Windex removal for trailering?

Squidd · Mar 30, 2012

Get some of that "saran wrap" plastic packing wrap and just secure the "pointer" from spinning around in the breeze while you travel..

Stan Breaux · Mar 30, 2012

I would vote for removing it.

If yours is like mine, then look at how those little squares are attached to the metal frame. They are barely glued on. With the mast down, everythign will be against the wind instead of into the wind, and I doubt it will survive well.

cb32863 · Mar 30, 2012

Towed mine home 700 miles with it attached, only issues were backing it in to the driveway and my son not saying "stop" soon enough as the windex went crunch against the garage.....

cephius (Dave) · Mar 30, 2012

I've lost my Windex a couple of times because I forgot to remove it prior to towing.

Since I find a Windex to be of little value when I'm sailing, (I only ever look up at it when there is no wind and it is swinging in useless circles) I finally gave up replacing it.

I rely much more on tell tails, cheaters, sail shape, wave direction, and the wind on my face to determine where it is blowing from.

Kermit · Mar 30, 2012

I'm with cephius (Dave) on the lack of needing a windex. I lost my original to a high tree branch and replaced it when having the spinnaker halyard installed. A hail storm removed the new one completely and cleanly. Cassette tape on the shrouds is a whole lot easier and seems to be more accurate. I doubt I would ever replace the windex even if someone gave me a new one and offered to put it on.

BUT... I vote for removing it before trailering it. Seems the prudent thing to do.

Joe11688 · Mar 30, 2012

Phyrexii said:
I just bought a Windex 15 for my trailer boat. My question is: How important is it to remove the Windex when trailering? What damage would / could occur if I don't remove it? I rarely drive more than an hour, and I don't exceed 60mph.

I am trying to keep the setup / breakdown time to an absolute minimum, and removing / replacing the Windex would add a noticeable amount of time due to the difficulty of reaching the top of the mast without a stepladder.

Thanks!
George

George,
If you have a Davis Windex, believe me, they are too expensive to have to replace. Do what I have always done, replace the nut and washer on the Windex with a stainless steel wing nut and store the windex in a safe place in the cabin where it won't get broken. I have a 12" extension bracket for my Windex that extends it further aft for better visibility and the wing nut tightens right up on mine without a lock washer.

Also, my Windex has a set screw at the base of the Windex that I never use for removing the windex, but I have the set screw adjusted to the windex so that I can orient the vanes by lining up the set screw with the extension bracket when I screw it on with the wing nut.
I've had the same Windex for over 15 years now and I take good care of it.

dscribner · Mar 30, 2012

I trailer 20 to 60 miles every weekend, mostly highway. Never had a problem.

Sumner · Mar 30, 2012

We trailered almost...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/FL-fall-2010/Florida-2010-index.html

.... 5000 miles to Florida and back with it attached and didn't have a problem. The solar panels and such back there might be deflecting some wind away from it or towards it, don't know. We do have a....

... small bungee wrapped (left arrow) around it to keep it from spinning and tow between 60 and 65. Also the picture above was with the mast down, I just rotated the picture when I posted it. As you can see the windex mounts on the VHF antenna. The old one was on a separate mount and we would usually forget to put it on before raising the mast

.

Sum

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Forrest15112 · Mar 30, 2012

I used to remove mine, but have left it in place for the last 10 years and have had nothing fly off or wear out...yet. I'm actually rather surprised it has lasted as long as it has, being plasitc and exposed. I haven't railered much in the last 10 years though. It has either been in a slip, or parked - 2005-2011.

JoeWhite · Mar 30, 2012

I also broke mine one day as I was backing up and the tree branches ripped it off. $ 24.00 is too much to pay for a new one. So removing it makes sense.

chp · Mar 31, 2012

I leave mine on now. I used to go through the hassle of removing it. I just use a tie wrap to stop it from rotating in the wind.

Crazy Dave Condon · Mar 31, 2012

If you have the Davis 10 windvane, traveling it with the vane in place will cause it to spin. In one photo the vane is blocked from the wind hitting it when traveling. However, I have replaced many vanes over the years and would highly suggest removal.

I would suggest that this be done for the Davis 15 as well.

Many years ago, Davis had a quick spring clip style for the Davis 10 which was great for traileraing. If enough of you complained to the manufacturer, who knows if they would come back out with the spring clip style

Crazy Dave condon

Benny17441 · Mar 31, 2012

Unless you can tow with the mast upright I would remove it. Most of them just have a lock screw wich attaches the spindle to the base.

flynfol · Apr 1, 2012

I vote to remove. That thing is built very lightly. Broke two backing into the bushes.......doh! Also double check the jamb nuts that hold the wire "spreaders" .......lost one of those damn things too.

Joe11688 · Apr 1, 2012

I can understand why you wouldn't want to remove your windex Sumner. If I had that type of Windex I wouldn't want to remove it each time either.
If he has a Windex similar to mine he could reach right out and put it on or take it off right from the cockpit with the mast laying in the mast crutches. At least I can do it pretty easy. This is the type of Windex I'm referring to. If the Windex is easy to remove I would remove it.

Kermit · Apr 2, 2012

Once you lose it, you won't have to worry with it again. So I've changed my stance. Leave it on until you lose it.

Joe11688 · Apr 2, 2012

Phyrexii said:
I can't reach it from the cockpit on the mast crutch, because my baby stays prevent me from pulling the mast foreword far enough. My arms are not long enough to reach it from the ground (it's 9 feet up when trailering). I suppose I could put snap hooks on the baby stays, so I could easily disconnect them, though...

Again, I'm just trying to eliminate any unnecessary steps at the ramp.
Thanks!

Snap hooks or Pelican hooks on the baby stays is your best bet George.
A Windex at the top of your mast is worth having. If my Windex breaks for whatever reason, I'm going to go out and buy another one because I won't sail my boat without it if I can help it.

kenn · Apr 2, 2012

I remove ours when the mast is down and we are trailering. Also the masthead VHF antenna. It's fairly easy to slide the horizontal mast along enough that the masthead can be reached from the cockpit, before tying everything down for transport.

I still use the windex alot when sailing.

Windex removal for trailering?

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