Windex 15 , to fit or not to fit an anti bird spike

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Chris CJ

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Out sailing yesterday in Weymouth Bay , noticed something was missing on top of the mast - the windex , bird attack or the recent storms - don’t really know , but it is not there!

looking at replacement, there are options : to have the standard windex 15 or a windex 15 with an anti bird spike .
any thoughts on the benefits of fitting an anti bird spike ,

pleased to say this didn‘t stop two dolphins playing around the boat for an hour - what lovely creatures and pleasure they bring
chris
 
Chris CJ said:
Out sailing yesterday in Weymouth Bay , noticed something was missing on top of the mast - the windex , bird attack or the recent storms - don’t really know , but it is not there!

looking at replacement, there are options : to have the standard windex 15 or a windex 15 with an anti bird spike .
any thoughts on the benefits of fitting an anti bird spike ,

pleased to say this didn‘t stop two dolphins playing around the boat for an hour - what lovely creatures and pleasure they bring
chris
Click to expand...
Another option is a "Hawk", which is is made in the UK.
 
Have just replaced our windex (while mast was down to update rigging / wiring,) and got one with a bird spike. Birds now roost on the outer extremities of the vane.....or the wind instrument wand......or, on light wind days, the cups of the anemometer.......seemingly undeterred. Though who knows, it may have put a few off! And it makes me feel as if I've 'done my bit.'
 
thanks for your thoughts , I will probably go for a Windex 15 with anti bird spike , then it will be a case of going up the mast , bit annoying as the mast was down in November for a re rig - well that’s boating for you .

Chris
 
It’s odd that at least 3 boats of friends here in Jersey have like me lost our wind arrows this winter

not clear whether they have blown off in a Gale or been removed by a crow (as someone claims to have witnessed) but odd that so many have gone this winter

the missing ones are those that sit on a VHF aeriel, with a lug over the aerial

I’ve always called it a winded but I’m struggling to find a replacement arrow

a hawk seems to have a model that drops over the Aeriel..what keeps it in place apart from gravity ?

is hawk the only manufacturer that makes one that drops on an aeriel ?
 
Ordered a windex 15 with bird spike from Virtual Rigger Ltd yesterday morning arrived this morning by post , excellent service and a reasonable price , just added a boaty key ring to get it over £50 for the free postage .
well pleased , just have to climb the mast to fit - that might take a little longer !
 
climb the mast for the first time last Wednesday , 18.5m above the water is a long way up , was able to use the existing Windex bottom bracket , just as well as I couldn’t shift it , successfully installed the Windex aided by trusted winchman Kevin lining up the back stay giving hand signals with regards to the position of the tabs Set at 60 degrees

guess what - not having had bird issues before , on Thursday - cheeky blighters , three crows decided the mast head was a great place to have a party , so much for the bird spike ! , hay ho
 
Chris CJ said:
climb the mast for the first time last Wednesday , 18.5m above the water is a long way up , was able to use the existing Windex bottom bracket , just as well as I couldn’t shift it , successfully installed the Windex aided by trusted winchman Kevin lining up the back stay giving hand signals with regards to the position of the tabs Set at 60 degrees

guess what - not having had bird issues before , on Thursday - cheeky blighters , three crows decided the mast head was a great place to have a party , so much for the bird spike ! , hay ho
Click to expand...
So, it would have been better to fit an Anti-bird-spike instead of a bird spike :cool:
 
When I sold my last boat, not a week before the survey, a bald eagle decide to play with my instruments (anemometer and direction indicator) like a cat with a mouse. Bits and pieces were scattered around the deck. Fortunatly, the plastic bits are not hard to replace.
 
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