Is a mast head mount necessary for wind instruments

[Isotope]

Since mast head wind instruments are a problem when you unstep your mast every season, can you effectively mount the instrument on a post like a radar mount at the stern of the sailboat and still get a reasonable wind direction and speed?

I have broken three mast head units in three years due to problems unstepping the mast and I am getting fed up with this. I also find that a lot of people have mast head unit failures during the season. It would be so much easier if it was on a post at the stern of the vessel to service and deal with over winter storage.

 

[Rick I]

won't work on a sailboat

got to be at the masthead. The vane would flop all over on a post aft. I always go aloft and remove everything before unstepping mast.

 

[Isotope]

removal not possible on certain units

Removing the wind instrument is one option however I have a Raymarine ST40 wind instrument with the Rotavectra mast head unit. It does not plug in, it is screwed into the masthead and wired in with no option on removal. This mast head unit is a vertical unit so unlike units that stick out from the mast it is usually clear of the crane wire. That is the reason I suspect that Raymarine does not make it removable (too cheap to bother with a plug could be another)

Thus it can't be removed prior to mast removal. The damage to the unit usually occurs on the ground. Since the unit is not removable it is very vulnerable to being knocked in storage.

I still don't understand why the wind vane would flap around any more on a post than on the top of the mast?

 

[Rick I]

The vane will flop around

if it's on a post at the stern because it's not clear air like it is at the top of the mast. Perhaps if you only sail dead downwind it might work.