bad landing..

[Douglast]

Went to the boat last weekend and my top mast mount wind indicator was lying in the cockpit with a broken tail. I thought I had tightened it up good at the start of the season.(seagull vandalism,,haha) Oh well I ordered a new one on this sites store as well as a boom end wind direction indicator as I don't want to lower the mast till seasons end so I will get by with the boom unit and tell tales if I have to. Bought a handy hand held wind speed instrument as well at the same time .
I wonder if the bearings were loading under pressure and threads backing out over a period of time , regardless new goods on the way, I sure like the store on this site as I have used them many times and all goes without a hitch which is so important for me living way up in the middle of nowhere , so just want to say thanx..

 

[Ross]

Douglast, There is one great advantage to living in the middle of no where. No matter what direction you start out in you are going somewhere. ;-)

 

[Brian D]

I seldom use my wind indicator at the top of the mast, except primarily for leaving and returning to the dock. When sailing, my primary indicators are the tell tails on my main and jib. If they are flowing out and are steady, I know I have good air flow over my sails.

Do you have tell tails on your main, Douglast?

 

[Douglast]

Douglast, There is one great advantage to living in the middle of no where. No matter what direction you start out in you are going somewhere. ;-)

haha thanx..

 

[Douglast]

I seldom use my wind indicator at the top of the mast, except primarily for leaving and returning to the dock. When sailing, my primary indicators are the tell tails on my main and jib. If they are flowing out and are steady, I know I have good air flow over my sails.

Do you have tell tails on your main, Douglast?

had some when first got the boat..but not now.

I really liked the indicator for cutting here fine in heavier winds to depower the sails abit and helping me prevent a gybe in those situations but I can see where your coming from and that telltails would be used more in general applications.

Where are the best locations on each sail and how many and what material ??

 

[Merlin Clark]

Here's a good page on telltails: http://www.wb-sails.fi/Portals/209338/news/95_11_Tellingtales/Tellingtales.html
Another with installing in the last paragraph: http://sailmakerloft.com/2012/04/05/telltales/
You can buy telltail kits with the telltales made out of strips of (red/green) nylon and a sticky disc to attach with from other vendors, looks like the store here carries the same but with bits of yarn rather than the strips.

Around here the osprey like to perch on and break the wind indicators red arrow so often that many people have quit using them. I guess really many have just quit replacing them. I use the ones on the sails and bits of yarn on my upper shrouds.

 

[Brian D]

Good links...

If you want to save some money maybe, buy some sail tape (keep in your kit) and get some yarn or nylon. You can make your own tell tails and apply them to the sail with a small piece of sail tape. The sail tape will hold as this stuff is tough and sticks like mad. LOL.

For your down wind travels, put a piece of yarn on your back stay a few feet about your head (if you have a backstay). Then when down wind you will see the main wind direction. But probably the best practice for down wind is sailing on a broad reach. This will keep you from an accidental gybe/jibe.

Good luck!

 

[Douglast]

thanx guys...great links and info..