Anemometer

[billnpat]

Is it a good idea or is it part of the boat arsenal to carry a hand held Anemometer on board???

Wind Speed, and Direction plays an important role i would imagine in navigation, Docking etc :huh:

If so?? any recommendations as to which product....

SAW THIS

http://www.weathershack.com/ambient-devices/wf7d01.html

 

[sbw1]

Not sure what you would do with the info. I've seen sailboaters use them, but most have wind speed, direction, apparent wind built into their electronics. I'd say, "no."

 

[Southpaw II]

If you think it helps you, do it. I think a lot of it depends on where/how you boat. There is such a great cross section of boaters on this site, there will be a variety of opinions.

For me, on a lake, the wind conditions vary depending on where I am on the lake, and what direction it's coming from. On the leeward end of the lake, water will "pile up" and be pretty rough when the wind is over 15 kts. While on the windward side it will not be nearly as bad since the water hasn't had time to build and is a bit sheltered by shore and trees.

When I dock, I check out not only the water surface, but also the indicators on top of the nearby sailboat mast as I approach my slip. If it's a bit messy, I make it a point to back into the wind....as slow as possible.

 

[billnpat]

If you think it helps you, do it. I think a lot of it depends on where/how you boat. There is such a great cross section of boaters on this site, there will be a variety of opinions.

For me, on a lake, the wind conditions vary depending on where I am on the lake, and what direction it's coming from. On the leeward end of the lake, water will "pile up" and be pretty rough when the wind is over 15 kts. While on the windward side it will not be nearly as bad since the water hasn't had time to build and is a bit sheltered by shore and trees.

When I dock, I check out not only the water surface, but also the indicators on top of the nearby sailboat mast as I approach my slip. It it's a bit messy, I make it a point to back into the wind....as slow as possible.

Thanks Southpaw II,

I just thought that it may come in handy, maybe i'm wrong,:huh:
sometimes wind speed and direction heading out, or in, I imagine would be good heads up to the helmsman...especially docking

 

[trit21]

IMO, the only thing you need to know when docking is direction of wind and how strong
Light
Medium
Hurricane force winds

This will give you an idea on how much throttle you may need to use, what side of the channel you need to be on, when to start the turn in, etc. I don't think know the exact wind speed helps at all. When I come in to dock, I always look at the flags flying on others boats or at the marina for wind direction.

Of course, you also need to know which way the current is running and how fast but that is for another thread.

 

[Four Suns]

I have one of these on my boat:

http://www.airmartechnology.com/airmar2005/ex20/RMProducts/ElectCat.asp?ProdID=105&Page=Marine

I like it... But it's not really for docking.. it's more of a bullsh!t meter for the weather reports NOAA sends out. Like going out on the Delaware Bay when NOAA says "NW winds 5-10 knots, seas 1-2 feet" and you round the corner and actually have SE winds 20-25 knots... I know what the wind is doing which is nice info (and it RARELY matches what the NOAA prediction says on the VHF)... This is not a "must have" by any means but it is also my backup GPS in case the primary fails. It's hooked into a multiplexer so if the Raymarine craps out, this GPS sends data on the NMEA network. That actually happened once going to Block Island and mother nature was disassembling my boat...

 

[Four Suns]

Here you can see how the wind speed is displayed on my bridge computer:

 

[billnpat]

Thanks....thats a nice one.....and looks expensive.....

 

[Four Suns]

Thanks....thats a nice one.....and looks expensive.....

Well... You can't really put one of these on a planing hull power boat:

I guess you could... but it would look pretty silly... and be worthless..

 

[billnpat]

Well... You can't really put one of these on a planing hull power boat:

I guess you could... but it would look pretty silly... and be worthless..

Agree :thumbsup: :grin: