Bird Proof Wind Vane
- Thread starter med2463
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I don't even expect a Windex to be straight. I'm not sure I ever saw one. If the yard manages to get them up straight -a rare occurrence, the birds make short work of them. But the direction of the arrow (Direction of the wind), relative to the boat hull is still useful.
A friend once had a boatyard employee gleefully tell him "…Oh yeah, and I straightened out that thingy at the top of your mast."
A friend once had a boatyard employee gleefully tell him "…Oh yeah, and I straightened out that thingy at the top of your mast."
You can use an Airmar ultrasonic wind sensor. No moving parts so nothing to break but the bank. They provide a huge amount of other information too. The PB200and 200WX has a 3-axis compass with yaw rate gyro, which can maintain 2° of heading accuracy in dynamic (heeling) conditions. These compass readings are very accurate which result in accurate true wind readings when a sailboat is heeled.
There are some other companies making wind sensors with similar technology. Contact the individual companies to find out what is compatible with your instruments.
There are some other companies making wind sensors with similar technology. Contact the individual companies to find out what is compatible with your instruments.
Cable ties
I've seen one boat with black cable tie sticking up on the wind vane and shaft. Don't know how well it work but been there for a couple of years.
May try it sometime.
I've seen one boat with black cable tie sticking up on the wind vane and shaft. Don't know how well it work but been there for a couple of years.
May try it sometime.
Windex now makes their spar fly products (10 and 15") with a spike that sticks into the air above the vane to keep the birds from perching.
You're mixing up 2 different DAVIS products. The model with that spike is the WINDEX 15, not sure if they have now added the spike to the larger (Big Boat) model and the smaller (WINDEX 10) model. The SPAR-FLY is a less expensive wind-vane and is what I have on my O'DAY Day Sailer II. It works pretty good, doesn't have the "tacking arms" of the WINDEX, nor is it as rubust looking as the more expensive and technically advanced WINDEX models..... but it works for me.
However, one reason that I stick with the Spar-Fly is that I too have trouble with birds landing on my wind-vane, or at least I assume that is what keeps breaking it. We have cormorants in our area and they love to land on mast heads (and surprisingly, round spreaders!) I don't think they could land on my Spar-Fly, but it is either that or the local pair of Ospreys. At least a replacement vane for the Spar-Fly is only around $8, but my mast is not deck-stepped.... so, replacing the vane is not an easy task in mid-season! I need to find a friend with a much larger sailboat......and a bosun's chair, either that or someone with a larger trawler (or tuna tower?). Who said powerboats are worthless??
I used to have a Spar-Fly on my old O'DAY Widgeon, had the same problem with birds. However, on a smal lboat like that.... I could just bring her into shore and pull her up on edge of the marsh at high-tide, reach up and grab the mast, step in the gunwale and roll her over enough to reach the mast head. Then it was easy to replace the broken vane. Not so easy on my DS II.
Now, for a quick bit of extra praise for DAVIS INSTRUMENTS, twice after having birds break the vane on my Spar-Fly (on the Widgeon), I happened to speak to them at the Newport, RI Boat show. To their credit, on both occasions... I was handed a form to fill out (about 1/2 page) and about a week or less later a brand new replacement vane appeared in my mailbox, NO CHARGE!! That is the other reason why I remain a loyal customer of their products.
Still, I'm a bit timid about upgrading to a WINDEX..........unless I can be 100% sure it won't be broken by a bird! Maybe that spike is the answer?
Attachments
Not sure if it was a bird this year or heavy winds being out in the bay on a mooring but I had another vane snap on me this year. Last year's was umm..... owner not paying attention working on the stern of the boat while on the trailer.... they do snap pretty easy from my, experience..... These are the Davis Sport 15's by the way. Not one working with instruments. Replacement vane is around $30.... Be nice to know if the spikes work either way.
We have a windex with spike that is 4 years old. Works fine, not bent. Small birds like grackles and starlings don't hurt it and large birds like ospreys and pelicans do not land on it.
I modified my last two garmin units with spikes, but it didn't keep the direction arrow on even tho we never actually saw a bird land on either one. Crummy design of the metal retaining clip in my view. Not a problem according to Garmin I am the only one ever to complain. So why does Amazon carry replacement parts?
There are a few companies that make anti-bird sonic devices, specifically for airports, that work very well. They apparently transmit random calls of birds that attack other birds.
I might suggest you ask your marina to purchase one. We had a boat in City Marina, Charleston that had one aloft and we had no bird problems at all when he had it on, so I know it works.
I might suggest you ask your marina to purchase one. We had a boat in City Marina, Charleston that had one aloft and we had no bird problems at all when he had it on, so I know it works.
I thought I saw that Davis was incorporating the bird spike on the 10" vane as well, but cannot confirm that at this moment. I will see what I can find out.
Yepper, my last one was done in by a Do-Do bird. Yeah that was a bummer. So I replaced it with the 15 w/ bird spike, and so far no problem. Been near a year..
On our old CAL 21 we found that keeping a small burgee flying 24/7 kept birds off the masthead. Surprisingly, the VHF antenna didn't seem to keep them off, but having a flag up their all the time did. Also amazing that any large bird could land on the small area of a CAL 21 masthead! (see pic below)
On my DS II, the little birds (starlings?) are the ones that leave the mess, all across the sailcover, the deck, the cuddy top.....
On my DS II, the little birds (starlings?) are the ones that leave the mess, all across the sailcover, the deck, the cuddy top.....
