Association Forum - Anenometer???

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Anenometer???

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Phredde
Navigator

Member Avatar

125 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/15/2002 : 20:31:09

Several storms ago, the wind cups blew clean off of my:
An...
Ann...
Ah heck, wind meter.

Since then, I haven't been able to quote kph numbers on those really hairy days on SF bay <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>. Worse yet, I need to rely on common sense and guesswork for those tough reefing and go/no-go decisions <img src=icon_smile_dead.gif border=0 align=middle>.

CD couldn't help me with the parts. I talked with Davis, but their system with an anenometer and a vane costs $195, plus $16 for the bracket.

Anybody have any better ideas for replacing this kind of part on a 1984 Catalina 25?

I'd like to take care of it while my mast is still down for maintenance.

Thanks,

Phredde
Catalina 25
San Francisco

Edited by - on

Bristle
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
834 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2002 : 20:40:39

Who made yours? Can they help?

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 SR-FK #5032 "Passage" in CT

Edited by - on

n/a
deleted

Members Avatar

125 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2002 : 23:01:28

I just use a "handheld" unit from W/M. They come with a lanyard to hang around your neck, when you feel a significant change in wind.....hold it up, and bingo, the wind speed, temperature, and average wind speed of your last few readings. The cost around $75.00.

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2002 : 23:21:49

I use the side of my face. As long as its not burnt from the sun I can usually peg it within 1 to 2 knots.....good enough for my purposes....that and the height of the waves...

dw

PS: not that I don't envy every one of you SOB's that have a installed wind thingamajig. (anenometer)

Duane Wolff
"The Flying Wasp"
C-25, #401 std,sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 national Org.
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2dc20b3127cce9cd2f45b211a0000004010" border=0>

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2002 : 02:11:33

As far as finding out the apparent windspeed,

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> Since then, I haven't been able to quote kph numbers on those really hairy days on SF bay<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

I've always found that windspeed was directly proportional to the size of the stain in my shorts!

As for knowing when to reef,

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> Worse yet, I need to rely on common sense and guesswork for those tough reefing and go/no-go decisions <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

I reef when my cockpit scuppers can no longer keep up with the flow of water coming over the coaming and into the boat.

Don Lucier, Northstar
C25 SR/FK

Edited by - dlucier on 03/16/2002 15:32:27

Edited by - on

Bristle
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
834 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2002 : 17:49:00

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I reef when my cockpit scuppers can no longer keep up with the flow of water coming over the coaming and into the boat.

Don Lucier, Northstar
C25 SR/FK
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Don... You know that leeward winch can cause a lot of drag (as well as spray)! <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 SR-FK #5032 "Passage" in CT

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2002 : 12:24:23

Good idea, Dave! I think I'll remove the cockpit winches. Thanks for the tip.

Don Lucier, Northstar
C25 SR/FK

Edited by - dlucier on 03/17/2002 12:26:10

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2002 : 12:05:39

Phredde,

Contact the manufacturer of your guage and ask if they will sell you the part you need. If your guage was manufactured by Davis, then you have apparently already taken the first step. I think it's really rotten when a manufacturer markets a product, and doesn't make fragile replacement parts available at a reasonable price. It is more profitable for the manufacturer if you buy a whole new system than it is if you buy a replacement part.

Why don't you call or write the CEO of the manufacturer, and politely tell him/her about your need, and ask if there is some way s/he can help you get a replacement part. Sometimes companies establish customer no-service policies that are intended to be more profitable to the company, and then they delegate the responsibility to a low level employee to deliver the bad news to the customer. Sometimes, if you contact the high level officer directly, they don't have the guts to stand behind their own unconscionable policy. Even heartless corporate types occasionally respond favorably to a person who politely asks for their help. If they stand their ground, you might also mention that a lot of sailors on the internet are waiting to hear whether their company is going to help its customer. I, for one, would be interested in knowing the name of any company that doesn't make replacement parts available to its customers.

If your only recourse is to buy a whole new instrument, find out whether the manufacturer makes a complete set of replacement parts available, and don't buy from any company that does not.

Most of us don't have wind meters on our boats, so we have to rely on our experience, the sound of the wind, the angle of heel, the feel of the wind on our faces or ear hairs, short-stains, etc. to make judgment calls. But, sometimes those subjective gauges can fool you, and it is helpful to have a purely objective device to measure the wind. If you are cruising, you have more time to try different adjustments until you get it right, but, if you are racing, it helps if you can make the correct adjustments quickly.

I used to know a guy who had a fast racing boat with an impressive array of instruments, all tied into an on-board computer, but he didn't know what to do with all the information that the system provided. Instruments won't make a good sailor out of a poor one, but they will make a good one better.

Steve Milby "Captiva Wind" C-25 T/FK #2554

Edited by - on

Phredde
Navigator

Members Avatar

125 Posts

Response Posted - 03/28/2002 : 20:58:58

Thanks for your responses. I was hoping you would find some fun in the question. CD referred me to Davis as the maker, but either CD was wrong, or the guy at Davis (who may not have been born in 1984) was wrong, I never was too sure which.

Either way, due to the cost involved, I've decided to go with the stain-in-the-shorts method and exaggerate as appropriate afterwards at the local.

I did spring for a windex. But with the masthead light and antenna, I've got to rig an offset to mount it aft of the masthead.

Now, I've just got to manage the scope of this project. It started with sheaves and halyards, and keeps growing as I take care of everything else needing TLC (antenna, lighting) and new equipment (windex, spinnaker halyard, topping lift, etc.) up there.

At this rate, I'll still be working through all of this nice spring weather we're having.

Thanks again all,

Phredde
Catalina 25
San Francisco

Edited by - on

capfrank
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
31 Posts

Response Posted - 03/31/2002 : 10:53:02

There is a hand held wind meter that costs $12.00.

Fair winds and following seas, _/)
~~~~
Captain Frank P. Grande
Goddess of the Sea Cruises
Sailing Adventures in Maine
www.goddesscruise.com
capfrank@mint.net
207-877-7824

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.