questionnaire for a-level D.T

please could you fill this in as i need to take a survey of consumer opinion before i start designing my product. please post qu number and answer. ONLY FILL IN IF YOU OWN AND USE A RACING COMPASS!!! cheers

1 What type of dinghy do you own? One or two man?

 

2 How many years have you been sailing?  1-5    5-10   10+

 

3 How often do you sail?

More than once a week

Weekly

Monthly

Less frequently

 

4 Where is your racing compass located on your boat?

Mast foot

Space frame

Other (please state)

 

 

5 Are you able to read your compass at all times while sailing?

Yes

Most of the time

No

 

 

6 If a compass mounting bracket became available that could be attached to the boom and would rotate to allow you to see it all the time whilst sailing and when on different tacks, would you be interested in buying it?

Yes

Maybe

No

 

 

7 Does it need to be detachable?

Yes

No

 

8 How much would you be prepared to pay for this?

Up to £10

Up to £30

£50 or more

 

 

9 Would a drinks holder be of use on your boat?

Yes

No

 

cheers guys n gals!!! much appreciated!!!!!

I fear you have a fundimental problem - if the compass is rotating it won't give you the heading of the boat in an accurate fashion ...

Rick

eliot, just pm'd you my response.

Originally posted by Adds I agree with Rick if the boom is going in and out how is it going to get the correct bearing, unless you spend £399 on a tacktick mast rotation sensor.

No doubt that's the design element of his project, but one obvious way of doing it is to have a mechanical linkage so that the compass housing turns on the boom exactly in synch with the boom turning on the gooseneck. That would only work for non-rotating masts though: with a rotating mast the linkage would have to be relative to the deck so it would be more complicated to rig but still possible.

wow you guys have really boring tech projects! im only doing GCSE and im making a carbon fibre kiteboard  if i used a compass id fill one in but i dont. youll get to the stage where you just make up results! everyone does