Speedometer

I was looking for an inexpensive way to measure my speed on the hobie 16 without a GPS. I was thinking about a inexpensive pitotube that they use on motor boats. What does everyone else use?

Any tips or help would be great!!

I wouldn't give up on the gps yet. Garmin makes a nifty wristwatch style gps called the FORETREX 101. It gives you the usual gps features including goto and waypoint functions as well as speed and a nice countdown timer. It is only a little over $100 as I recall. I've been very happy with mine.

I have a nice color garmin handheld that I've taken on monohulls.. I haven't had the ... balls, to take it on the cat with me.. I'm not sure how water resistant it really is... suppose I could buy a bag or something for it...

There has to be more than 2 people who can tell how fast they are going!!

Hocysh8er,

I can tell you how fast I am going on my H16 but I get that info from my GPS. It's a handheld Garmin 72 that I paid $100 for on sale. For me, it's the most accurate and reliable method of obtaining info on my boat's performance. Sailing solo most of the time (in the ocean), I keep it and a VHS in a fanny-pack on me in the event I get separated from my boat.

_________________

Happy Sailing,

David

The problem with a pitot would be keeping it in the water - you'd almost need two, one on each hull, with the readout on the opposite side of the boat so you could see it.

_________________
Tim
Unofficial Fleet 72 Communications Officer and Div 4 Webmaster
http://www.hobiefleet72.org
http://www.div4.hobieclass.com/

since hobies about going fast, we don't want the drag of a pito either.

it's not that important to know how fast you are going anyway, only that you are going faster than the other guy

hocysk8er, you're not a 'manager' or an accountant by any chance ?

_________________
The fact that this windy world is largely covered in water obviously means that man was meant to sail.

I use a GPS on my hobie quite often. I bought one of those waterproof soft cases and attach it to the lacing. It's nice to know your speed and distance. So far I've had my H17Sport up to 30.5 mph once and into the upper 20s several times.

Moreover, my primary purpose for mine is to be able to let the Lifegards or Coastguard know my exact location should I get stuck out in the ocean somewhere. Well, it is nice to know how fast I'm going from time to time.

_________________

Happy Sailing,

David

A friend pointed me towards this today: http://www.otterbox.com/

Might be a good solution for those of us with handheld gps units that are a little afraid of dumping them in the water.

If you have access to a one of those vaccum sealed bag machine things for freazing food, that works really well. Cut the size of the bag you want and seal it up.

A bottle and a rope.

Honestly, that was a life saver when our GPS went dead and were doing long distance tacks sailing up wind in the bahamas...That was a 64 foot twin masted yacht...but the principal works the same.

Measure on land how far away you can hear your crew shouting. Throw them over board and time how long it takes until you can no longer hear them. Do the math as you go back to pick them up.