Finally, a wind instrument that will work with a Mac!

[1st Sail]

Well that tips the scale. Put my wind system $avings in to new sails. It's no big deal as I have fished and sailed for year's so judging the wind in a non-issue. I just wanted one because I'm anal about technology toys. Also the last few times out the wind forecast was no where near actual. My sailing time is limited so I try to optimize my sail plan before I leave the dock. Since I run my own small business I will be candid. No inventory for sale most likely means no inventory for parts in the event of a failure for what ever reason. That bother's me.

[MikeFloutier]

I haven't found a reference to rotating masts as yet.

The thing about rotating masts is that they are only an issue IF they rotate whilst on a particular tack. If they don't (and mine doesn't seem to) then you don't have a problem. You set your AP to follow the current wind angle and if the wind changes the AP follows it. It doesn't need even calibrating.

BOAT says (and I believe him - please correct me if I've mis-quoted BOAT) that the mast only rotates when close-hauled.

Now, for most of us, on a budget (Mac is a budget boat), a budget AP will not like sailing close-hauled. Indeed my Raymarine st2000 manual specifically states that I should bear away if I intend to sail to the wind - i.e. Don't sail close-hauled.

So, for a budget system you don't need a rotating mast compensator, you just sail in a way that keeps the mast from rotating, and if it does a little it's not the end of the world.

Sure, if you have a pricey AP system you'll want something to keep track of the mast position BUT the good news is that you can afford it.

So, I believe both methods have their place.

If you want to save your money I'd suggest picking up an old Simrad tp32 and marry it with your GPS chartplotter and a NASA wind transducer (no instrument needed)

I'm not saying this is right, it's just where I've got to in my thinking so far. Remember, as Michael Crichton was fond of saying, "95% of what they tell you will be wrong"

[sailboatmike]

Come on guys there must be someone here that plays with Arduino PLC boards that can make something

A few in Youtube are replacing their Auto pilot electronics with these boards and having great success for a few hundred dollars

[1st Sail]

maybe this one could be adapted. Supports NMEA 0183. No idea how you integrate the signal. Works with their TOP Line buss. Proprietary I presume.
product reference:
http://nke-deutschland.de/producte/spez ... ng-sensor/

manual:
http://nke-marine-electronics.fr/wp-con ... sor-UK.pdf

home page:
https://www.nke-marine-electronics.com/

US Dealers listed on the Dealer Network tab:
https://www.nke-marine-electronics.com/dealer-network/

[Neo]

I have recently learnt that there's more to consider here than meets the eye.
I sailed on another Mac that had an electronic wind instrument (with mast rotation compensation) everything works really well until the Mac is heeling past 15 degrees and the measured wind speed takes a sharp drop when there was absolutely no change in the wind!!....Seems some wind cups do not work well at angle.

Call me crazy, I know, but it's for this reason I've ordered another Sailtimer Instrument after my 1st one had many issues finally "bit the dust"!!! ... I think (for many reasons Sailtimer is the only instrument that works on a Mac (especially while heeling!), provides easy installation and good Android/Apple App integration .... These points are import to me at least

[BOAT]

Wind SPEED is not important. The main reason for a vane is for WIND DIRECTION - so that reliable data can be had for the AP. The wireless models are just too slow to provide a good data stream that is fast enough to operate an auto pilot in wind vane mode. The wireless units also require forward motion to calculate what way they are pointing so at low wind velocities they are constantly sending the wrong wind angle in the data stream - and it's at low wind velocities that you really need accurate wind direction the most! That is when the AP does the most good. The AP does not even use WIND SPEED; it's ignored by the pilot. Most all sailboats use the same cup design for the aeronometer - I have not seen any give false readings at angle, but I suppose and old anaometer or the ones with lousy bearings would probably jam up at angle. I actually never really payed attention because I so seldom ever look at wind speed.

As for the Iphone and WiFI based wind instruments: Been there done that - tried all those "wireless" and 'Bluetooth' and other radio based wind instruments and the data stream was just too slow and unreliable for my AP pilot because they take to long figuring out what direction they are pointing. To run your AP you need a good solid instrument on a solid mount pointing in one direction sending data on a wire. The rotation compensator adds enough drag to the data, why add more with a GPS compass and radio?

If wind SPEED is what your really interested in then I highly recommend a reed sensor like the Maretron Ultrasonic wind sensor - Man! Now THAT is a wind instrument! It works sideway, backwards, UPSIDE DOWN - and it was my first choice - that's all I wanted was an ultrasonic sensor - NO MOVING PARTS - that is the BEST sensor.

But, like everything else out there, it needs a fixed mount - the rotating mast will not work with the Maretron. I even tried to get someone with "skills" to program an existing compensator for use with an ultrasonic but he said it was just too costly. That sucks the very best is an ultrasonic - no moving parts, AND you don't need to remove it to trailer the boat!! BUT, it won't work on a rotating mast. As soon as they make one that does I will replace mine in a heartbeat.

[Neo]

Wow BOAT you know your stuff for sure.
I know little about proper marine instruments but I do no that GPS compass now days has a pretty fast update rate. I've seen it on my smartphone (Android and Apple).... I have a fairy new iPad now and I'm hopping your wrong about the the update speed over Bluetooth.... I can't see why it would be slow because there not that much data being streamed and the SailTimer uses the latest (faster) type of Bluetooth.... Anyway "The proof of the pudding is in the eating" .... So fingers crossed I haven't made the same mistake twice lol!

[BOAT]

If your not moving the GPS can't detect what direction your pointing- THAT is the very time you REALLY REALLY need to know what direction that little 1/2 knot of wind is going - that is when you NEED IT THE MOST!

There you sit, locked in irons, and your looking at the wind indicator gauge to try to figure out what direction the wind is coming from way up there on top of the mast so you can at least TRY to turn the boat in the right direction to catch the wind and because your using a GPS model wind-vane it can't tell what way is the front of the boat UNTIL AFTER YOU START MOVING AGAIN!! IT'S the MOST frustrating thing you can ever go though! It makes you want to throw your wireless device overboard!

Nope, I won't ever go through THAT again - I NEED TO KNOW WHAT WAY THE WIND IS GOING EVEN WHEN I AM NOT MOVING! ESPECIALLY when I am not moving! A GPS wind vane can't do that.

I tried the ones with the flux compass too and they eventually will find north but it takes them too long. Magnetic compass is not a big help either. Using ANY kind of a compass to figure out where the front of the boat is is always going to be sketchy. It's just not good enough to run an auto pilot in my opinion. With the wireless models the AP would just keep dropping out sending wind vane error alarms every 15 minutes - that totally negates the point of having an auto pilot in the first place.

[Neo]

There you sit, locked in irons, and your looking at the wind indicator gauge to try to figure out what direction the wind is coming from way up there on top of the mast so you can at least TRY to turn the boat in the right direction to catch the wind and because your using a GPS model wind-vane it can't tell what way is the front of the boat UNTIL AFTER YOU START MOVING AGAIN!!

Errrr I still don't know how this will go in practice but SailTimer does have a magnetic compass sensor built in the brass pointer arrow head and I know far a fact it does not require any motion (forward or otherwise) to give a bearing on wind direction.

With the wireless models the AP would just keep dropping out sending wind vane error alarms every 15 minutes - that totally negates the point of having an auto pilot in the first place.

You seem to have a goal of using AP while locked in irons? ... But I'm happy knowing that sometimes you have to grab the wheel (and/or start OB) that's all part of the fun in my opinion

[sailboatmike]

There is nothing a Mac X or M sailor learns faster than how to back wind the jib to get out of irons

Lesson two is how to bare away before tacking learnt very quickly after lesson one

Lesson three is how to springer off a jetty when the wind and tide are pushing you onto the jetty (I always reverse off jetties with the spring line on the bow)

not sure what lesson 4 is yet, any ideas??

[MikeFloutier]

How about?

Lesson 4: How to get on to a jetty in strong wind and tide.

[Neo]

Lesson 4: How to get on to a jetty in strong wind and tide.

Hi Mike,
I think you'd be best to start a new thread on this. There are many ways and much depends on the circumstances. I recently made up a loooong pole and the end fitting allows me to reach out and hook a rope loop onto the Jetty cleat. A controlled approach is then possible but nothings going to be easy in really bad conditions.

[BOAT]

Obviously you guys are not using an auto pilot. The whole reason you get in irons in the first place is because the wind vane can't tell the AP where the front of the boat is and the AP can't steer. It's lame to discuss this until you find out on your own the hard way like so many other have including myself.

In light wind my AP works fine and will follow the wind perfectly as it shifts - even 1/2 knot wind with 1/2 knot of forward motion - I am using the AP in wind mode. This will not be an issue at all if you not using your AP in wind mode - most don't. If you do not use the wind mode on your AP then it makes no difference at all what kind of vane you use - you can put a monkey on a string up there and it will work just as well as far as the AP is concerned because it's not watching the wind anyways.

Really, in regards to the title of this thread: ANY wind instrument will work on a MAC. That's not the problem - the problem is trying to run a AutoPilot on the wind instrument. That was the only real issue people had.

[Neo]

Really, in regards to the title of this thread: ANY wind instrument will work on a MAC. That's not the problem - the problem is trying to run a AutoPilot on the wind instrument. That was the only real issue people had.

Ok thanks for bringing this thread back on tack lol!

[eodjedi]

So I gave up. I installed cheek blocks on both sides of my mast so I could lock it in place. When using AP in wind mode, I just lock the mast. Sure I lose like 1/2 a knot but when it's gusting on the Chesapeake, I'm not too concerned as I have to sail reefed most of the time anyways.