Wind instruments

[e014945]

Dear All,

I am updating my boat electronic at the moment, and one thing i wanted is to add a wind instrument now that i have a MFD in the cockpit (Raymarine a65).

What sort of wind instruments do you have and do you find it useful to connect it to the MDF for the lay lines?

I think that this could potentially help us make the right tack while sailing between the islands in holland.

Last question, why are they so expensive (the wind instruments ) compared to other instruments such as a log?

Thanks

Gary

 

[simonfraser]

def helps with the lay lines, and interface it with the autohelm, getting it to sail to apparent wind is excellent.

 

[e014945]

yes this could help indeed, but for this, it will need to wait a bit while i save up for the new tiller pilot with a remote control.

I also would like to add a AIS transponder at a later stage.

 

[LittleSister]

why are they so expensive (the wind instruments ) compared to other instruments such as a log?

Because, unlike a log, it takes a lot of time, skill and specialist materials and parts to make an oboe.

(I'll get my coat!)

 

[William_H]

I would suggest OP think carefully before committing to wind instruments. They can be a pain to maintain in working order. Around here the birds are inclined to attack the delicate gear. Of course all maintenance must be done at the top of the mast.
Meanwhile at EFYC (my club) we had wind instruments on a post top near the club. (deep water red mark with flashing light) The instruments were connected to the internet ( seabreeze.com.au) really useful with about 8 similar stations around the area we could see the wind changes coming. (and get a record of wind gusts when we got home) Anyway dear Bruce manged to get his assy spin on his Farr 25 into the post, ripped off the plastic box shape and our instruments which were recovered the next day from 3 metres deep water. (ruined of course) Bah Humbug ol'will

 

[peterf]

I recently replaced my Raymarine wind instrument that had broken with the Digital yacht windsense. Obviously time will tell but I was very impressed with the windsense build quality. Windsense outputs Nmea data and this plugs into my digital yacht Ais transponder that has WiFi. I’m very happy with the tablet/phone/iPad style of plotting and hope going for the WiFi approach will help simplify system. So far very impressed by Digital Yacht equipment - it works..

 

[[70521]]

I also would like to add a AIS transponder at a later stage.

Why? My AIS is at the nav station below. It only gets looked at if I am interested in that big ship over there just to pass the time of day. If it was up on by the wheel and I was about to collide with anything then I want to look at that vessel, not know its name, what speed and course it is doing and compare the computed time to impact with the actual!

Saying all of the above it is really useful for letting family and friends know where you are and if you will get in for last orders at the bar.