Replacing wind instrument

[bobtigar]

One of the many items that must be replace after my recent lightning strike is my Datamarine wind system. I have a few choices:

1-Datamarine will repair my damaged unit.
2-Replace it with a completely new wired system-there are some round instruments avail
3-Replace it with a wireless system.

Anyone with experience with the wireless units? Are they reliable? less or more so than a wired unit?
Moor units are interesting, partially because of the price-they have been around along time. Anyone with long term experience with them/
Bob

 

[Maine Sail]

One of the many items that must be replace after my recent lightning strike is my Datamarine wind system. I have a few choices:



1-Datamarine will repair my damaged unit.

In my experience, after a strike, repaired products, unless the entire guts have been replaced, often fail again...

2-Replace it with a completely new wired system-there are some round instruments avail

New would be my vote and go with a N2K system. You will be there eventually...

3-Replace it with a wireless system.

Anyone with experience with the wireless units? Are they reliable? less or more so than a wired unit?

I would not wish a "wireless" wind system on my worst enemy. The failure/issue rate is close to 50% in my experience. I know way more about this than I can let on here but suffice it to say, no... I have a number of customers with them and not a single one has not had issues.

This is on a good day because at least 50% of the system is working...

Moor units are interesting, partially because of the price-they have been around along time. Anyone with long term experience with them/
Bob

If you absolutely, positively must have round instruments they can work. They are lightly built, have no data output, and have very hokey wiring with exposed butt connections at the top of the spar... They are marginally reliable and nowhere near as robust as the original Datamarine..


My .02, as one who does this for a living, choose one of the NEMA 2000 compatible wind systems. If you find a vane that does not last buy another brand and it can be used with your display etc... N2K does not lock you into one brand and the data can be displayed multiple places once you get to a whole boat N2K point. You have to start somewhere. The Garmin stuff is excellent but these days everyone has a N2K wind and display system.

The best bet is to ask for a guarantee that the Datamarine has been re-manufactured not just fixed. Lightning does goofy stuff.... If you buy new, go straight to an N2K unit...

 

[Skipper]

One of the many items that must be replace after my recent lightning strike is my Datamarine wind system. I have a few choices:

1-Datamarine will repair my damaged unit.
2-Replace it with a completely new wired system-there are some round instruments avail
3-Replace it with a wireless system.

Anyone with experience with the wireless units? Are they reliable? less or more so than a wired unit?
Moor units are interesting, partially because of the price-they have been around along time. Anyone with long term experience with them/
Bob

I'm wondering what the delta is between Datamarine's repair cost and a new masthead unit, if that is an effected piece.

For me, I'd stick with Datamarine, and look at a new masthead unit if that's needed, and repair the instrument unit since (I think) they don't make it anymore. I'm guessing that your instruments are original, and that they're 30+ years old. This is a testimonial to the serious and robust quality of these genuine instruments. They're not electro-toys like the current rash, which will drop dead unceremoniously with no prior symptoms, an event the manufacturers of which will not mourn.

I loved the concept of the wireless systems. And Tack Tick seemed to make a gallant effort at it. However, they're now a Raymarine product. Others with experience can debate the notion, but my worry is that the batteries on wireless head-units will eventually, and in my perception too quickly, need replacing. Also, I can't have a guarantee in my head that the units will function all night long and subsequent overcast days, if needed. And I'm wondering how many years the solar panels will retain their energy-gathering qualities. So, it seems too many what ifs. I'd druther just depend upon systems proven over decades.

 

[twdevore]

We have a tacktick the came with the boat. The PO must not have investigated thoroughly as the mast is beyond the recommended distance of ~35 feet to the instruments. Last year it stopped working, there was an issue with the bearings they used. We sent the mast head unit to Raymarine for repair. They offered a new unit at a good discount. This year it worked for a few weeks but since we haven't been able to get the units to speak to each other. Re-syncing has not worked. We will be switching to wired system next year. I was hoping that they would come out with a signal booster but nothing yet. It's a great concept, but, go wired.

 

[bobtigar]

I'm wondering what the delta is between Datamarine's repair cost and a new masthead unit, if that is an effected piece.

For me, I'd stick with Datamarine, and look at a new masthead unit if that's needed, and repair the instrument unit since (I think) they don't make it anymore. I'm guessing that your instruments are original, and that they're 30+ years old. This is a testimonial to the serious and robust quality of these genuine instruments. They're not electro-toys like the current rash, which will drop dead unceremoniously with no prior symptoms, an event the manufacturers of which will not mourn.

I loved the concept of the wireless systems. And Tack Tick seemed to make a gallant effort at it. However, they're now a Raymarine product. Others with experience can debate the notion, but my worry is that the batteries on wireless head-units will eventually, and in my perception too quickly, need replacing. Also, I can't have a guarantee in my head that the units will function all night long and subsequent overcast days, if needed. And I'm wondering how many years the solar panels will retain their energy-gathering qualities. So, it seems too many what ifs. I'd druther just depend upon systems proven over decades.

The datamarine unit is about 12 years old-replaced after the last lightning strike. It is digital. DMI says they can do whatever is necessary to repair mast-head sender and gauge. It probable would cost as much as a new i60. Bob

 

[31seahorse]

RE: Moor wind instrument

We had a Moor wind instrument on our Oday 34. Bought it thinking price and it worked very well. It did take some "getting used to" because the center needle did not rotate 360 degrees. I think it went to about 10 degrees short of straight ahead and then it turned through the entire range when the bow went through the oncoming wind. It began to read on the opposite tack after we passed that 10 degree mark on the other side. Not a big deal if you read the degrees for your close hauled heading, but I always just glanced at the position of the needle. I eventually marked the rim of the dial with magic marker to indicate close hauled, beam reach and broad reach. (I think I had been dropped on my butt as a child and that set me a few degrees off center too!)

 

[Terry in Naples]

I have had good luck with my tack tick system. I would never go back to wired again. I have it on my Catalina 34. I have the complete system.

 

[Tricia]

I have a Nexus wireless wind

as part of a basic NX start pack. It has worked without fail for 3+ years. There's a small solar charger on the wind transducer that has kept the original battery happy since installation. When the battery dies, it's not hard to replace. Garmin is selling this stuff now, I think.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Look at Simrad IS20 ...

Years ago I replaced my non-functioning DataMarine wind instrument with a Simrad IS15. At the time, it came with a round display, but I chose the square as you can see in the photo. I recommend Simrad very highly. Mine has been operating flawlessly for about 7 years now. There was no need to modify the opening that was occupied by the old DM instrument. IS15 is no longer available but I would suggest the IS20.

I intend to replace any instruments that I need with Simrad, but my old DM depth and speed have worked flawlessly for all this time and there is no hint of trouble yet. I find Simrad to be high quality and reasonable price.

I thought about wireless but it cost too much money for me. I had no idea that it may be unreliable.