[bywright]

So I'm sailing small dinghies, a 505 and a Siren 17. Needless to say theres not much room for navigational equipment but I would like to know just how fast I'm going. On the 505 I know when I've reached a good speed as my wife begins to yell at me threatening to sell it. The new purchase is the Siren and we want to do a trip on an inland lake and I'd like to keep track of speed and distance.

Question is this, I bought a small handheld instrument that will measure wind speed in knots. If I held this over the side or in a somewhat sheltered position from the true wind, is the apparent wind speed a decent indication to my actual boat speed?

If your laughing right now...your welcome, just send me a link to some cheap instruments and I'll have something to do while the ice comes off the lake.

Thanks

 

[danvon]

If you are on a lake there is likely no current. If so, then a handheld GPS would give you a fairly accurate boatspeed.

 

[FloridaBoy]

Second the hand held GPS. You can get one at WalMart for 80-100 bucks, last I was in the market. It will give you most of the info a big GPS will, just not as fancy. Speed, direction, miles travelled. Lots of settings to pick from. I used one for offshore fishing. Very accurate. Kevin

 

[smackdaddy]

On the 505 I know when I've reached a good speed as my wife begins to yell at me threatening to sell it.

That's the most accurate instrument there is for sailing fun.

 

[Dutch]

Windspeed and boatspeed are two different things,it depends on your point of sail.
Get yourself a knotstick,or handheld GPS.Check out Ebay.

 

[FloridaBoy]

Here ya' go!
Handheld Gps - Walmart.com

w.com/search/search-ng.do?query=Handheld%20Gps&cat_id=0&facet=brand:Magellan%7C%7Cbrand:Garminww.walmart

I am no sailing expert but, You can't determine speed measuring the wind speed. What if you are sailing downwind, you don't usually feel any wind, right? Get a gps, they are great! You can use it in the woods, the car, anywhere!
Kevin

 

[Bob142]

Same speed over ground feature is available on most smart phones...

 

[SHNOOL]

go with the speedpuck (especially if you ever race)... (its a GPS knotmeter, also measures lifts/headers)...

Now for wind, you could do lots of things, but these got great ratings, are handheld, accurate and cheap... get the knot readout.
Portable Wind Meter | Portable Wind Meter | Dwyer Instruments

Also learn the beaufort scale. At times nothing is more accurate.

 

[Sabreman]

If you have an iPhone, use iSailor or iNavx. Indispensable for quick navigation.

is the apparent wind speed a decent indication to my actual boat speed?

No. Not even close. Like comparing apples and tubas.

 

[aloof]

Like a wind speed meter, GPS does not report boat speed. You can make a good guess by timing the transit of bubbles or flotsam from bow to stern.

 

[bywright]

Ok so down to my hiking pack to dig out the GPS and maybe get some map updates. Thanks for all the replies, big help!. Aloof, that was so simple, love it, I enjoy having all the readings but in the least complicated manner, so going to practice that.

 

[bywright]

Also thanks to Shnool for posting the Beaufort scale for me and Floridaboy for the link.

 

[celenoglu]

True wind speed is the speed of the wind and you can only measure it without moving. Apperent is the wind that you feel when moving, true herefore you cannot hide somewhere on a boat and assume you measure true wind speed. The instruments on a boat measure the apperent wind speed and calculate true wind speed with the help of boat speed and wind direction.

 

[Biologist]

If you have a smartphone, just download a speed app!

 

[SHNOOL]

If you have a smartphone, just download a speed app!

And to others with the "smartphone" idea... better have a floating lifeproof case the 505 is a pretty wet boat.

SpeedPuck - Velocitek

 

[Biologist]

Same goes for any handheld GPS, it needs to be waterproof. Why buy a new piece of equipment when you can use your phone. However, I do like the speed puck!!!

 

[Minnesail]

Yeah, get a Lifeproof case, download a free app (I have GPSLite from MotionX), and you're good to go.

Brief plug for the Lifeproof case: I guy I know that just got a puppy. The puppy used his Lifeproof protected phone as a chew toy, eventually depositing it in a snow drift. The phone is fine.

 

[RichH]

Get a GPS app for your smartphone .... and a 'waterproof' clear plastic bag, with 'buoy/float', too.
The GPS speed function (mph or knots) will be your 'speed over ground'.

 

[jtulls]

One of the issues with using a wind meter to measure speed is what happens when you're downwind and the apparently wind drops -- you'll be measuring your speed much lower than it actually is.

So I agree with the other posts - go for a water proof GPS or an app on your phone. Only thing with the GPS is that it won't account for current helping/hurting your boat speed. Some navigational apps like Navionics will tell you the current in the area you're sailing so you can factor that in and you can also record your track to share/look at after you're off the water. BUT in a 505 I'm sure you won't be looking to sail and pay attention and not tap on a screen!

Fun tip: if you get a lifeproof case, also get the lifejacket (to make it float) and you can throw the phone/tablet overboard to make a make-shift mark. I do it coaching sometimes and put the video to record -- makes for some interesting perspectives if you sail really close to it.

 

[Flint]

Get your GF to hold the "hand-wind-thingy" while sitting above the spreaders on the mast.

Just in case the GPS stops working

:laugher