Speed Sensor Sea Farm

[Ron Parkes]

I have a problem which is of little consequence to the rest of the world but which is starting to annoy me, and I am sure my annoyance has been experienced by others.It goes like this - We (myself, the Admiral, guests, etc.) pull out of the slip slick as anything and start down the channel to the ICW. After congratulating myself on a clean exit, I look up and discover that the Raytheon Speed Unit is reading "0.0 kts". I exclaim : "No - Not Again!" and depend on the GPS for speed readings the rest of the day.The cause of the problem, I refer to as my speed sensor sea farm in which little mossy stuff attaches to the paddle wheel device on the water side of the through hull. With the recent increasing temperature of the water here in Florida, the "crop" does very well and requires harvesting about every two weeks or it jams my speed sensor. I am looking for any solutions that someone may have because it is a real pain to remove the sensor, put in the plug, soak up about 2-3 cups of water (haven't sunk yet), clean the little paddle wheel with tissues, paper towels, Q-tips and a bit of soap, replace the sensor, soak up some more water, worry about the seal, and breathe a sigh of relief.I asked one of the "old salts" at the yacht club (nice guys, by the way) if he had a solution. He said to remove the sensor between sails and put it back in when I was ready to go out. That would work, but I go out sailing more frequently than It clogs up. I also have too many other things to be concerned with before leaving - like disconnecting the shore power cord!I thought of a few other solutions, like:1) Spray it with WD40. Maybe sea moss doesn't like that.2) Micro bottom paint the little paddle wheel. Probably not - The bottom also grows sea moss.3) Train a manatee to periodically come by and graze on it. Given the size of our manatees, I would fear for my keel.4) Dunk it in pepper sauce or weed killer.5) Forget the knotmeter and use the GPS (a little like a blinking 12:00 on the VCR). This would work, but then I couldn't complain about how the current is always against me.I would appreciate any and all suggestions for both avoiding the problem and for cleaning the unit (sulphuric acid sounds effective, but I don't think Raytheon would approve).Ron Parkes s/v Contemplation H320

 

[Bruce Grant]

Hmmmmm

Interesting that you have a 320 also.On my H28, I would get a slime buildup, but not a moss build up, now with my 320 I get moss, the only difference is the boat as I am still in the same lake, same slip, same marina etc.I will be really interested to hear what others have to say as a way to prevent this.Regards.Bruce.Neon Moon

 

[Ron Deck]

Quick fix

If your sensor is near the bow like mine is you can attach a line to a life line stunchion drop it over the bow and work it forward and aft over the sensor from the other side of the boat. The wheel starts turning and stays free for a couple of weeks. Ron

 

[Debra Blatnik]

That's why it came with a plug

Mine did anyhow....it came with the transducer. So you get a little water. That's what the bilge pump is for.

 

[JT]

Speed Sensor

Mine did the same thing last season. I EMailed the manufacturer and their only suggestion was to paint it with bottom paint or to use transducer paint. So, I bought a small container of transducer paint (West Marine, about $5) and I am trying it for this season.

 

[Bryce]

sped sensor

Tried transducer paint last season. Purring the plug in after each sail seems to be the path of least resistence.BryceS/V SpellbinderH410

 

[sloopercat]

Desitin diaper rash lotion

I heard this works.

 

[Tim Schaaf]

More Desitin

I have used Desitin on an inflatable dinghy down here in Cabo San Lucas, where the water is quite warm and things foul easily. It is very gooey and might interfere with the movement of the paddle wheel on its spindle. But it did work on my dinghy. It would take about a month to foul the same amount that normally took a week, and the fouling was easy to remove since it had a hard time adhering. I am not sure what makes it work but I suspect that it is nothing more than the gooey consistency. I never tried something else like Vaseline, but I wouldn't be too surprised if that worked too. Interesting thought. Incidentally, with regard to an inflatable, if you didn't clean off the Desitin before lifting it aboard, you would have a colossal mess. But the stuff does clean off pretty easily, so if the dinghy is to stay in the water a lot, it can be worth it. I am off to the drugstore......!

 

[Rick Webb]

The Active Formula is Zinc Oxide

I have been told. Desitin actually has more of it than the zinc oxide ointment you buy over the counter. I know one guy who even puts it on his shaft, prop and strut under water.

 

[Dick of Sylvan]

Old Fashioned Way

If you really need to know your speed, as in plotting your position by dead reckoning, you might be able to find an antique log to drag. That would only be used when you really need it so probably wouldn't become mossy even in today's polluted waters. Or you could even re-read "Men Against the Sea" (of the Bligh Mutiny trilogy)and learn how to do it with a real log and knotted line, and time count.

 

[Alex]

I suppose the new non-mechenical ones..

..just comming into market nowdays , will be the norm addopted by all manufacturers few years from now..Meanwhile I keep diving to it every 2 weeks in summer.. and disregard it in winter..

 

[Ron Parkes]

Look Ma, No Sea Moss

I want to thank all of the owners who replied to my original question. Y'all are great.This morning, I took a small toothbrush (an old one which I will not use again) down to Contemplation. I am also looking to borrow some Desitin from one of my girlfriend's granddaughters.I will be glad to report back on the Desitin Test for Sea Moss Eradication. Stay tuned.Ron Parkes s/v Contemplation H320