I was wondering what people are useing for a hand held wind meter. I do not want to spend more than. a hundred bucks. I am currently looking at this one. See link Thanks, Stu
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Kestrel
I've used a similar design/instrument made by Kestrel for my work as a fire behaviour specialist for years and transfered that technology to my boat. It works fine and will do the job just great.
I've used a similar design/instrument made by Kestrel for my work as a fire behaviour specialist for years and transfered that technology to my boat. It works fine and will do the job just great.
Radio Shack
On our trairelable Starwind 223 we use a Radio Shack Cat. No. 63-1119. It is no longer in production but you can still find it on e-bay. It gives you wind speed and direction on an LCD display. It only reads up to 30MPH and the reading is in statute miles. Sturdy reliable unit with a built in night vision light. Sells new for around $35.
On our trairelable Starwind 223 we use a Radio Shack Cat. No. 63-1119. It is no longer in production but you can still find it on e-bay. It gives you wind speed and direction on an LCD display. It only reads up to 30MPH and the reading is in statute miles. Sturdy reliable unit with a built in night vision light. Sells new for around $35.
I bought one from eBay
Someone wrote about it here about a year or so ago. This person bought it from eBay. I went to eBay and looked at it and I liked the design. With most units, you have to make sure you face the unit to the wind, or the reading may be off. This one is omnidirectional. The little paddle wheel works just like the one on the top of our stick. So, if the wind is blowing, you don't have to figure out which way the wind is blowing. Just hold it up in the air, and it works. I tested it while driving down the road at 60mph, and the wind guage showed pretty close to 60mph. Taking into account the actual wind without the car, I would say it is pretty accurate. One thing about this seller. Don't bother bidding for it. Just pay the buy-it-now price. He has a hidden base price, which is but a couple of bucks below the buy-it-now price. He does ship the unit within 1-2 days, and the unit is very high quality. My wife and I both really like it.
Someone wrote about it here about a year or so ago. This person bought it from eBay. I went to eBay and looked at it and I liked the design. With most units, you have to make sure you face the unit to the wind, or the reading may be off. This one is omnidirectional. The little paddle wheel works just like the one on the top of our stick. So, if the wind is blowing, you don't have to figure out which way the wind is blowing. Just hold it up in the air, and it works. I tested it while driving down the road at 60mph, and the wind guage showed pretty close to 60mph. Taking into account the actual wind without the car, I would say it is pretty accurate. One thing about this seller. Don't bother bidding for it. Just pay the buy-it-now price. He has a hidden base price, which is but a couple of bucks below the buy-it-now price. He does ship the unit within 1-2 days, and the unit is very high quality. My wife and I both really like it.
Stu:
I use a Skymate similar to the one in your link. I got it on sale for about the same price listed in your link. Very nice instrument and fun to use.
I use a Skymate similar to the one in your link. I got it on sale for about the same price listed in your link. Very nice instrument and fun to use.
Windtronic
Here's a link to the lowest price you'll find anywhere on the Windtronic. Quality product and quick service. My kids bought me one of these for Christmas. It works great and is accurate. No need to know the wind direction, just hold it up and it works. My wife likes using it, not sure if this is a good thing, she's ready to head for the marina when the wind is steady at 20 knots. No fooling her anymore.
Here's a link to the lowest price you'll find anywhere on the Windtronic. Quality product and quick service. My kids bought me one of these for Christmas. It works great and is accurate. No need to know the wind direction, just hold it up and it works. My wife likes using it, not sure if this is a good thing, she's ready to head for the marina when the wind is steady at 20 knots. No fooling her anymore.
I like my Brunton ADC wind
This little thing is tough, water proof, you can even put it in the water to read your boat speed. (I'm not saying it's easy to read while it's in the water though!) It really is a good little unit. Tom s/v GAIA
This little thing is tough, water proof, you can even put it in the water to read your boat speed. (I'm not saying it's easy to read while it's in the water though!) It really is a good little unit. Tom s/v GAIA
Ultrasonic wind speed
Have you looked at these solid-state devices? I found this Davis Windscribe model. I met a guy on a boat that had a similar Radio Shack model that was about half the price. It had four holes spaced aroud the top so it didn't need to be oriented to the wind. It seemed to work OK at the dock.
Have you looked at these solid-state devices? I found this Davis Windscribe model. I met a guy on a boat that had a similar Radio Shack model that was about half the price. It had four holes spaced aroud the top so it didn't need to be oriented to the wind. It seemed to work OK at the dock.
Lacrosse: cheap but excellent
I went for the LaCrosse because it was the cheapest at the time (and still is, I think). It works really well. It can show current wind speed; average wind speed; gust speed. It also measures temperature and wind chill. Plus it's a jaunty yellow, for that professional meteorologist look. You should shop for price. But, as an example, Amazon has it for about $34. An issue with most of these meters - including the SpeedTech Stu is looking at and also my LaCrosse - is that they need to be pointed into the wind. This means that, in order to read them, you too need to point yourself into the wind (to face the screen on the instrument). On some points of sail, this can involve a bit more squirming around than an old sailor like me would prefer. If I was going to spring for another - which I'm not! - I think I'd go for the Windtronic, like Mark. Twice the cost, but it doesn't care which way it's pointing. Dick
I went for the LaCrosse because it was the cheapest at the time (and still is, I think). It works really well. It can show current wind speed; average wind speed; gust speed. It also measures temperature and wind chill. Plus it's a jaunty yellow, for that professional meteorologist look. You should shop for price. But, as an example, Amazon has it for about $34. An issue with most of these meters - including the SpeedTech Stu is looking at and also my LaCrosse - is that they need to be pointed into the wind. This means that, in order to read them, you too need to point yourself into the wind (to face the screen on the instrument). On some points of sail, this can involve a bit more squirming around than an old sailor like me would prefer. If I was going to spring for another - which I'm not! - I think I'd go for the Windtronic, like Mark. Twice the cost, but it doesn't care which way it's pointing. Dick
JDC instrument
A friend of mine has the "Geo" model of this one. It's quite impressive. They have more basic models as well.
A friend of mine has the "Geo" model of this one. It's quite impressive. They have more basic models as well.
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