Ultrasonic Wind Indicators?

[Touching Cloth]

Any opinions on ultrasonic wind indicators?

Seen a Calypso 0183 unit for about £400.

Looking to replace ancient Stowe unit (still giving wind speed after approx 40 years) so I can connect to autohelm to steer to wind.

Thank you.

 

[KompetentKrew]

I bought an LCJ Capteurs CV7.

Not sure how you'd interface it with your Stowe. The base CV7 is NMEA 0183.

Cruising Sailboats Archives - LCJ Capteurs: Sonic wind sensor, windvane, ultrasonic anemometer.

 

[Tranona]

Don't have direct experience of that but have just fitted a NASA system which is around half the price and you get a display as well. Gives 0183 output

 

[geem]

A friend is Captain on a large motorboat. They have a Garmin ultrasonic that is useless in his opinion. We both wingfoil and when anchored next to each other, he is for ever asking us what the true wind speed is

 

[noelex]

We also have a LCJ Capteurs CV7 and it has been excellent. It outputs NMEA 0183, but they sell a converter for NMEA 2000 systems like ours.

In Australia, there are places where conventional wind sensors have a short life (not that we are anywhere near Australia at the moment ).

Garmin ultrasonic that is useless in his opinion.

I didn’t know Garmin produced one.

 

[bergie]

We also have the CV7, and have been running it happily for the past five seasons.

Once in Finland I had to go up and evict a spider that had decided to make a nest next to one of the ultrasonic sensors -- we got good wind data on one tack, and random on the other.

But that's been the only reliability issue. A traditional mechanical one wasn't an option, as back home crows are into eating those. Just like they eat the regular windex indicators as well. Ultrasonic doesn't have that problem.

 

[geem]

We also have a LCJ Capteurs CV7 and it has been excellent. It outputs NMEA 0183, but they sell a converter for NMEA 2000 systems like ours.

In Australia, there are places where conventional wind sensors have a short life (not that we are anywhere near Australia at the moment ).


I didn’t know Garmin produced one.

I assumed it was a Garmin device. The boat is all Garmin instruments but it is possible its not a Garmin

 

[Dockhead]

I've had two CV-7's, the current one the higher refresh rate racing model.

It's a good sensor, pretty accurate and very reliable.

I'm likely to replace it or supplement it with a mechanical wind sensor, however, as the CV-7 is not easy to calibrate with the B&G H5000, since it responds to heel differently. Probably one from A+T based on the old B&G 213.

 

[noelex]

Probably one from A+T based on the old B&G 213.

The A+T transducers are the gold standard at the moment (but conventional rather than ultrasonic).

They are based on the B&G 213, but I gather they are significantly improved. We had a B&G 213 on our previous yacht, which was accurate (for our purposes), but the circuit board was not reliable and expensive to replace. As the A+T uses its own circuit board, so hopefully they have solved this issue.

 

[Dockhead]

The A+T transducers are the gold standard at the moment (but conventional rather than ultrasonic).

They are based on the B&G 213, but I gather they are significantly improved. We had a B&G 213 on our previous yacht, which was accurate (for our purposes), but the circuit board was not reliable and expensive to replace. As the A+T uses its own circuit board, so hopefully they have solved this issue.

The A+T has a stellar reputation, and besides that, they are local to me, so I can drop by and talk to the guys there.

Its analogue, completely undamped output is exactly what you want for the H5000 sailing computer.

I will keep the CV-7 up there for backup and comparison.

 

[Dino]

Anyone tried the Autonnic ones?
Masthead Wind Sensor Unit NMEA2000 | Autonnic

 

[VicS]

Ventimeter



Doesn't interface with anything but if looked after will last forever

You always find them on ebay... I got one in as new condition

 

[KompetentKrew]

Anyone tried the Autonnic ones?
Masthead Wind Sensor Unit NMEA2000 | Autonnic

I looked at those. I think someone on here said they have a good reputation and are popular with racers, and I think their site seemed good too. But in the end I went with the LCJ Capteurs CV7.

I hated having no speed through the water because the paddlewheel was clogged, so I'm going to get an ultrasonic or magnetic speed transducer. When I saw the CV7 got good reviews I didn't see any reason not to do the same thing at the top of the mast.

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

Anyone tried the Autonnic ones?
Masthead Wind Sensor Unit NMEA2000 | Autonnic

Hardly Ultrasonic?

 

[migs]

We've also got a CV7, and it lasted 10 years before going out of calibration. Capteurs were most helpful, and we went through several cycles of data logging and firmware uprades before we gave up; they then sold me a discount replacement.

Changing the instrument was a pita; swinging around at the top of the mast trying to solder tiny wires... Anyway, I would buy another one rather than a whirylgig thingummy, as the starlings are very agressive round our way.