Hi All,

The wind vane on our Wireless Tacktick appears to have given up, the solar panels don't charge the battery (battery recently replaced). I took it down, and if angled directly at the sun, it shows a small charge. Orientate it to its fixed flat position, there is no charge showing.

A new wind vane alone is $730.

Before parting with the cash, I'm looking at wired options.

Does anybody have experience with the i40 series instruments? They are half the price of the i50/i60 series.

Anyone got a Rotavecta Wind? I've read some poor reports on them.

We have a c120 classic plotter and S1 Smartpilot computer with St6001 controller, so the i40 seatalk interface seems appropriate.

Hi Free,
How old is the unit?
Mine battery wise is fine, approx 3 years old now. It got to about 2 years old and I had to disassemble it and clean the steel shaft, as it was getting a dirt line and all stiff, to the point it would stop rotating in light airs. Re-assembled and voilah!
Other than that it has been pretty good, sorry to here yours is causing you grief.

HG02, I like the look of the sail timer, that's just smart.
I just upgraded from a fluxgate compass to an NKE Regatta compass to resolve this exact issue. As it can measure heel angle, it uses this, and filters the true wind/heading numbers accordingly.
This cost $900 more than the fluxgate.
So, the SailTimer wind solves not only having to spend more money on compasses to resolve this, but fixes Free's need for a windvane too! Good on 'em.

I'm about to buy new instruments while the boat show discounts are on, pity i need NMEA because the i40 intstruments are such good value. The rotavecta wind might not be the absolute best instrument ever made but IMO its probably good enough for most purposes. Knowing the exact windspeed is probably not as important as knowing how your boat and sails perform with reference to the numbers displayed on you instruments if that makes sense.
Having said that the sail timer looks like a great innovation.

SandS said..
interesting unit HG ......!!

have you worked what they mean buy this

"Amazing optional mount allows you to raise/lower the anemometer after your boat is in the water, without having to take down or climb up the mast" ?

SandS said..
interesting unit HG ......!!

have you worked what they mean buy this

"Amazing optional mount allows you to raise/lower the anemometer after your boat is in the water, without having to take down or climb up the mast" ?

its in there PDF don't be a lazy bones SSand

Lazzarae said..
I installed a new I40 wind with a RotaVecta transducer on my last boat & it was useless!! I replaced it with a wireless Tacktick a few months later & the difference was chalk & cheese. The instrument is fine but the RotaVecta transducer just doesn't cut it.

The I40 depth is OK but not for wind IMO.

I have to buy a wind instrument in the coming months (before the mast goes up) & at this stage the I60 is the pick for me - just gotta save up for it :(

http://www.sailtimerwind.com/Mounts.html <In here SandS
What I would like is two maybe three transducers wired into a A5 raymarine which is possible and a tablet on deck wifiing from the Raymarine inside the cabin
Lazze
I do like thew simple idea od the sail timer wind vane and the concept of when the mast is leaning it gives more acurate wind speed than the original design of a century ago its can be wired in the NEMA 2000

On the subject something like this www.australiangeographic.com.au/shop/ is $330 whereas a Tactick wireless wind speed and direction setup is around $1600 and from looking at the net there is question over the reliability of the units

Is there a marked difference in quality or does the marine specific brand mean it is much more expensive than something made for home use

Regards Don

Lazzarae said..
I installed a new I40 wind with a RotaVecta transducer on my last boat & it was useless!! I replaced it with a wireless Tacktick a few months later & the difference was chalk & cheese. The instrument is fine but the RotaVecta transducer just doesn't cut it.

The I40 depth is OK but not for wind IMO.

I have to buy a wind instrument in the coming months (before the mast goes up) & at this stage the I60 is the pick for me - just gotta save up for it :(

Can't beat the voice of experience looks like an I60 for me too. I like the idea of the sail timer but its just another layer of complexity that scares me off.

damm accounting logic donk !!! .......no room for that in boat ownership !

"Totally necessary" is always open to interpretation.