Home Weather Station

[Plymouth Sailor]

Fellow sailors, trying to find an option on the cheap for determining wind speed as the wind speed top-of-the-mast indicators that I have found are $1000 + (spent a great deal of money already this year). I realize one option is handheld however I would prefer a fixed option. Has anyone used a wireless home weather station? I’m sure durability would be an issue and I’ve heard they may not work at all! Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[cb32863]

That's not going to tell you anything about conditions on your boat. The Raymarine or Garmin wind instrumentation is for on your boat. If you don't care about that just use a wind app on your phone. Wind Alert has a free version or even some other weather app would work for you.

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

Save your money. If you’re a sailor you need wind angle as much as wind speed. Home weather stations aren’t accurate/responsive enough for speed or angle, and won’t give wind angles in degrees.
I can offer a used Raymarine ST40 wind display in perfect condition, but you’d need to source a Raymarine Rotovecta wind sensor elsewhere. PM me if interested.

 

[Joe]

This unit sends data via wifi to a number of android or ios apps on your smart device. Still going to spend 400+ bucks but you get apparent and true data and it'll update quickly.
The home weather stations will give you lots of data you won't use, but can't give you the most important data... which is the TRUE windspeed and direction.... the weather station doesn't differentiate between the two.

Look around for the older technology units. Like the Raymarine ST 40

If you just want apparent wind, an older analog unit should be pretty easy to find but honestly, the handheld is a better option. When my old Horizon wind speed rotor broke years ago, I used a very accurate and reliable handheld unit made by Kestrel for under $100. Never missed the old unit... because it only gave apparent info anyway. I wouldn't spend money on any fixed wind instrument that can't provide both Apparent and True information.

 

[capta]

I used to use a wireless one (about $80.00) at the chart table when at anchor. The first one worked perfectly for over a year, but with each successive one I got less and less use out of them.I'm not sure why, but after half a dozen, I quit wasting my money.
Nobody said sailboats were cheap, and for good gear, you've got to spend the money. You have to remember, the pleasure craft market is a tiny one and the companies like Garmin aren't selling near as many marine based equipment as they are those built for biking, hiking, rescue and other markets.Sell millions a year and the price drops. Sell a few hundreds of thousands a year and the prices remain high. It's not a rip off, it's only supply & demand.

 

[jon hansen]

OR, .............................. you can go old school and just read the surface of the water and attach some telltails to your shrouds. this method is very accurate.

the wind starts making the surface ripple at 6knts
the occasional white caps start to appear at 10knts
white caps everywhere at 20knts.
and so on.

read about such for more info. electronic toys are fun, but reading the sea state is the better way to go.
frank bethwaite's books will teach you all you'll ever need to know about the weather we sail in.

 

[Tally Ho]

I have a fully functional Tac Tic wireless system in my boat (mast top transducer and wireless display unit at my helm)...I want to upgrade to something with NMEA 2000 connectivity so I can display on my CP...so I may be willing to sell my system...and upgrade.

PM if interested...

Greg