Cheaper weather info??

[Adamhagan]

I saw this at Costco yesterday. New wind speed instruments are on my boat list (toward the bottom...and it's a long list). Perhaps we might find cheaper options on the horizon?

[tartansailor]

Adam,
I think that almost everyone here will say "go for it and let us know how you made out"
Dick

[tjr818]

I've been looking for something like that. Where are you going to mount the transmitter part?

[M. R. Bober]

I have that unit at the house. I doubt that it will stand up to marine conditions. The temp/humidity sending unit should be protected from rain and installed at near the same height as the wind speed sending unit. The solar charger on the wind speed/direction sender should be oriented N/S.

FYI: www.lacrossetechnology.com/2813/manual.pdf

If you install on your boat, keep us posted.

Mitchell Bober
Sunny Lancaster, (Where the sun is shining, the wind is E @ 2mph, and the barometer is slowly rising.) VA

[Adamhagan]

I agree, it's not marine quality. But it did get me thinking that there is a void for cheaper instruments. The wireless Tacktic unit is $1400 bucks for the wind speed alone--and reports are it was riddled with problems.

I think a simple mast head system that could interface with you ipad or phone would be great and could be made inexpensive.

[harveyr933]

Adam, Three years ago, I did with a different model what you're thinking about doing. I mounted the sensors on the stern rail of my Intrepid 9 Meter with reasonable success. I would have preferred to mount the wind sensor on the mast but it worked fine as is. The only real problem comes when the sun shines on the display for too long....it washes out. After a short time the display returned but I try to keep it shaded these days. During an engine repower I removed the unit but intend to reinstall it next season. I'm sure that some of the marine applicable units on the market are more durable but then they cost considerably more than 79 dollars.

Bob H.

[Neil Gordon]

The life of "not marine quality" can be extended significantly if it's not out in the weather 24/7. How hard would it be to craft a portable stern rail mount?

I noted in the manual that the wind sensor needs to be mounted facing due South or the reported wind direction will be off. That's a bit inconvenient on a boat although facing it dead aft would give you accurate relative wind.

[tjr818]

I was thinking of one of the units that only reports wind speed and direction. I already know when I am hot or cold, or wet.
I was thinking of mounting one on the bow pulpit.

[Neil Gordon]

I was thinking of one of the units that only reports wind speed and direction. I already know when I am hot or cold, or wet.

Having established your tolerance for inaccuracy in measuring temperature and precipitation, what exactly is the purpose of a wind instrument? A wet finger and a compass will tell you just about all you need to know about wind speed and direction.

Weather is a lot like navigation... you can learn quite a bit just by looking around.

[tjr818]

Having established your tolerance for inaccuracy in measuring temperature and precipitation, what exactly is the purpose of a wind instrument? A wet finger and a compass will tell you just about all you need to know about wind speed and direction.

Weather is a lot like navigation... you can learn quite a bit just by looking around.

You might have just saved me some boat units, but I will still have a blank column in the log book.

[Neil Gordon]

You might have just saved me some boat units, but I will still have a blank column in the log book.

Yeah, to go along with the blank line in your check book.

[sharkbait]

I have had one on my boat ($59) since 2005 and it is still functioning well. The display is in the cabin.