the wind unit with me had it reffited in an hour
 
Leighb said:
I have had problems with the depth readings, which I think are mainly due to inhull mounting, it is generally OK on Starboard tack, but blanks at times when heeled on Port tack.

However I thought the transducers were Airmar, what did you replace yours with, and is it through or in hull?
Click to expand...

Originally our boat had Stowe instruments and I was advised that the original Stowe depth transducer would be compatible with TT gear but, as we had frequent spurious readings in shallow water [just when you want accurate readings] we fitted the Airmar which cured the problem. Both makes were through-hull by which I mean that the transducer was in contact with the water ["through-hull" could mean that the ultrasonic signals were transmitted through the hull].
 
reeac said:
Originally our boat had Stowe instruments and I was advised that the original Stowe depth transducer would be compatible with TT gear but, as we had frequent spurious readings in shallow water [just when you want accurate readings] we fitted the Airmar which cured the problem. Both makes were through-hull by which I mean that the transducer was in contact with the water ["through-hull" could mean that the ultrasonic signals were transmitted through the hull].
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, I will refit with a through-hull mounting next winter as reliable depth readings are essential on the East Coast.
 
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