I have finally decided that I need to know (more precisely) how fast
Therapy is going. Did that last sail trim tweek really help? I'm about to have her hauled out for bottom paint etc. so now would be
a good time to install a knot meter. Since I abhor extra holes in my
vessel, especially below the water line, I'm considering something like the Speedtech SM-4 Speedmate II. My questions are these:
What is the best knot meter (hole-less) for installation on my Typhoon? Where is the best place to mount the impeller so the meter will give accurate readings in all or most conditions? Do y'all have
any other suggestions/tips for me? Thank you in advance! Regards ...
Mike Holmes
SV Therapy, Typhoon #1484
Melbourne, FL
popeye@mindspring.com
Typhoon knot meter
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Joel
Re: Typhoon knot meter
I thought folks were trending to using GPS for determining speed. There are many decent hand-held devices that would fit perfectly in one's stocking.
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Mike Wainfeld
Re: Typhoon knot meter
I use a Garmin E-Trex which is supposedly water resistant. A large zip-tie fits around the upper part just above the E-Trex logo. This goes thru a hole in a large suction cup on the back, and I just stick it up on the bulkhead.
Mike Wainfeld
CD Ty "Regalo"
wainfeld@optonline.net
Mike Wainfeld
CD Ty "Regalo"
wainfeld@optonline.net
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Bill Goldsmith
Re: Typhoon knot meter
Mike,
I checked out the SpeedTech website--the Speedmate II looks like a very nifty unit and the price does not shock the conscience. Hopefully others that have experience with this unit can chime in.
I wanted to add my $0.02 about the gps suggestions. Yes, they are cheap, accurate and convenient. So cheap, that you could buy two, and stow one away in case the first goes overboard, but.....
The GPS only gives you speed over ground. That may be the perfect solution for you if you are on a lake with no current. If you are in an area with currents, the GPS will only tell half the story. The knotmeter will give you speed over water.
On Second Chance I have the usual impeller setup--a thru-hull with impeller wired to a bulkead display. I have mounted my GPS right next to it.
Therefore, if the knotmeter reads 3 knots and the GPS reads 4 knots, I know that the current is pushing me an extra knot. Vice Versa, if the knotmeter reads 4 knots and the gps 3 knots, I am bucking a 1 knot current. This can be valuable information particularly if you are sailing at an angle to the expected current set--you can calculate the course to steer based on the set and drift of the current.
I'll never forget one passage through Hell Gate in New York City where I was motoring at full throttle southbound at 6 knots over water, and the gps read 11 knots (for about 20 seconds)!! The current at that part of the Gate was obviously 5 knots astern!! (I didn't think Cape Dorys went that fast except on a flatbed!!)
So I would agree that a GPS is valuable, but I also hope you find a suitable knotmeter solution to give you the whole picture.
Bill Goldsmith
CD27 #173
Second Chance
goldy@bestweb.net
I checked out the SpeedTech website--the Speedmate II looks like a very nifty unit and the price does not shock the conscience. Hopefully others that have experience with this unit can chime in.
I wanted to add my $0.02 about the gps suggestions. Yes, they are cheap, accurate and convenient. So cheap, that you could buy two, and stow one away in case the first goes overboard, but.....
The GPS only gives you speed over ground. That may be the perfect solution for you if you are on a lake with no current. If you are in an area with currents, the GPS will only tell half the story. The knotmeter will give you speed over water.
On Second Chance I have the usual impeller setup--a thru-hull with impeller wired to a bulkead display. I have mounted my GPS right next to it.
Therefore, if the knotmeter reads 3 knots and the GPS reads 4 knots, I know that the current is pushing me an extra knot. Vice Versa, if the knotmeter reads 4 knots and the gps 3 knots, I am bucking a 1 knot current. This can be valuable information particularly if you are sailing at an angle to the expected current set--you can calculate the course to steer based on the set and drift of the current.
I'll never forget one passage through Hell Gate in New York City where I was motoring at full throttle southbound at 6 knots over water, and the gps read 11 knots (for about 20 seconds)!! The current at that part of the Gate was obviously 5 knots astern!! (I didn't think Cape Dorys went that fast except on a flatbed!!)
So I would agree that a GPS is valuable, but I also hope you find a suitable knotmeter solution to give you the whole picture.
Bill Goldsmith
CD27 #173
Second Chance
Mike Holmes wrote: I have finally decided that I need to know (more precisely) how fast
Therapy is going. Did that last sail trim tweek really help? I'm about to have her hauled out for bottom paint etc. so now would be
a good time to install a knot meter. Since I abhor extra holes in my
vessel, especially below the water line, I'm considering something like the Speedtech SM-4 Speedmate II. My questions are these:
What is the best knot meter (hole-less) for installation on my Typhoon? Where is the best place to mount the impeller so the meter will give accurate readings in all or most conditions? Do y'all have
any other suggestions/tips for me? Thank you in advance! Regards ...
Mike Holmes
SV Therapy, Typhoon #1484
Melbourne, FL
goldy@bestweb.net
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Rick Rosenberger
Re: Typhoon knot meter
I use a laptop "Sony Vaio Picture book" And a Delorme Trip mate which can be bought from their web site for 50.00 From the internet I found a shareware mapping program called IBIS with this you can install as many charts in many formats. you can also monitor other devices such as engine parameters, water temp, barometric preasure, what ever you have. they conect to the laptop via serial port. there are individual windows that give you data as well as your position on the chart. If any you wants more info drop me a note. There is to much to detail here. If you have a laptop then its 50 bucks and a software download.
r.rosenberger@verizon.net
Mike Holmes wrote: I have finally decided that I need to know (more precisely) how fast
Therapy is going. Did that last sail trim tweek really help? I'm about to have her hauled out for bottom paint etc. so now would be
a good time to install a knot meter. Since I abhor extra holes in my
vessel, especially below the water line, I'm considering something like the Speedtech SM-4 Speedmate II. My questions are these:
What is the best knot meter (hole-less) for installation on my Typhoon? Where is the best place to mount the impeller so the meter will give accurate readings in all or most conditions? Do y'all have
any other suggestions/tips for me? Thank you in advance! Regards ...
Mike Holmes
SV Therapy, Typhoon #1484
Melbourne, FL
r.rosenberger@verizon.net
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Bob B.
Re: Typhoon knot meter
Mike,
I have a small unit on my Typhoon that requires no power but it does have a through hull attachement. I leave the plug in when I am off the boat and put the paddle wheel in when I am rigging to head out. It has knots only up to about ten or twelve knots which is fine with me and gives me a detailed speed. I do calibrate it with a handheld GPS and then use the knot log from there. It is easier to see anyway.
Good luck with it.
Bob B.
CD Typhoon
CD 25D
Bundyr@aol.com
I have a small unit on my Typhoon that requires no power but it does have a through hull attachement. I leave the plug in when I am off the boat and put the paddle wheel in when I am rigging to head out. It has knots only up to about ten or twelve knots which is fine with me and gives me a detailed speed. I do calibrate it with a handheld GPS and then use the knot log from there. It is easier to see anyway.
Good luck with it.
Bob B.
CD Typhoon
CD 25D
Bundyr@aol.com
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Bill Bloxham
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Sean morgan
Re: Typhoon knot meter
One very important thing to factor in with GPS...at speeds of less than 10 knots the speed reading is not all that accurate. I have used the SpeedTech SpeedMate before and it worked GREAT. I don't consider $139 an outrageous price for an instrument that will not only give you a speed reading accurate to within a tenth of a knot, it gives you your max speed, average speed, logs miles and DOES NOT require a hole in your boat.....Plus you can remove it from the boat at the end of the day. Check it out.
foursailors@prodigy.net
Mike Holmes wrote: I have finally decided that I need to know (more precisely) how fast
Therapy is going. Did that last sail trim tweek really help? I'm about to have her hauled out for bottom paint etc. so now would be
a good time to install a knot meter. Since I abhor extra holes in my
vessel, especially below the water line, I'm considering something like the Speedtech SM-4 Speedmate II. My questions are these:
What is the best knot meter (hole-less) for installation on my Typhoon? Where is the best place to mount the impeller so the meter will give accurate readings in all or most conditions? Do y'all have
any other suggestions/tips for me? Thank you in advance! Regards ...
Mike Holmes
SV Therapy, Typhoon #1484
Melbourne, FL
foursailors@prodigy.net