EASLOOP
Well-Known Member
How useful is a windex in a cruising yacht? No cleaning windows jokes please.
Look forwrd to your candid comments.
Thanks
Look forwrd to your candid comments.
Thanks
windex
- Thread starter EASLOOP
- Start date
Poignard
Well-Known Member
I find it very useful, particularly when manouvering slowly with a boat that is greatly affected by bow windage.
zeds
Member
Not having an electronic masthead unit I find it useful enough to have replaced it this winter as the old one was disintegrating after 20 years loyal service. My vote says very useful and excellent value for money
dulcibella
Well-Known Member
I find that it is the only wind instrument needed for cruising. Provides an easy head-up way of assessing apparent wind by day or night. Electronic wind may be useful to racers, but for cruisng purposes the natural indicators give Beaufort force fairl reliably and wave direction indicate the true wind, so a simple masthead indicator of apparent and angle off close-hauled is perfect.
snooks
Well-Known Member
I find it invaluable, quick look up tells me how high I'm pointing, I can also check out the mainsail tell tells while I'm looking at it....it tells me if I'm sailing by the lee when I'm going down wind.
It's a great simple bit of kit that gives me the basic information I use to trim my sails. Every yacht should have one /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
It's a great simple bit of kit that gives me the basic information I use to trim my sails. Every yacht should have one /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Gubbo
Well-Known Member
I also find it very useful when explaining to rookie helmspeople why they can't always sail in the direction they want to go.
Something like "... keep the tail of the arrow outside the two tabs and you'll be fine".
Really good bit of kit and, as mentioned above, I also always trust it when on a run to keep gybes at bay.
Something like "... keep the tail of the arrow outside the two tabs and you'll be fine".
Really good bit of kit and, as mentioned above, I also always trust it when on a run to keep gybes at bay.
mikehibb
Well-Known Member
Reminds me, must get a new one.
Mine blew off a few weeks ago.
I wonder if SWMBO fancies a trip up the mast to save a few quid. (not expecting any positive answers from her either)
Mine blew off a few weeks ago.
I wonder if SWMBO fancies a trip up the mast to save a few quid. (not expecting any positive answers from her either)
EASLOOP
Well-Known Member
Thanks everybody. Best rush to the shop before my mast is re-installed (stepped?)
TamarMike
Well-Known Member
That's where your burgee should be /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
William_H
Well-Known Member
I certainly need a windex. Mainly for foretelling a gybe but also useful to confirm you are on the wind.
I have lost a few (in the water) so have taken to making my own.
I use carbon fibre cloth as a basis. I cut out a fin shape with a long pointer (fuselage.Symetrical fin above and below the pointer will aid balance. This is laid on a very flat piece of glass or similar with a piece of cling wrap or plastic bag to allow for removal. The carbon is saturated with resin. Epoxy or polyester. I then lay more carbon mostly strands to beef up the fuselage pointer body. I lay a small piece of brass or stainless steel tubing on the pointer at rightangle to suit the vertical post. This is stuck in with more resin and carbon fibre so it ends up nearly in the middle of the pointer width.
When it is all hard I paint it if it is epoxy and fit a small piece of lead at the poi9nter fornt to balance the whole thing.
It drops onto a stainless steel rod 2.5 to 3mm thick which is mounted vertically on the mast top. A piece of steel tube from the inside of a chocolate block electrical connector with 2 screws sits under the pointer and another on top top hold it down. Fit some washers to reduce friction.
I don't need guide pointers at 45 degrees to cl so don't bother.
The carbon fibre is brilliantly stiff thin and light so worth getting a bit.
My current pointer has received compliments for being so big it is an aid to other boats when racing nearby. olewill
I have lost a few (in the water) so have taken to making my own.
I use carbon fibre cloth as a basis. I cut out a fin shape with a long pointer (fuselage.Symetrical fin above and below the pointer will aid balance. This is laid on a very flat piece of glass or similar with a piece of cling wrap or plastic bag to allow for removal. The carbon is saturated with resin. Epoxy or polyester. I then lay more carbon mostly strands to beef up the fuselage pointer body. I lay a small piece of brass or stainless steel tubing on the pointer at rightangle to suit the vertical post. This is stuck in with more resin and carbon fibre so it ends up nearly in the middle of the pointer width.
When it is all hard I paint it if it is epoxy and fit a small piece of lead at the poi9nter fornt to balance the whole thing.
It drops onto a stainless steel rod 2.5 to 3mm thick which is mounted vertically on the mast top. A piece of steel tube from the inside of a chocolate block electrical connector with 2 screws sits under the pointer and another on top top hold it down. Fit some washers to reduce friction.
I don't need guide pointers at 45 degrees to cl so don't bother.
The carbon fibre is brilliantly stiff thin and light so worth getting a bit.
My current pointer has received compliments for being so big it is an aid to other boats when racing nearby. olewill
Refueler
Well-Known Member
WOW !! I made one with wood dowel, plastic sheet cut for fins and arrow head.
Cut slots in dowel ends to fit plastic parts.
Centre was drilled to take small pop-rivet body as bearing for mounting pin.
Balance checked and fishing lead shot used to fill small holes to correct balance.
Time to make ? 1 hr. max.
Later when I had some spare cash - I bought a chandlers one .. no different in performance !
As to OP - yes very useful simple piece of kit. IMHO overpriced for a bit of moulded plastic and ally pin ... but there you go - Marine kit !
Cut slots in dowel ends to fit plastic parts.
Centre was drilled to take small pop-rivet body as bearing for mounting pin.
Balance checked and fishing lead shot used to fill small holes to correct balance.
Time to make ? 1 hr. max.
Later when I had some spare cash - I bought a chandlers one .. no different in performance !
As to OP - yes very useful simple piece of kit. IMHO overpriced for a bit of moulded plastic and ally pin ... but there you go - Marine kit !
wotayottie
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
My current pointer has received compliments for being so big it is an aid to other boats when racing nearby. olewill
[/ QUOTE ]
Well thats no good. What you need to do is to modify it to incorporate a small stepper motor so you can point it in the wrong direction and confuse the other competitors.
My current pointer has received compliments for being so big it is an aid to other boats when racing nearby. olewill
[/ QUOTE ]
Well thats no good. What you need to do is to modify it to incorporate a small stepper motor so you can point it in the wrong direction and confuse the other competitors.
