Wind indicator reading

I use surveyors tape tied to the bridles as a wind indicator. While I see where the wind blows from, I have trouble reading and measuring wind direction with it. Kind of difficult so see what the real angle is. I do something like turning 45 degrees to realize the effect of the turn.
On a monohull I just look up the mast and see exactly where the arrow is pointing to, so I can make subtle adjustments to my course, not 45 degree turns.
So if I get myself a "real" wind indicator, will it give me a better reading and visibility?
Or any suggestions on how to read wind direction better?

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Yuri
Hobie 16
Laser Vago

From another post (but it's my boat, so I can):



8-track tape is tied to the bridles about half-way down. Those are used more for downwind work.

Don't know what 8-track tape is?


Even I never knew the Sex Pistols had an 8-track.

Matt,
I remember that picture (not the Sex Pistols) and I have my forestay setup like this.
I'm just trying to get a feel if I need or want to pay $30 to a wind indicator, if it will help me better than my surveyors tape.

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Yuri
Hobie 16
Laser Vago

What's wrong with the little bridle fly? They're like $12

In the lower left hand corner.
http://static.hobiecat.com/2010_archive/support/pdfs/08_20.pdf

Not sensitive enough and no tacking arms.

The "tacking arms" are not really used for that - they just give you a fixed reference point in space for the vane angle. I rely heavilly on that Winddex in light air. Not so much when the breeze is up and you can steer by feel.

I've been custom bending the Winddex mounts to fit on the forestay adjuster for 30 years. I've gone through a lot of them - usually they get beat up inside the sailbox. One particularly mangled one was the result of a nasty collision in the 2005 H-17 North Americans. I keep it with the trophy from that regatta.

Matt I notice in your pic you attach your jib into the center of the chain plate. Do you do that to keep your jib luff cable from getting damaged at the thimble?

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07 H16
Sail No. 110387

It gets a little scuffed up, but it doesn't wear too badly. The jib blows out long before that wears through (about 4-5 years of my use of about 6 or 7 regattas a year).

The reason I do that is that it gives you another 1/2" of sheeting room.

Hey localizer, are you a pilot by chance???

No, I do software localization now. But I served in the Air Force as a navigator, then I flew really a lot.

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Yuri
Hobie 16
Laser Vago

Trash haulers or TAC? Or is it TAC then everything else?

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Alan
'86 H16, Sail #89057

Ahh. I have had a strand or two of the jib luff cable get damaged by the chain plate when it gets slightly squeezed together. Putting it in the center like you do would solve that issue!! Thanks

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07 H16
Sail No. 110387