Wireless instruments

berner73 · May 18, 2015

Been sailing with ours for about 5 seasons now, TackTick wireless - combo speed/depth and separate wind. Very easy to install and we've been pleased so far with no problems other than a lightning strike to the wind transmitter (which Raymarine covered). I've read a few complaints - respectable sources too - but ours just keep chugging along.

Our masthead is about 40' off the deck and we sail in Boston so there's a lot of opportunity for interference. Never lost communication with either unit, from the cockpit or down below in the cabin. The batteries in the control heads stay charged without issue. We mounted ours using the included brackets, so in the Summer we store them powered off below decks when not sailing, and there's always a full charge when we come back. Over the Winter they hold a charge in dark storage for about 3 months - about 80% charged when we recommission things. Paddle wheel stops sending the signal when it gets fouled, but that's true with any of them AFAIK. Easy enough to pull it out and clean off.

The GUI navigation on the control heads isn't exactly intuitive, but you get used to it and I rarely have to change it anyway. Displays are LCD, easy to read straight on even in the daylight, but almost impossible to see from any appreciable angle. Not as cool as the newer color displays on the market now. Really like the flexibility of taking them down to the cabin overnight when out at anchor. Would buy them again.

joker460 · May 18, 2015

You should read this previous post.

http://forums.beneteau.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=1118298&highlight=TackTick

hvbaker · May 18, 2015

cbarnhart53 said:
Another post referenced poor battery life. They indicated about 3 years then you have to replace the whole unit, not just the battery. Have you had any problems with this and can you access the batteries in you displays? Thanks for the info.

I have not had battery problems. I do have the control head at the helm hard wired. The masthead instrument works fine.

berner73 · May 19, 2015

cbarnhart53 said:
Another post referenced poor battery life. They indicated about 3 years then you have to replace the whole unit, not just the battery. Have you had any problems with this and can you access the batteries in you displays?
Thanks for the info.

Haven't had any issues with the batteries so far, this will be our 5th season. I suspect the need for replacement is more a function of cycles (charge/discharge) than any chronological event. Haven't disassembled the units yet but will do so when the time comes. I doubt the entire unit requires replacement. Not saying that isn't what the manufacturer recommends, just that I've yet to run into a rechargeable battery in consumer electronics that can't be sourced and replaced.

tigerpilot · May 31, 2015

Stay away from TackTick as Raymarine support is the pits. the instruments with the wireless links are a great concept but the execution is faulty. I had an engineer explain "value engineering" to me as it is practiced at Raymarine. Simply make it cheaper.
Try getting them on the phone is impossible-wait 30 minutes for a message to leave a callback number. Maybe you get a call, but probably you won't. Best you can do is rake them over the coals loudly at major boat shows so others don't make the same mistake.

Wireless instruments

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