Windy meter

[lustyd]

Are handheld wind meters any good? I don't think it's worth £400 to put proper wind instruments on the boat but was quite curious as to the speed at the weekend so I'm interested in everyones experience of these. I'm looking at the Skywatch Xplorer 1 at the mo which is pretty cheap.
Thanks
Dave

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Yes they are useful and accurate. The small devices that work just by wind pressure are good enough.

 

[Lakesailor]

I've had two and whilst they start out OK the bearings tighten up and they start under-reading.

I know because I found that anything over 25 knots on a jetty had you staggering a bit, and after a while in those conditions it was reading about 15 knots. Or else I'm getting feeble.
I should have paid about £80 for the one with wind cups on.

However the wind here is so gusty that you have to hold the damn thing all the time to get a meaningful reading.
I know what you mean though. It's a help in working out things like "am I wasting my time even rowing out to the boat" or " perhaps it's time to go home now".
But mainly it demonstrated to me that what looks like a calm day can be wild and what looks a bit iffy can be a great day.

 

[Kylora]

Are handheld wind meters any good? I don't think it's worth £400 to put proper wind instruments on the boat but was quite curious as to the speed at the weekend so I'm interested in everyones experience of these. I'm looking at the Skywatch Xplorer 1 at the mo which is pretty cheap.
Thanks
Dave

I've had my Kaindl for a number of years now. Needs a new 'coin style' battery every season but has been trouble free. Has a female thread in the bottom so could be mounted although I don't.

Ash

 

[SimbaDog]

Thing to remember though is that you will be measuring the wind speed at your height, not at masthead! I have masthead equipment & a hand held one, on the times that I have compared the two I have been surprised by the difference.

 

[tudorsailor]

If you just want an occasional reading and own a smartphone, both there are apps for both the iPhone and Android phone that will measure the wind speed by how much noise the wind makes in the microphone. Allegedly surprisingly accurate. Have not test mine out yet

TudorSailor

 

[Lakesailor]

Thing to remember though is that you will be measuring the wind speed at your height, not at masthead! I have masthead equipment & a hand held one, on the times that I have compared the two I have been surprised by the difference.

That is a point, however, as long as you are comparing like-with-like readings they have their uses. Also, in my situation, squalls and gusts sometimes lift above the boats so the gust you were expecting doesn't materialise. The mast head unit may register it, but there isn't much sail up there.

Having said that it's all a bit academic. Now that I know what 20 knots of wind feels like and what it's like to sail in I have a parameter for deciding if the weather forecast looks right or not.

 

[Tom Price]

Yep, that's only £25 BUT criticised for being an inaccurate toy. Am currently going down this path myself and reckon will have to pay at least double for a decent piece of kit - tho there are modern versions of the old Ventimeter which had nothing to go wrong!

 

[Lakesailor]

That Kaindl posted by ashonovega looks good at £50 with a cage around the cups for protection as well.

 

[Poignard]

A friend of mine has an inexpensive technique for judging windspeed. He lights a match and holds it up through the hatchway.

If it blows out - it's too windy to go sailing.

If it doesn't - there's not enough wind to make it worthwhile.

 

[dylanwinter]

when my nose...

when my nose blows around and touches my cheek then I know its too windy to go sailing

Dylan

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

For the first time ever I now have an anemometer which came on my 'new' boat.
From my early days I learnt quickly to read the wind in respect of the need to reef etc...
The anenometer readout only gives others a chance to get nervous and to pay too much attention to it.
Do without, save yourself some dosh and learn to read the conditions is my advice.

As for wind direction it's very much the same, learn to read the effects of wind around you. Also turn your head to get equal wind noise in each ear to tell you where the wind is coming from for a start.

 

[Dave99]

Nasa clipper wind is entry level and is £199 including display and mast head sensor...

much more useful than just knowing speed in the cockpit when you aren't moving!

 

[Tom Price]

Wot mast?

Often have the mast in the cockpit . . .

Seriously, I rate the usefulness of some sort of windmeter for the novice UNTIL he's built up the experience of assessing the obvious signs around him. From to ripples to waves, leaves rustling to trees bending. it's a learning curve of observation and deduction over many years.
And the result? To be able, when clearing up breakfast, to say to crew "We'll put in two slabs before we slip."
THEN you're a Skipper.

 

[lustyd]

I should have mentioned I'm far from a novice - I just want to know the windspeed and was curious if these little handhelds are a waste of money - there seems to be mixed opinion but thanks all for your views, especially the mention of a "proper" one for under £200.

To be able, when clearing up breakfast, to say to crew "We'll put in two slabs before we slip."
THEN you're a Skipper.

That would be lovelly but I seldom sail where I have breakfast, and I seldom breakfast where there is sufficient wind to sail, certainly not sufficient wind to put two reefs in! When you know where to shelter for a comfy breakfast, then you are a skipper

Cheers
Dave

 

[Tom Price]

Just sail in the Solent for 40 years.

 

[Channel Sailor]

I use a nice little Silva one. With a revolving ball to close off and protect the spinning vanes in storage. Work fine for me, had it for years. Just need to make a small allowance (if you feel you need to) to cater of the deck level measurement. I became fed up with repeated repairs to mast head instruments. Though for a multihull I would have a masthead instrument and suffer the regular repair hassle.