wind speed instrument for sailboat

Wind and Weather Tools

The best sailboat wind direction indicators, wind speed meters & anemometers.

If you’re a sailing enthusiast you probably are no stranger to needing accurate wind speed and direction information. There are a slew of wind meters available today for just about every need: from handheld anemometers (wind speed meters), to sailboat mounted wind direction indicators and more. In this article, we’re going to do a roundup of the best wind meters for sailing, wind vanes for sailboats, the best anemometers for sailing, and more.

The best wind direction meters for sailing

WeatherHawk SM-18 SkyMate Hand-Held Wind Meter, Yellow

This floating anemometer is one of the best wind speed meters for sailing. It can measure wind speeds ranging from 0.5 miles per hour all the way up to 99MPH at user-selectable intervals of every five, ten, or 13 seconds (in addition to calculating the average wind speed and tracking peak speed for you). Plus it can also measure wind temperature and wind chill in both Fahrenheit and Celsius. One other nice feature about this sailboat anemometer is that it comes with a durable build and a bright yellow flip-shield. Naturally, it’s also water-resistant so if it falls into the water you’ll be able to easily spot it floating. Also comes with a loop for a lanyard or wrist strap if desired. A belt sheath is also available for this product.

For more handheld anemometers, see our full article: The Best Portable Anemometers & Portable Weather Meters .

Cape Cod Wind Speed Indicator for Sailboats

Cape Cod Wind & Weather instruments have been a staple of sailors since the company was founded in 1939. With an emphasis on quality American-made wind speed indicators, these gauges are built to last.

This wind speed indicator for sailing can mount on your sailboat either vertically or horizontally and it comes with a spinning cup wheel which can be mounted wherever you like (the supplied cable is 50 feet long and comes with a mounting bracket and screws). For wireless anemometers, see our related article: What is the Best Wireless Anemometer & Wireless Wind Speed Meter?

For decades Cape Cod Wind & Weather has supplied sailors with reliable real-time sailboat wind direction indicators, and this wind speed meter for sailing is no exception.

This unit measures wind speed from zero to 100 miles per hour and comes with a ten-year limited warranty. Pairs well with Cape Cod’s Wind Direction Indicator which matches with a lighted dial interface for wind direction metering.

Davis Instruments WindTrak 15 Suspension Bearing

This weather vane for sailboats mounts on your masthead through bolts or a tap and it provides an easy-to-read wind direction indicator. It’s one of the most popular sailing wind vanes on the market and this particular Davis WindTrak model is intended for medium to larger boats (the vane itself is 15 inches long; a smaller model exists for smaller boats). This model has what Davis calls a bird-proof spike to keep seagulls from trying to land on the instrument while you’re sailing. The vane itself features tabs that reflect in order to remain visible at night or in dark conditions.

Davis Instruments Spar-Fly Wind Indicator for Yachts and Dinghies

This compact sailboat wind direction indicator comes in a bright red color and has both a top and side mounting option. It measures 15 inches long, is highly visible, and weighs an astonishing 1.25oz for a highly responsive level of accuracy even in light wind conditions. The Spar Fly sailing wind vane is intended for sailing dinghies or small yachts and has great reviews.

Raymarine i60 Wind System with Masthead Instrument

The Raymarine i60 Wind System measures wind speed and direction as well as a slew of other readings with an easy-to-read digital-dial hybrid display and a masthead mounted instrument. It comes mounting gear and a 100 foot long (30 meters long) cable to connect the wind meter to the display. This is one of the best anemometers for sailing. Can measure wind speed/direction, maximum wind speed (peak), Beaufort scale, Tack and VMG. Plus it has a red backlight for dark conditions.

Frequently asked questions about windvanes for sailboats & the best anemometers for sailing

What features should I look for when shopping for a wind meter for sailing?

The best wind meters are often mounted anemometers made specifically for boating which have a display you can attach to your console. We have a few such wind speed meters for sailboats listed in this article, above.

Handheld anemometers for sailing usually float, are brightly colored, and are waterproof in case they fall into the water. They may also contain temperature gauges and loops for wrist-straps or lanyards.

No matter the type of anemometer you choose, a large easy to read at a glance display is also especially useful for sailing anemometers.

What is an anemometer?

An anemometer is simply a wind speed meter. Some anemometers have digital displays, others have dial displays. The most sophisticated anemometers can also measure a variety of other metrics like temperature, dew point, humidity, barometric pressure, and so forth. Advanced anemometers can even give a personalized weather forecast for any location (especially useful if you’re using an anemometer in a spot where there isn’t a reliable weather forecast). Anemometers for sailing are useful because they give a clear and accurate reading of wind speed and direction. For more information about what anemometers are, read our related article: What is an Anemometer and What is it Used For?

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Garmin GNX Wind, Affordable, Dedicated Wind Instrument for Sailboats

Purchase options and add-ons

Brand	Garmin
Model Name	GNX Wind
Vehicle Service Type	Sailboat
Screen Size	4 Inches
Special Feature	Lightweight
Connectivity Technology	Bluetooth
Map Type	North America
Sport	Sailing
Included Components	GNX Wind; Trim piece snap cover; Protective cover; Flush mount gasket and hardware; NMEA 2000® T-connector; NMEA 2000 drop cable; Installation instructions; Documentation
Mounting Type	Wrist Mount

About this item

• Glass-bonded backlit monochrome LCD display lens avoids fogging
• Large, easy-to-read black digits on white or customizable background colors for high contrast and high visibility in all lighting conditions
• 2 data fields and a digital wind rose simultaneously display true and apparent wind data, Steer Pilot, boat speed and more
• Displays true and apparent wind speed and wind angles, true wind direction, boat speed, speed over ground, VMG, heading, course over ground and closed haul
• NMEA 2000 network and ANT technology interfaces

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Top Brand: Garmin

Product description.

If you own a 20- to 40-foot sailboat with no wind system or an older wind system onboard, then GNX Wind marine instrument is an excellent choice to provide the accurate, reliable data you need to make confident decisions.

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What's in the box.

• GNX Wind; Trim piece snap cover; Protective cover; Flush mount gasket and hardware; NMEA 2000® T-connector; NMEA 2000 drop cable; Installation instructions; Documentation

Product information

Product Dimensions	11.02 x 11.02 x 11.02 inches
Item Weight	1.78 pounds
ASIN	B01ELJSI0Y
Item model number	010-01142-30
Best Sellers Rank	#633,666 in Electronics ( ) #1,369 in
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer	No
Connectivity technologies	Bluetooth
Special features	Lightweight
Other display features	Wireless
Human Interface Input	Buttons
Color	Black
Whats in the box	GNX Wind; Trim piece snap cover; Protective cover; Flush mount gasket and hardware; NMEA 2000® T-connector; NMEA 2000 drop cable; Installation instructions; Documentation
Manufacturer	Garmin
Date First Available	April 22, 2016

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SailTimer Wind Instrument™

$ 469.99

Solar-powered and wireless. Replaceable Battery. Next-day shipping.

This is the 2024 model based on the state-of-the-art World Magnetic Model ( WMM ) for precise wind direction worldwide. I f your boat has already been launched, you can even raise it on a halyard without lowering or climbing the mast, until you can get at the masthead.

The home page has a short  product summary  and there is a list of  features and innovations . The Wind Instrument RB™ was launched at the Miami Boat Show with an overview in the Strictly Sail boat show guide . See below for SailTimer reviews . The ingenious design of the battery nose cone is also illustrated in this YouTube overview .

The innovative design continues to improve in the 2024 model. It adds a metal clevis at the base of the carbon-fiber pointer for strength, reinforced seams and a new larger Bluetooth antenna.

We have prompt and friendly worldwide technical support at no cost, if any questions come up.

Accessories:  Get the new 4th-generation Air Link to send the wind data to your GPS chartplotter on NMEA 2000 or 0183 wiring. Other mounting accessories and battery charger here .

• Description

Additional information

• Reviews (22)

Includes:   Wind Instrument, quick-start instructions, marine-grade stainless steel 9″ (23 cm) Mounting Rod, four 3/4-inch #8 stainless steel screws, and four pairs of stainless #8 machine screws (3/4-inch) & lock nuts.  Battery comes with a full charge so you can start using it right away.

Payment can be made by major credit cards or Paypal. A receipt is emailed to you a few seconds after submitting your purchase. Your local currency may be displayed above depending on your country, or you can choose a currency standard like US dollars or euros and your credit card provider will convert to that automatically. (If you convert out of US dollars, the currency estimate above may not be exactly the same as the credit card/Paypal currency conversion in the shopping cart.)

A FedEx tracking number is emailed to you when your package goes out. We deliver to all countries and have very good FedEx rates because of our volumes. The shipping cost for your country will be shown once you enter your address. Ships from Canada. If you have any questions about duty or taxes for your country, please email . We always try to ship with FedEx for speed. But airmail may occasionally be used if FedEx has unexpected costs to your location or if you use a post box for your delivery address. Apologies for the higher delivery prices since spring 2022, with carriers encountering high fuel prices.

This Wind Instrument RB is compatable with the new Air Link 4™ , but not with earlier Air Link models. If you have a GPS chartplotter or autopilot, you can get the wireless wind data to them on NMEA 2000 or 0183 wiring by adding the low-cost Air Link 4 ( order here ).

Only one promotional discount per purchase. Later sales cannot be applied to previous purchases. By ordering, you confirm that you agree with our fascinating License Agreement .

We are sailors too, and stand behind our products with easy returns  and a  2-year warranty . The Wind Instrument RB has a small vertical design to make it difficult for seabirds to land on, and includes a lifetime warranty against damage from seabirds.

Weight	1.54 lbs
Dimensions	12 × 9 × 7 in

22 reviews for SailTimer Wind Instrument™

Anonymous (verified owner) – August 2, 2024

Customer Service (store manager) – May 22, 2024

Hi John, Thanks for your comments. Yes, some of our team are sailors themselves, which is why most of our products were developed. We started in 2005 with the SailTimer tacking software, and the Wind Instrument in 2012, so a very dedicated team. Designing, developing, testing, refining and manufacturing wireless electronics and chartplotter apps like ours actually requires personnel on multiple continents. But as you perceived, we act like a startup, and are trying to innovate with better products and lower prices. Digital technology is opening up new opportunities and allows us to bypass some of the traditional monopolies. For example, we have crowdsourced wind zones coming soon in the SailTimer app to let sailors know what the wind is doing beyond the next headland, which has never been possible before.

John C. (verified owner) – May 22, 2024

Great concept, I’m looking forward to trying it out when it arrives next month.

Working with the website, you can tell that you’re dealing with a small operation, the inventor themselves or a 1-2 person business. Which I actually prefer. It’s not as polished, but you can tell there’s real passion for the product. I prefer passion to polish.

marco basile (verified owner) – April 27, 2024

Did not have a chance to try It but It seems ok

Jean-Claude DUVERGE (verified owner) – April 8, 2024

Tom Snow – January 6, 2024

I have used the product for two and a half years now. It has worked flawlessly. I had some issues with the app which turned out to be a navionics /garmin issue. But Sailtimer support helped me sort it out. I can’t wait for my Airlink to arrive.

Jude – August 29, 2023

My SailTimer is rock solid. It’s been up and running in 40MPH winds with gust to 60MPH. Happy to say those winds were clocked with the boat on the trailer in front of our camp. We took down the home weather unit since the SailTimer is our go to unit. Looking forward to the SailTimer Air Link being delivered.

Uploaded image(s):

T DAVID Partridge (verified owner) – July 17, 2023

Not installed yet. Unit came promptly. My third.

Reon Heard (verified owner) – June 12, 2023

Very prompt delivery. Yacht is only being launched next month.

Anonymous (verified owner) – April 23, 2023

Cecil Williams (verified owner) – February 19, 2023

Excellent help in setting up the instrument..

Customer Service (store manager) – December 19, 2022

Dimitris, Thanks for your comments. We will contact you to sort out that app issue. Our technical support team provides prompt help worldwide at [email protected] . p.s. Solved: NMEA 0183 data did not like being transmitted to the app while the phone was set to a Greek keyboard.

Dimitris S. (verified owner) – December 19, 2022

The sailtimer wind instrument arrived well packed in almost 10 days at Athens Grecce and tested. i only have an issue. The sailtimer app wmm keep crushing on my samsung s10plus.

Fred Overstreet (verified owner) – November 16, 2022

I bought my unit a couple of months ago. While I had a couple of issues, including learning to use the unit and getting it to interface with my iPad (they discovered a bug that interfered with my iOS) but the support was top notch I must say, nobody is perfect but you guys have been awesome to deal with, from tech service throughout the issue to resolving it once the true issue was found. Thank you again!

John E. (verified owner) – October 21, 2022

Customer Service (store manager) – August 3, 2022

Eduardo, Thanks for your comments! Don’t worry; the Wind Instrument comes with a lifetime warranty against damage from sea birds. This is noted on the order and warranty pages and was announced in the SailTimer newsletter a few years ago (wi-rb.com/newsletter).

Eduardo P. (verified owner) – August 3, 2022

My initial thoughts of this device is that it’s almost too good to be true. It works fantastically yet it’s ridiculously cheap. Given that I have a rotating mast, my only other option for accurate wind data at the cockpit was to drop $2k on one of the other brands with a mast rotation sensor. This one does the same thing for 1/4 the price. The jury is still out on durability since I just got it, but time will tell. It does seem somewhat delicate but as long as I don’t sail in a hurricane and a bird doesn’t land on it, it should be fine. Super happy with the apps as well. I use mine with an old iPhone 6 Plus in a waterproof case as my dedicated chart plotter and wind data display (NMEA Sail and MID WiFi apps are awesome for this although I wish these were integrated into the SailTimer Charts app for IOS) and I’m able to replicate a $3500 system for $500. Not bad at all. Once the new Air Link is released I should be able to do even more. Bargains in the boating world are practically unicorns. This is one of the few. Great product!

dennis reger (verified owner) – August 3, 2022

fast delivery and great reply to my early questions

Stewart Jeanes (verified owner) – May 16, 2022

Recently received my SailTimer. It was packaged beautifully, and shipped promptly. Can’t wait to try it when my boat goes in the water next month.

Customer Service (store manager) – May 3, 2021

Joseph, Thanks for your comment. We know you are a longstanding customer and have had many emails with our Tech Support team. We have sent you some tips for using the new API-WMM app for iPad/iPhone along with your Android device.

JOSEPH M. (verified owner) – May 1, 2021

I would rather hear from other sailors because I’m not happy yet. Hoping that the iPhone app eventually comes around.

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T David Partridge (verified owner) – February 17, 2021

Mast unit works well. PAY ATTENTION to guidance on keeping battery charged. IOS apps work best. Originally bought the older AirLink unit to facilitate Android connectivity. In January I bought the revision 3 AirLink unit with expedited setup. Works great!

Denis Vogel – February 16, 2021

I have the Sailtimer unit. I had some issue with the software working. I had immediate response from Sailtimer support and all was resolved quickly. Great Job assisting me.

john g. (verified owner) – October 8, 2020

Used this instrument on a Rhodes19 this summer. I like how it performed and would recommend this device. Had one issue when removed at the end of the season. Somehow water got into the nose cone and damaged the connector on the instrument and battery. Sailtimer has agreed to send replacement parts. I will install using a dab of dielectric grease on the connector next season to help eliminate this problem in the future.

Mark (verified owner) – September 14, 2020

“I’ve had an excellent experience with SailTimer. The product arrived in a timely manner. They respond to questions very quickly and with clear information. In testing the SailTimer in my home I damaged the battery plug. SailTimer has graciously allowed me to return the product in spite of the damaged plug as long as I pay for the replacement battery. They have been more than fair in all of their dealings with me.”

Beneteau sailor (verified owner) – May 23, 2020

Looking forward to using it more with different apps. Seeing wind with Navionics charts in the SailTimer app is great.

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Wind Instruments - Speed & Direction

Cables & Accessories  |  Depth  |  Electronic Compasses  |  Mounts  | Multifuntion | Speed |  System Packs |  Transducers |  Wind  

Stay on top of wind shifts and be aware of the conditions around you with these electronic wind instruments. 

With models from B & G, NASA, Raymarine, Garmin and more, you can know the wind speed and direction. Some models will display masses of wind data including apparent wind speed and angle, true wind speed and angle and more - incredibly useful to racing yachtsmen to give you the racing edge but equally good for the cruiser to get the most performance out of their boat. 

Video: Can I get data from my NASA Wireless Wind System on to my chartplotter?

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The Leading

Sailboat wind direction indicator, wind direction indicator, contact us for more information.

Please leave this field empty. PLEASE CHOOSE I want to purchase a Windex I have a question about my Windex I want to become a reseller I am a current reseller

THE WIND DIRECTION INDICATOR

The WINDEX is a Swedish invention from 1964 that is currently sold in more than 40 countries across five continents. In total more than 1,500,000 WINDEX Wind Direction Indicators have been sold over the last 45 years.

The different WINDEX models are found at the top of masts on every type of sailboat from Americas Cup boats to racing dinghies, and everything in between.

It is one of the most well known and recognized yachting products. The inventive and superior design of the WINDEX Wind Direction Indicator has allowed it to stay virtually unchanged for more than 40 years.

All manufacturing, design and distribution to our WINDEX agents is done in Sweden.

WINDEX SCOUT

A wind direction indicator with a built in antenna.

Presenting Our Brand New Windex Scout VHF Antenna. This unique product is a combination of the Windex 15 high precision wind indicator with Scout's premium VHF antenna. It is a patent pending solution with the Windex mounted on top of Scout's rigid fiberglass antenna. The result is a space saving design which allows for undisturbed relative wind readings and offers high quality VHF transmission. This product comes in two sizes the Windex Scout VHF 50 and the Windex Scout VHF 90.

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This is Windex

The WINDEX was first designed and brought to market in 1964 by RADAB (Research And Development AB), a small company run by three young engineers who also happened to be close friends, Sven-Olof Ridder, Harald Undén and Lars Bergström.

The original WINDEX design by Sven-Olof Ridder, an aeronautical engineer who is recognized worldwide for his design skills, was made of aluminum. The design was successful and soon became popular with Swedish sailors. However, the international breakthrough came in 1972 when a large investment in plastic tooling was made, which allowed for large quantity production at a lower cost. One of the design criteria at the time was that the WINDEX should be “as sensitive in light air as cigarette smoke”. The solution was a plastic wind vane with low weight and a large fin mounted on a Sapphire jewel bearing like a compass needle.

This design, which incorporates the now famous Sapphire jewel suspension has remained unchanged and extremely popular with sailors through the decades.

RADAB and its founders have also been involved with the development of several other successful engineering projects, among them are the Windex 92 Family Cruiser and the Windex 1200 C.

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Portable Sailing Tools for Tracking and Tuning Boat Speed

Practical sailor tests the speedwatch and two souped-up gps devices from velocitek..

The marine GPS receiver in its purest form is meant to answer three important questions: Where are we? What direction are we going? How fast we are going? For the philosophical navigator, the answers to the first two questions may be the most intriguing, but for the Melges 24 racer bound for the finish or the Caribbean cruiser hoping to drop anchor before sundown, the digits beside the word “knots” are much more compelling. So it should come as no surprise that a new breed of GPS devices-appealing directly to our need for speed-are making steady inroads into the sailing market.

Although the racing rules for many sailboat classes ban the use of portable GPS devices during racing they are popular training tools, and many local fleets make exceptions to allow the use of GPS. Compact, watertight, and wireless, battery-powered GPS units are particularly useful on smaller boats.

The earliest GPSs were poor tools for tracking speed. Fixes were deliberately imprecise (for the sake of national security) and they erratically averaged speed by using the distance/time formula and a breadcrumb-trail of trackpoints. By comparison, a modern GPS receivers has very precise fixes and can almost instantaneously calculate speed by monitoring the frequency shifts (Doppler shift) of the satellite signals it tracks. Just as a train whistles rising pitch can be used to calculate how fast a train is approaching the station, the frequency change in signals from GPS satellites can be used to determine how fast a boat is going. Advanced GPS chipsets in two devices reviewed for this article can calculate speed and heading solutions four times per second. This often yields results that are more accurate than can be displayed by typical sailing instruments, since these are usually limited to resolutions of 0.1 knot and 1 degree.

As any navigator knows, GPS devices calculate speed over ground (SOG) and course over ground (COG), not speed through the water, which requires a knot log to measure. Although sensors that accurately measure speed through the water, wind direction, and wind speed are standard for high-level racing, speed over ground and course over ground is sufficient for many racers. Among other things, SOG and COG can help define optimum points of sail, refine sail or hull trim, reduce skin drag or leeway, and judge the best time to tack. Combined with a magnetic compass, COG and SOG can also help quantify the effects of a cross current.

And, as we found with two of the devices tested for this article, with the right firmware and software, this GPS-based data can be displayed, logged, and later reviewed in ways that makes it useful to sailors of all levels.

What We Tested

Practical Sailor testers recently spent a week experimenting with three handheld products geared toward performance sailors. Unlike conventional portable GPS units, which have relatively small displays and deliver a wide range of navigational data, these products display relatively large digits that can be read from a distance, and the view options are limited to those that relate exclusively to speed and racing performance. Latitude and longitude are nowhere to be found until you download the data for review on a computer. In addition, the rate at which data is updated in these devices is faster than youll find in many multi-purpose GPS devices.

Two of the devices we reviewed, the SC-1 and the SpeedPuck, are made by Velocitek, a company founded by surfer and windsurfer Alec Stewart, who left Stanford Engineerings Aeronautics and Astronautics PhD program to start the business. Both devices use GPS satellite signals to monitor speed and performance. The third product, the Speedwatch, has no GPS receiver, relying instead on a tiny propeller mounted on the hull to record actual speed through the water. The data is then delivered wirelessly to a wristwatch display.

Testers also experimented for a few hours with SailClever, a relatively new smart-phone application that can be wirelessly linked (using Bluetooth) to a GPS receiver and other onboard instruments to serve as a handheld tactical computer. The product, which was still in testing at the time of this article, is reviewed separately on page 30. PS did not get the chance to evaluate the Rockbox AMPD ( www.rockcitymarine.com ) and the Nauteek ( www.nauteek.com ), two products that perform similar functions as the Velocitek SC-1. PS plans to review these products in a future article.

How We Tested

The products were evaluated based on three chief criteria-ease of installation, performance on the water, and durability. Because the SpeedPuck and SC-1 also allow racers to download data for evaluation on a computer (Windows), testers also rated them on this function.

For the installation review, testers installed the units on a 1974 ODay Javelin, an Uffa Fox design and an early ancestor of todays planing skiffs. The on-the-water evaluations took place over the course of six days, and the units were first tested independently and then together while sailing on the Javelin. Sailing speeds ranged from 1 to 9 knots. High-speed testing on a powerboat ranged between 15 and 30 knots.

Screen visibility was compared in bright sunlight, both with and without sunglasses, and at night. For battery testing, any automatic shut-off features were disabled and the units were left on until the battery signal indicated an empty battery. For the durability testing, the display components went through our usual routine for handheld electronics: Put in the oven to 140 degrees for 30 minutes, placed in a freezer at 15 degrees for four hours, subjected to five minutes of direct jet spray (approximately 45 pounds per square inch) from a garden hose, submerged 3 feet underwater for 30 minutes, and dropped on each side on a fiberglass deck from 3 feet height. All of the units passed the durability tests with flying colors. Comparison data and test results in the other areas appear on the chart on page 28.

Developed by JDC Electronics in Switzerland and distributed in the U.S. by Ocean Equipment, the Speedwatch comprises three components: A tiny propeller that mounts on the bottom of the hull in a place of clean water flow, a transmitter that needs to be mounted above the water and 12 inches from the propeller, and the watch-like display that can be worn on the wrist or leg, or mounted on the boat.

The transmitter (powered by a 9-volt battery) picks up magnetic pulses from the rotating propeller and wirelessly delivers the data to the display, where it is processed and displayed. The watch (powered by a long-life lithium battery) must be no more than 13 feet away from the small transmitter, not a problem on most small boats.

One neat feature is that the system requires no wires or holes in the boat. Testers used the removable fin (photo below) mount, which easily slides onto a small permanent mount. (Three locations were tried.) Two other mounting options are provided, and all make it fairly easy to remove the propeller when its not in use.

Anyone familiar with a digital watch can use the nine-page manual and figure out the four buttons that select the display modes. Surprisingly, this was the only device tested that had a backlight for use at night, although testers had to view the screen at an angle when using the light. Speed is displayed one of four ways: instantaneous speed, balanced speed, and the maximum and average speeds over a timed run. The balanced speed is essentially a damping feature, displaying the average speed during a user-defined interval, between 2 and 60 seconds. It also functions as a watch, stopwatch, and countdown timer with audible signals for race starts.

Unlike the other two devices tested on the water, this is the only one designed to deliver speed through the water. This ability would be very useful for getting instantaneous readouts to help gauge the effects of weight placement or sail trim. Comparing this speed data with speed over ground from GPS, you would also be able to gauge the effects of current.

However, at speeds of less than 6 knots, readings were inconsistent, at times registering less than 2 knots when the boat was clearly moving much faster (confirmed by GPS). Tests at higher speeds on the powerboat showed more consistent readings.

Bottom line: This Speed Watch is compact, easy to install and use, and its battery life far exceeds that of the two GPS-based products. However, testers concluded that the device, with several potential failure points, offered little advantage over the GPS-based devices to the average sailor.

Velocitek SC-1

Predecessor to the SpeedPuck, the Velocitek SC-1 includes the same speed and heading functions found in the SpeedPuck and adds several other functions, including velocity made good (VMG), a “tactical compass,” start timer, distance to line, and the ability to display two functions at once.

Enclosed in a rugged, watertight box with two latches, the SC-1 is heavier and bulkier than the SpeedPuck and has four buttons. These watertight capacitive touch sensors, designed to stand up to the extreme forces of a 25-plus-knot capsize, introduce unnecessary complications for the less-than-10-knot crowd. (When you have to read the manual to figure out how to turn something on and off, something is amiss.) Because the buttons can be activated by splashing water, they are programmed to lock after periods of inactivity or when a minimum speed is reached.

Briefly tempted to subject the SC-1 to more rigorous impact-resistance tests, testers instead disabled the auto-lock feature (via the Control Center software with a computer).

Once you master the button controls , the SC-1 can be put to good use on the race course. Both the tactical compass heading and the VMG functions are based on a reference wind direction that is manually programmed into the SC-1. Once the referenced wind is set, the tactical compass mode displays what is effectively the relative wind angle, while the VMG function indicates the boat speed upwind or downwind.

The distance-to-line function requires the sailor to enter marks as close as possible to the committee boat and pin-ends of the start line. Once these points are entered, the display will indicate the perpendicular distance to the start line from your boat. The distance is accurate to between .75 and 3 meters, depending on the number and location of the satellites in view at the time.

As with the SpeedPuck, the race data can be downloaded and evaluated using Speed Play or the bundled GPS Action Replay.

Bottom Line: Plan to spend some time with the manual to make the most of this unit. The more advanced racer will appreciate the VMG and distance-to-line functions, but don’t expect your crew to master the button-pushing basics without some initial cursing under their breath.

The SpeedPuck could be considered a light version of Velociteks SC-1, delivering only the most essential data to sailors who refuse to touch an owners manual. It uses the same 16-channel GPS chipset (U-blox Antaris LEA-4A) as the SC-1, but it displays only three key pieces of data: Speed (maximum or maximum 10-second average), heading, and windshifts. Round, with a screw-on back sealed with an 0-ring, the SpeedPuck is well engineered to withstand abuse. Its display is easier to read than the SC-1, and its single button is much simpler to use than the Velociteks recalcitrant touch sensors. It also has a blank-screen log mode that simply records data for later replay, useful in races that prohibit GPS aids.

Installation is fast and easy. Just stick the adhesive-backed 3M Dual Lock hook-and-loop mounting pad wherever you want to put the device. Other mounts are available. The SpeedPuck also has a wrist lanyard, but it is too big to be considered a pocket instrument.

One of the SpeedPucks key features is the way it presents heading data. As soon as you hold a compass heading for 20 seconds, it locks on that course and a single bar appears on the display, centered at the 12 oclock position. Any significant variation from that heading is indicated by additional bars to the left or right of the 12 oclock position on the puck; each bar represents three compass degrees.

While sailing, this display offers instant feedback on slight course changes, which can also help detect wind shifts. Two bars to the right (clockwise) from 12 oclock, for example, means the boat is heading 6 degrees to starboard of its original course. If it is on port tack at the time, and the tell tales are still streaming nicely, then the boat is getting headed. If we hold this new course for 20 seconds, the SpeedPuck resets, again showing a single bar at 12 oclock. This delay would be a problem when racing, but for tweaking trim and basic training, the system works well, and is easier to use than simple compass bearings.

The SpeedPuck was the testers favorite on the water. It was dead simple to set up and easy to use. A couple of times as the test boat ghosted in very light winds, the heading indicator bar disappeared for several seconds. According to the maker, sudden changes of direction or speed can have this effect.

Off the water, the testers used the free downloadable Velocitek Control Center to modify the SpeedPucks default settings. The software lets users specify compass deviation, change the rate of position logging, and alter how frequently speed and heading solutions are updated. A bundled third-party program called GPS Action Replay lets users replay and evaluate logged data, but the track data (a nearly invisible light yellow color at low speeds) is hard to interpret, and the graphics are uninspiring.

Testers also tried Velociteks more user-friendly SpeedPlay software ($49) to review and manipulate the logged data. Once it was installed, the program made it very easy to download recorded data from multiple SpeedPucks or SC-1 units and replay a race. The user can easily drag and drop marks on the plotted routes, and the track can be exported to common formats (KML and GPX) for use with charting software, or mapping tools like Google Earth.

Bottom line: Rugged, easy to install and use, the SpeedPuck is recommended for club racers and small-boat sailors looking for a fun practice tool that monitors speed. Serious racers will long for some of the advanced features of the SC-1, but for quick and easy evaluation of speed over ground, post-race evaluation, and a reasonable price, the SpeedPuck fits the bill.   

While there may be a market for the Speedwatch for kiteboarders, windsurfers, and high-speed sailors, based on our testers experience, we don’t recommend it for most sailors. So that leaves us with the Velocitek gear-or the familiar handheld GPS.

If all you need is heading, average speed, and an ego-boosting logged maximum, the basic handheld Garmin GPS units-take the aging 76CSx ($250) for example-will do this and a whole lot more. And virtually all GPSs today let you download and analyze tracks with a range of software.

So, if you need a GPS device anyway, why shell out $250 for the SpeedPuck, or almost twice that for the SC-1? The chief advantages of the Velocitek devices are cleaner designs, bigger readouts, much more rugged housings, faster updates, a dead simple interface, and some fun software to play with after a race. The firmware is designed with sailors in mind, allowing them to easily follow wind shifts, and, with the SC-1, tap into more advanced functions like the tactical compass and distance-to-line. We were also very impressed with the people in tech support, who understand the needs of sailors.

The SpeedPuck, in particular, will make a good training tool for todays young sailors, who-for better or worse -are intrigued by all things digital.

The SpeedPuck and SC-1 will give around-the-buoy sailors the ability to quickly quantify performance without spending a small fortune, but they are no replacement for wind and through-the-water speed sensors.

Ultimately, sailing involves wind and water, and without any true environmental data, the sailor must trust his senses and instincts. It goes without saying that the last two items, which cost nothing but time on the water, are still the sailors most valuable tools.

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