Speedo

[LarryE-old]

How many of you have a speed instrument on your boat?
Do you actually us it?

[Mark Rode]

I use a Velocitek. (No holes to drill). It does help you stay on top of those little adjustments and the effect they have on boat speed.

[LarryE-old]

I've always had one and used it. However, because I keep the boat in the water year round, in Fl. I have to take the sending unit out between using it. Can't just leave it in.
The display has become so dark I can't read it in the sun.
To get a new on will require glassing up the hole and reinstalling a new one. All the new ones have a smaller dia.thru hull.
Not really worth all the work.

[Tim Bosma]

we recently upgraded the speedo on Hot Tamale to a ST50,since the last one was under warranty and no longer available, we got the upgrade at no charge. It helps us watch for the effects of sail trim.

on Blackbeard we use a GPS based unit (similar to Velocitek) as primary, since the original Standard Horizon is intermittent in display and readout accuracy.

for the price of an upgrade, you can get a good GPS based unit.

[LarryE-old]

Tim,
GPS, this is how I'm going to go. No more taking the sending unit in and out.
Thanks.

[dave]

I much prefer GPS because it's speed over the bottom instead of speed through the water. Having the impeller just off of straight, not in the center of the hull (etc.) can really throw things off. Plus, with the GPS compass reading you're seeing the course of the speedo/compass unit over the bottom no matter where the bow is heading, totally eliminating leeway error. These two things make it fairly simple to detect current variabilities when used as a team.

[Tac Boston]

You should use both! BUT, for me a proper speedo is way way better because it is more accurate in telling you what your trim changes just did. Speed over ground is great for just that but it takes into account to many variables like current for accurate sail trim changes and what that did for you.

But when you use both get your set and drift as well. very helpful to know when you are in more or less current tactically. I do not ever trust just a GPS speed in my speed set up. Just my $0.03

Tac

[dave]

ABSOLUTELY, if it's in one's budget!!!!

[LarryE-old]

I purchased the Velocitek Speed Puck. Made a angle bracket, that can be easily removed with 2 wing nuts, mounted it on the sliding hatch.

VERY happy with that set up. For what we do it's Purrfect.