Need Advice Adding A Wind Instrument To My Hunter 34

kloudie1 · Dec 4, 2012

I am going to use TackTic to replace the old busted Signet .. just haven't yet.. The guy who fixed my compression beam cut the multi-cable for the old mast unit.. yup, that was me.. (but it had already quit working)
Good luck, Joe. I think someone on the forum has fished the wire down, don't remember who..

Stu Jackson · Dec 4, 2012

Joe,

Two days? That's crazy. Maybe a few hours to go up the mast, mount the unit and drop the wiring. You could consider doing the finish wiring yourself.

I have a wind instrument on our boat. I hardly ever use it. I've sailed so long without one, that I kinda know what the wind speed is by looking at the water, and I know the wind direction by the feel of it on my neck, and we have our flag mounted on our backstay, so I know the direction from that, too (very handy going downwind!!!).

If mine died, I wouldn't both replacing it (unless I had to sell the boat - not likely, or I'd credit the new owner, but NOT at your prices

).

Your boat, your choice.

Good luck.

kloudie1 · Dec 4, 2012

Stu, it is a problem because of the deck stepped mast. The wires go thru a small PVC conduit from the mast step to the interior. There is no easy access unless a hole is cut or ya pull the mast.. Claude Auger posted a picture of his access plate yesterday.. This is a major problem with a deck stepped mast..
EDIT
Joe, I did some research and find that the later TackTics are much better in transmission quality than the old ones were. I think MaineSail posted some comments on the forum.. I'll have to fab a mount for the bulkhead to hide the old hole but I am willing to do that to get something that works.
Don't know about inter device communications.. NEMA should accommodate this ??

kloudie1 · Dec 4, 2012

Joe, here is a past post:
http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=138057

thelocoman · Dec 4, 2012

tacktic

I have been using the tack tic on my 34 for three years with no problems. I have the one that uses 12 volts at the display. The solor powered are more money. The mast head senders are the same for both. Very happy so far.

onecoolair · Dec 4, 2012

Just something to consider

Joe Mullee said:
I don't have a wind instrument and I'd like to add one. In the last two years I installed a Raymarine ST60 depth finder and an X-5 auto pilot so I'll stick with that brand. I got a quote from a local Raymarine dealer to see what they would charge to install and save me the trouble. I was thinking of the more common units that run the wires down the mast as opposed to the TackTick models. For labor alone they figured a "minimum" of two days at $95 per hour for a total of $1520. That doesn't include the unit, materials, or pulling the mast if necessary. So I'm back to the drawing board to decide if I should do this myself.

Any advice is appreciated. Maybe I should go with the TackTick system but my concern there is I've read of problems with those systems losing the signal between the transducer and the display. It certainly would be a lot easier to install.

Has anyone installed their own wind instrument and run the wires? Can you give me any pointers?

Thanks,
Joe Mullee

I have the complete ray marine setup....2002......And what I discovered a few years ago after I finally set down and read the book that my auto pilot could use the data off the wind vane and display to run the auto pilot instead of just keeping a compass heading, has a course setting alert allowance if the original compass heading changes past a set limit.
Just something to consider if you are wanting to add a wind unit to your electronics package.

betzhunter · Dec 4, 2012

I'm in one of those past post that kloudie1 mentions and mine still works flawlessly

Bill Roosa · Dec 4, 2012

Installing the sensor on the mast head is just drilling two holes and tapping one for the sensor. The other hole passes the wires into the mast. Running the wires inside the boat is pretty easy also. The big PITA is running them down the mast so they don't slap around and getting them through the deck gland at the mast base.
I'd recommend that if you are going the wired route you wait till you pull the mast while on the hard and do all the work then. The results will last much longer. You can also install a quick connect on the boat side so the next time you pull the mast you don't have to cut the wires.
I have the ST 60 wind with depth, speed, GPS and autopilot all from Ray. love the stuff. Set a course to maintain the wind angle and she will sail all day long without touching the sails. course you might not end up where you want but that's sailing. Since they all connect together with the SeaTalk wires you can get the true wind speed and direction, "other" tack direction, and distance made good. the "other " tack direction is pretty handy as you press a button and it accounts for the wind direction being moved forward from boat speed and calculated the direction you will be going on the next tack. So you can rapidly sight over the compass in that direction to see of "you can make the mark in one tack" without actually tacking to check it out.

quadrille38 · Dec 4, 2012

Have a friend who has TackTic on his Catalina 30. He is on his third or fourth mast head unit in as many years.
Customer service was less than satisfactory although in all fairness that was before Ray acquired the brand.
Still, less than impressive

stephen Penny · Dec 4, 2012

Installed a wireless Tack Tick wind meter on my 1987 Hunter 31 two years ago. It was cost effective and works really well and is very reliable.

Velero49 · Dec 5, 2012

Joe raymarine introduced wireless intruments recently. Check them our here. http://raymarine.com/view/?id=1237

Also talk to Galesville yacht yard. Don't ask for rigger ask for installer. The guy who did some work 4 me has the 1st office once you get to second floor. Pm me if you have any questions.

Dan Johnson · Dec 5, 2012

Joe...

I replaced a dead Standard Horizon wind instrument with a Moor Apparent Wind unit. Used the same wiring already in the mast (comes with new wiring for your circumstances). Was reasonably priced and has worked flawlessly since installation. Has digital wind speed meter and analog direction arrow.