Which wind direction instrument?

[Nina Lucia]

I have been looking to get something new at the boat show, and we never had one of those, except good old windex (even that one was replaced this summer)
Which wind direction instrument?

Clipper Wireless Wind?
tacktick wireless?
or something with the wire all the way trough the mast?
or nothing at all, we have sailed our Vancouver 27 last 10 years without it..., if is to windy reef........
and I can repace our vhf with the one with ais?

 

[V1701]

Lots of people, myself included & from personal experience, will say avoid NASA, the masthead unit is not very reliable, although if the masthead unit is completely different on the wireless one might be OK. I'd just stick with a windex...

(See recent lengthy NASA new product thread)

 

[GrahamM376]

Do you want to be able to steer to wind with an autopilot? If so you need to check compatibility of the various makes. NASA instruments are generally good value for money but the masthead wind does have a reputation for losing the cups, quite what % have problems I don't know but, in relation to the probably thousands sold, it may only be a few. Bad news always travels fastest.

 

[Norman_E]

In my opinion the best and clearest multifunction instrument is the B&G Triton which uses an NMEA2000 wired system. If connected to an NMEA2000 mast head unit and a log depth transducer the wind display gives both true and apparent wind speed and direction.

 

[Storyline]

Avoid wireless (Tackshit) although ours is old and I cannot wait to replace it - hate it

 

[reeac]

Avoid wireless (Tackshit) although ours is old and I cannot wait to replace it - hate it

We've had Tacktick instruments for about 8 years now. The masthead wind unit has been a bit troublesome, tending to seize up but I now have a cheap cure. Take home each winter (the mast always comes down when ashore), give a squirt of Wurth Ultra 2040 and put it on a post outside so that it keeps spinning all winter long.

 

[gonad]

Tack tick great new bearing after 8 years wonderful

 

[simonfraser]

Tac Tick for 7 yrs no prob
Nmea interface with Autohelm, steers to apparent

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Tac Tick for 7 yrs no prob
Nmea interface with Autohelm, steers to apparent

ST60 coming up to 15 years - original MHU, replaced the head once at 13 years. It could have been repaired but it went wrong mid-trip and I just wanted it working again quickly.

 

[Border Terrier]

Whiskers, cheeks and neck and the occasional cigarette.