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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Davis weather wizard III

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monkeybird02
1st Mate

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USA
30 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/20/2009 : 10:40:49

I've found a pretty good deal on this unit. Can this be converted for use as a masthead wind monitor? Its a Davis Weather Wizard 3.

84 TR/FK 25'

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2009 : 10:53:04

[url="http://www.davisnet.com/weather/products/weather_product.asp?pnum=07425"]Wind Wizard III[/url]... I noticed that it's AC-powered, with "battery backup", which suggests it might not last a long time on battery alone. The 40' cable should take care of you for wind-speed. You could orient it so your bow is North, and its direction indicator will act like a windex--it won't tell you the actual direction (like it thinks it does).

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 04/20/2009 10:54:41

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2009 : 10:53:48

The one I looked at needed AC power source "with a battery backup" I would wonder if it would work solely on DC power source or is the battery backup just designed to hold you over til the lights come back on. The other thing I'd wonder about would be the "weather station". Is it weather-proof or would it need to remain below decks? Is the screen visible in bright sunlight?

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2009 : 10:55:31

Uh-oh, I'm beginning to think like a stink-potter!

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2009 : 11:05:49

I looked at the [url="http://www.davisnet.com/product_documents/weather/manuals/wizard3_manual.pdf"]manual[/url]--they have an optional 12V auto-plug power cord. Batteries will work for "24-48 hours."

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 04/20/2009 11:07:11

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2009 : 11:10:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John Russell
 Uh-oh, I'm beginning to think like a stink-potter!

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I just got there faster.

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monkeybird02
1st Mate

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USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2009 : 11:31:17

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Sorry to sound like such a noob, but what's a stink-potter?

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2009 : 11:36:02

One that has travelled over to the dark side and operates stinky motor boats. Stinky when compared to the pristine, sweet smelling air that wafts from the telltales of my mainsail.

All quite tongue-in-cheek in this instance since Dave has more sailing experience than I will ever hope to get.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2009 : 11:40:34

Pick one!

stink·pot (stngkpt)n.

1. Slang A person who is despised.
2. A small musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) of the eastern and southern United States, usually found on the bottom of ponds and small streams.
3. Slang A motorboat.
4. An earthenware jar containing combustibles emitting a suffocating smoke, formerly used in naval warfare. Also called stinkball.

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monkeybird02
1st Mate

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USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2009 : 11:43:23

Haha. This is my first foray into ownership of strawberry-flavored air-powered vessels. I kept one at a house I once lived in that was on Lake Lanier, and used the hell out of it, but this is my first owned sailboat. I've owned a few powered craft, but no more. Motorboats suck, at least the ones I owned. Too much maintenance.

Wind power, FTW

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2009 : 11:58:07

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by monkeybird02
 ...Motorboats suck, at least the ones I owned. Too much maintenance.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Well, knock on wood... My Honda 225 (like the USCG uses--the V6 from the Pilot) and very simple onboard systems seem pretty bullet-proof. Click on the right-hand picture below to see my "pot". (...relatively little "stink".

)

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2009 : 20:11:36

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Gone to the Dark Side on Eastern 27 Sarge in Mystic, CT (but still sailing).<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Dave, did I miss it or is this a new signature line for you? What are you sailing? Are you coming back into the light?

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2009 : 20:20:40

I've got a Davis Weather Monitor II which is a Weather Wizard 3 with a few more sensors and updated software. It will run on batteries alone or as mentioned above you can get a 12-volt auto-plug power cord. The batteries will last a least a day with no outside source. Another option would be a small solar cell to keep rechargeable batteries topped off (it doesn't draw very much power at all).

It's not weather-proof but could be placed on a retractable arm in the companionway like many people use to mount their depth finder. Unless it was raining or very rough with spray flying it should be OK. In those conditions you could fold it back into the cabin or place a baggie over it.

I haven't tried to read mine in direct sunlight but I think it would be OK.

One pretty neat feature that the Weather Monitor has over the Weather Wizard is the ability to record the wind speed, direction, temperature, humidity, etc... with an optional data logger that fits into the back of the display case. This info can be downloaded to a laptop at a later time.

You can use standard telephone wire to extend the length of the wire from the anemometer if needed.

I've actually been toying with the idea of mounting mine as I have a Davis Vantage Pro weather station that I use at home now.

Edited by - GaryB on 04/20/2009 20:29:49

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2009 : 21:30:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Nautiduck
 Dave, did I miss it or is this a new signature line for you? What are you sailing?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Whatever I get invited aboard or can rent for a few hours. I'm keeping my eyes open for something little... (Storage is an issue.) I added the "still sailing" to hang on to a shred of credibility here.

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