Portable/pocket wind instruments

[ricknriver]

Considering a pocket wind instrument like the Kestrel 3500 for my wish list. Thought it would help in setting safe sail configuration on my BRS15 in heavier weather, and like the barometer feature too for weather guessing. Would they be really practical and helpful for this returning to sailing ol' dog? Tks, Rick

[Hirilonde]

I use the Beaufort Scale. It is at least as accurate as the pocket scales and costs nothing and takes up no room in my pocket. Seriously though, regardless of what the wind really is, how your boat is handling and how comfortable you feel in the given wind conditions should be the factor in deciding to reef or not. It is more important to learn for yourself what feels good and what does not. I think relying on instruments slows down the learning, if not postpones it permanently. When in doubt, reef. It is easier to shake a reef you don't need than put one in that you do.

Even on my cruising boat I have a GPS and depth meter only.

[Ray Frechette Jr]

I have a Davis Wind guage which is a small plastic device with a small foam ball in a tube that gives you a rough estimate of wind speed.

In my opinion Wind speed indicators are more about fun gadgets than actual need on the water.

As stated above, reef early and shake it out if not needed.

[Peter HK]

I have one of these Silva ADC but I find I use it very little and more for curiosity than anything else. The only real use for me is convincing my wife, who is a very timid sailor, that we don't need to reef..."See Dear - it's only 10 knots"

I agree that being able to judge the need to reef by looking at the seastate is a better option and easy to learn.

Cheers

Peter HK

[Dale Niemann]

Seastate & Reef early as everyone else has already said.

However, if you just want to have fun there is an iPhone app called Wind Meter which uses the microphone to determine wind speed. Supposedly it has been tested and determined to be accurate. I had tested mine and it seemed to work fine until I added an Otter Box protective case. Now it does not seem to be very good. I guess the airflow over the microphone is disturbed by the case.

Dale

[Tom Ray]

I want to get that iPhone app just to put an accurate number on the wind sometimes, for the same reason I carry a small scale when fishing. Sailors and fishermen tend to misoverestimate sometimes.

[Charlie Jones]

Tom- Laura and I both have that app on our Iphones. We've found it to be fairly accurate.

Having said that, I must chime in with the others-the time to reef is when the boat TELLS you it's time, not when some instrument does. Learn your boat. We pull down the first reef on Tehani when she consistently is heeled more than 25 degrees going to windward.

[wkisting]

I use a pocket Kestrel anemometer (wind gauge) just for accuracy's sake in my ship's log. Every time I go out, I record the time, wind speed, wind direction, general conditions (wave size, temperature, etc.), whatever was reported by the local weather station, and whether or not it turned out to be a good day of sailing. Over time, this has helped me to better identify the ideal conditions for sailing without having to drive up to the lake to find out. It has also helped me to estimate the inaccurate measurements that are reported online by the electronic NOAA weather gauge installed near my sailing area.

As others have said, the anemometer is not a necessity for sailing, per se, but I think it is very handy if you want a way to gradually get better at figuring out how the local weather report correlates with the actual conditions you'll see when you get to the lake (or wherever you sail). However, this means you not only need a wind gauge, but also have to be willing to keep a detailed log and to reflect on it until you start to understand the patterns between conditions and good sailing.

[Ray Frechette Jr]

Well Wes, On the one hand I might say; "A bad day of sailing is bettah than a good day of work!"

But then again on the other hand..."It is always Bettah to be in the Harbah wishin you was out to Sea than it is to be out to Sea wishin you was in the Harhah"

"Knowledge earned is Bettah than Knowledge learned so long as the price ain't to deah!"

[wkisting]

"A bad day of sailing is bettah than a good day of work!"

Agreed, but sailing days are precious few now with the little one, so I have to pick them carefully.

[Ray Frechette Jr]

Make sure you take time to smell the roses along the way. They grow up right quick on you.

My youngest is 19 now.

Doesn't seem all that long ago I was in your shoes.

[rattus]

Well Wes, On the one hand I might say; "A bad day of sailing is bettah than a good day of work!"

But then again on the other hand..."It is always Bettah to be in the Harbah wishin you was out to Sea than it is to be out to Sea wishin you was in the Harhah"

"Knowledge earned is Bettah than Knowledge learned so long as the price ain't to deah!"

Ray, my ears tell me that the correct spelling is "Hahbah", not "Harbah".

Then again, I'm ex-New Hampshah, so it could be a localized dialect thing ;-)

You cahn't get theah from heah!

Mike

[Tom Ray]

Tom- Laura and I both have that app on our Iphones. We've found it to be fairly accurate.

Having said that, I must chime in with the others-the time to reef is when the boat TELLS you it's time, not when some instrument does. Learn your boat. We pull down the first reef on Tehani when she consistently is heeled more than 25 degrees going to windward.

Good to hear, Charlie. I just want it to put a number on the wind, but can't see myself actually taking out the iPhone much when sailing. It stays in the waterproof box.

If I heel any of our boats 25 degrees, I'll probably be swimming immediately after!

[Charlie Jones]

Tom- with our narrow beam you KNOW how Tehani lays over Just gotta get used to it.

Way different from those Hobies of yours

[ricknriver]

Thanks all and good info as always. Like Wes's idea of the log for reference, so will keep the Kestrel on my wish list, but will just get her out on the river and trust her and my instincts carefully, reef to the safe side, and learn. Tks, Rick

[Tom Ray]

Tom- with our narrow beam you KNOW how Tehani lays over Just gotta get used to it.

Way different from those Hobies of yours

I see it all the time...

It's not just the Hobies. If I heel the Sun Cat 25 degrees, I'm doing something seriously wrong. It likes about 10.

I'm pretty sure that if I heel this thing 25 degrees, water would be coming in and I'd be going out:

[Charlie Jones]

Gotta be Tom Scott there

[Tom Ray]

Gotta be Tom Scott there

Sonja has gotten quite good at recognizing his boat, but the other day in a calm I spotted it across the harbor. As we approached, she kept swearing that it didn't have enough hull to be Tom's boat. She's used to seeing a lot more of it.