Which Instruments?

Would it not have been sensible to check data from the transducer first? I have dipped my mast head and destroyed the wind data plus the connections, repaired with a soldering iron and some copper, there was no raymarine agent within 400 miles, they will work everytime with a bit of common sence
 
Well thanks everyone for the input. I think the ST 60plus wind, coupled with their close hauled analogue display seems like an excellent option. On a cat, trimming up to wind, especially when the higher speed puts the apparent wind on the nose very quickly is very attractive. Also on my cat I have a solid wheelhouse with comfy helm seat so I usually have no idea what the wind is doing unless I stick my head outside! The Cetrec GPS is a bit superfluous as I have 3 GPS read outs from 2 antennae anyway so it can stay until it expires. One antenna feeds a garmin "downstairs" from which I get info for my laptop. The other my chartplotter in the cockpit and the Cetrec jobbie. The reason I don't want to interface my radar with anything else is that they are all there in front of my nose anyway and I don't like radar screens to be split. I want the full screen showing exactly what I have the radar for.....radar! It is interfaced with a gyro compass for obvious reasons but now't else. The plotter gets GPS info and tells me where I am and in which direction I am going on a chart. That's all I want from that! The rest of the instruments can stand alone apart from the fact that they need to interface with one another to give me speed through the water, depth, and true and apparent wind direction and speed which I wouldn't have without the speed of the boat. So yes I do actually believe in interfacing, but not just to clutter up my radar with stuff I can see elsewhere and make the radar picture less easy to read in consequence! The ability to retro-interface kit from one maker is a big bonus too so I agree with that... So I think its ST60 unless I get really impressed by tacktick.
Oh well there goes another 1200 quid......
I think the TackTick instruments are worthy of a butchers though, although they seem to be a bit more expensive than ST60. and dont seem to present an analogue wind instrument.....seems all digital, or am I wrong? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
We went for TackTick wind, depth and log recently and after a hitch due to a defective wind transducer we are very pleased. Early days yet but we hope that by storing the displays down below when not in use they will last well. We retained our old Stowe bronze depth transducer as it's compatible with TackTick.
 
Yup, go along with Mirelle, my B&G instruments are 30 years old and although the facia's are shot they still all work.
Next couple of seasons they are getting replaced with new B&G kit...yes its expensive but as I am not a fan of chartplotters & other electronics, my basic instruments - wind depth & log are also part of my nav. setup, as I use paper charts.

poter.
 
Tried that thanks. The bronze log/speed transducer is a sealed unit that you can't get at. I am advised by Raymarine that to take readings from the cable shows nothing unless you have an oscilliscope so I'm not sure what this common sense is you are talking about. I sent off the instrument head as a last gasp attempt to find the problem to avoid the cost of lifting and then having the boat out of commission for two to three weeks while the transducer was tested leaving a big hole in the bottom of the boat!
 
I would also recommend ST60+. Consider a Tridata rather than seperate speed and depth if you're short of space . ST60 wind is superb IMHO - allowing the autohelm to sail a constant wind angle with ease.

One thing I found was that the speed and depth transducers supplied with ST60 required more "headroom" than was available to me (the old ST50 ones seem to have been shorter). Good news is that the transducer OEM (Airmar) does a compatible range of transducers (known as "Shorty"). Airmar have a great website with lots of information and are very holpful.

As a matter of personal preference, I fitted transducers that are retractibe, so in case of any problems, they can be removed / tested / replaced without a lift-out.
 
Tacktick offer three display units,an analog Wind display, a single read out Data display & a dual readout Data display.

I have the Analogue & two Dual Displays. I have to confess that I am often at a loss as to what to do with all the information available. My instruments are also connected to my GPS (Garmin), DSC Radio & a Laptop for Chart Software. The NMEA Interface makes it easy to connect all the inputs & adding another Display is a matter of a minutes work.

I am extremely impressed. This has got to be the future of all electronocs.

Martin
 
Our Tacktick system has a single line digital display, an analogue plus digital display and a dual line digital display. Our "default" useage is: depth displayed by single digital [BIG numbers], wind displayed by Analogue/ digital display and crosstrack error and bearing to waypoint from the dual line digital display. If using the Autohelm connected to the GPS then you can get GPS/Waypoint data from the Autohelm display and the log speed and SOG from the dual digital display. It all whiles away the time on a long trip when conditions are benign.
 
I try to avoid using Crosstrack Error when sailing. Chasing the crosstrack can be negative on a sailing vessel. I do like to use the ETA at a waypoint because this often acts as an encouragement to keep sailing when there is a great temptation to start the Iron Tops'l. Its a phycological thing with me.

Again, I have avoided connecting my Tiller Pilot to my GPS because this also is potentially dodgy on a sailing vessel.

Speed & Depth are the obvious ones to display although, once in consistently deep water, I do find Depth a little superfluos (is that spelt right).

Like you, the Analogue Display is usually left on the Apparent Wind Direction & Speed.

Do you ever use the tack function & the lift setting?

I must confess that I am not wholly sold on these functions.

Martin
 
You still there Brendan. I thought you were in Rehab after snorting too much Perming Lotion.

OK so I cant spell but you splash me, with your wake again & i'll make myself understood.

Martin
 
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