I'm looking at a boat with an old SR Mariner Nav 5 instrument cluster. I've been told it works, but the masthead sensors are broken. If I get the boat I wasn't planning to replace all the instrumentation right away. Are masthead sensors unit specific? Would I have to find sensors for the SR or are there generic units available?
Wind Instruments
- Thread starter eje
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You might check with SR Marine for a replacement mast head sensor at: SR Mariner
OR if you want to replace the system (mast head sensor and display) entirely with a new hard-wired Raymarine i60 system for $807, which is similar to what I have but an earlier version: Amazon.com: Raymarine i60 Wind System with Masthead: Sports & Outdoors
I am sure the forum will offer their advise and experience with other replacement wind instrument manufacturers and instrument replacement strategies, including wireless.
OR if you want to replace the system (mast head sensor and display) entirely with a new hard-wired Raymarine i60 system for $807, which is similar to what I have but an earlier version: Amazon.com: Raymarine i60 Wind System with Masthead: Sports & Outdoors
I am sure the forum will offer their advise and experience with other replacement wind instrument manufacturers and instrument replacement strategies, including wireless.
I wouldn't spend a dime trying to repair an obsolete apparent wind speed/direction device. I'd start saving for a replacement system that will allow you to combine wind data with boat speed and direction that will give you TRUE information... which is what you want for making navigation decisions. Yes, APPARENT wind data is critical for sail trim adjustments. But your best trim indicators are sail telltales and a simple arrow style windvane. That's probably why the seller never repaired the old SR stuff. It ain't worth it.
You know, I have one of those simple arrow style windvanes, but I can't get the thing to work right for the life of me. It is always pointing to exactly where I want to go.
Might find this Sail Magazine article helpful on sailing instruments: Sailing Instruments
Might also find this Cruisers Forum thread on wind instrument selection of interest: List of all available options for wind instruments? - Cruisers & Sailing Forums
Might also find this Cruisers Forum thread on wind instrument selection of interest: List of all available options for wind instruments? - Cruisers & Sailing Forums
Mast head units are not interchangeable with other brands. Cory of SR Instruments was still fixing their products as long as parts were available, but they have stopped selling new units. It has been a while since I have talked to Cory, so I only assume they are still fixing their products.
I had a SR Nav 10. Which stopped working. I sent it back to SR and they couldn't get it working. The wind direction arrow came off in a storm. They can replace that. If the cups for wind speed are broken, they cannot replace those. Unfortunately, my unit fell of my bench and the cups broke. Get some other unit.
If the instruments give you what you want/need and it can be repaired for a resonable cosr, do it. If not, go for a NMEA2000 system. I prefer a wired wind sensor, but currently have wireless because I could not pull a wire at the time. Purists will rail against having an instrument, but I find it easier than: Staring into the sun; Craning my neck to see around the bimini; Having to shine a flashlight to see the windex at night. (NO, the anchor light IS NOT a windex light...) Yes, you can SOMETIMES get the wind direction from your cheek/earlope/ whatever but not always.