You have to spin the wheel pretty fast, try a can of keyboard cleaner or use the knot meter distance function and note the start reading, spin the wheel for a while and see if it advances the reading.
What does this switch do?
- Thread starter Greengas
- Start date
Thanks. I'll give that a shot and see what happens. Right now, the needle just sits at about 1.5 kts, even when we are not sailing.[/quote]
Does it show 1.5 with the power off? You should be able to "zero" it. It only take 2 or 3 seconds of paddle spin to get a deflection on the meter.
EDIT: I looked at the rear pic and you can calibrate speed, but maybe to zero is a screw in the middle of the gauge where the needle pivots?
Does it show 1.5 with the power off? You should be able to "zero" it. It only take 2 or 3 seconds of paddle spin to get a deflection on the meter.
EDIT: I looked at the rear pic and you can calibrate speed, but maybe to zero is a screw in the middle of the gauge where the needle pivots?
Don't bother to replace the knotmeter. The paddle wheels get fouled with a bit of grass and suddenly the boat is slow -- you decide you can't trust it. If the grass made the boat appear to be going faster, everyone would use them still.
The speed readout from your GPS (or phone) is more accurate unless there is a strong current. And in that case, you still probably care more about speed over ground than speed through the water since it's speed over ground that get's you somewhere.
You also care about speed to judge the impact of a sail adjustment. But, here again, the GPS speed is fine because the current isn't likely to change at the same moment you tweaked the sail. In time you'll be able to judge speed through the water very accurately by how the boat feels.
The speed readout from your GPS (or phone) is more accurate unless there is a strong current. And in that case, you still probably care more about speed over ground than speed through the water since it's speed over ground that get's you somewhere.
You also care about speed to judge the impact of a sail adjustment. But, here again, the GPS speed is fine because the current isn't likely to change at the same moment you tweaked the sail. In time you'll be able to judge speed through the water very accurately by how the boat feels.
I love my knot meter. Cant imagine a sailing vessel without one. Shows instantaneous speed changes regarding speed through the water...and it helps teach sail trim. Gps is nice for SOG only. Not saying it isnt nice to have both!!
another thing to avoid is letting the smoke out of any electronic device or light bulb. If you let the smoke out it will never work again.