My wife bought me a Garmin UHD 73CV Chart-plotter/fish finder last Christmas for a bay boat that I had. Before I installed it I traded that boat for a 78 Tangerine 18. I am planning on installing it on the sailboat and while reading the manual I found that it has sailing functions for displaying wind data, autopilot, etc it is NMEA 2000 capable and I was wondering if anyone in here has suggestions for compatible wind direction/speed sensors that won’t break the bank. This is a old, free boat that I’m going to use exclusively in lakes in NW Louisiana so that I can learn how to sail.
Garmin UHD 73cv and Wind Vanes/Sensors
- Thread starter kbapark
- Start date
Get a simple Windex, under $100. A new wind sensor and cable will set you back more than $500. When learning to sail it is better to learn to feel the wind and the boat and not rely on instruments, you will learn faster and have a better more intuitive feel for how the boat is performing. If you just want to know the wind speed there are a number of devices that either attach to a phone or are standalone.
I believe a Garmin wind sensor will connect direct to that plotter and probably most cost effective. I have that CP tied into Raymarine instruments but it cost more than the chartplotter just for adapters et al.
Garmin gWind™ Transducer | Marine Instrument
Garmin gWind™ Transducer | Marine Instrument
It took me several months to get someone up my mast to install my wind instruments this year….while I like having them, sailing without them was both enjoyable and “back to basics”.
As others have said, a wind transducer will cost you $700 or more.
One (also expensive ) option may be a Garmin Wireless GWind transducer IF your Garmin CP can read the wireless signal Directly. I think that the newer ones can.
But a few pieces of yarn or cassette tape tied on the shrouds can give you a good indication of wind direction, and you can learn to read the strength of the wind on the water, flags, etc.
Good luck,
Greg
As others have said, a wind transducer will cost you $700 or more.
One (also expensive ) option may be a Garmin Wireless GWind transducer IF your Garmin CP can read the wireless signal Directly. I think that the newer ones can.
But a few pieces of yarn or cassette tape tied on the shrouds can give you a good indication of wind direction, and you can learn to read the strength of the wind on the water, flags, etc.
Good luck,
Greg
Thanks all for the info. I don't think I'll be going too crazy, like getting the G-Wind, for this boat. This is all good info to have if I do end up getting my forever lake boat and want to pimp it out. I do like the idea of fixing yarn or something of the sort to the shrouds for now until I get a wind vane in.