Sailing GPS/Compass
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2166
Printed Date: 16 Aug 25 at 9:36pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Sailing GPS/Compass
Posted By: timnoyce
Subject: Sailing GPS/Compass
Date Posted: 05 Sep 06 at 9:20am
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Right... the big question is which ones do people think are best? I have heard a lot of people raving about the tacktick which seems good but limited in its options. I really want something that does speed as well but don't really want to fork out £500 for the top of the range one! I heard a rumour about something called a velocitrex but must be spelling it wrong as I can't find anything about it online. Any ideas?
------------- http://www.facebook.com/bearfootdesign - BEARFOOT DESIGN Cherub 2648 - Comfortably Numb |
Replies:
Posted By: redders
Date Posted: 05 Sep 06 at 9:46am
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Hi, Try looking on the Sailing Anarchy web site there is a link http://www.sailinganarchy.com/ - http://www.sailinganarchy.com/ Redders ------------- The older I get the faster I was! |
Posted By: Stefan Lloyd
Date Posted: 05 Sep 06 at 10:32am
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If you want a tactical compass, Tacktick is good. If you want speed for general interest, any GPS will provide that, carried in a waterproof bag (which are made for the purpose). If you want speed for tuning, forget GPS; it isn't accurate enough to be useful. Keelboats use impellers (through-hull units) to give speed and various manufacturers make readout units (which are specific to the impeller type). However if you are a dinghy sailor, I doubt you want to go that route. |
Posted By: Worthy
Date Posted: 05 Sep 06 at 7:33pm
Is it for use on your cherub? ------------- |
Posted By: timnoyce
Date Posted: 06 Sep 06 at 5:57pm
Yep. I was hoping for something along the lines of the tacktick but it seems rather expensive for basically a compass! The speed thing is only for sh*ts and giggles really, just so i can say "i was going xx knots when i ruined you downwind" etc  ------------- http://www.facebook.com/bearfootdesign - BEARFOOT DESIGN Cherub 2648 - Comfortably Numb |
Posted By: 29er397
Date Posted: 06 Sep 06 at 7:13pm
Tim, what you are looking for is a http://www.velocitekspeed.com - Velocitek 
------------- http://www.kielderwatersc.org - Kielder Water Sailing Club |
Posted By: timnoyce
Date Posted: 06 Sep 06 at 7:29pm
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Nice one Fergus. Cheers for that, I'll have to try and fund that now...
------------- http://www.facebook.com/bearfootdesign - BEARFOOT DESIGN Cherub 2648 - Comfortably Numb |
Posted By: timnoyce
Date Posted: 06 Sep 06 at 7:33pm
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mmm, it seems that the VMG function could be useful apart from the fact that it relies on you defining 2 waypoints so that it can work out the calculations. Not sure there would be time before racing to buzz the course to enter the co-ordinates?! Maybe thats where the skilled rescue boat driver comes into play to update my co-ordinates between races!  http://www.velocitekspeed.com/vmg.php - http://www.velocitekspeed.com/vmg.php ------------- http://www.facebook.com/bearfootdesign - BEARFOOT DESIGN Cherub 2648 - Comfortably Numb |
Posted By: Strawberry
Date Posted: 06 Sep 06 at 7:56pm
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Is there a UK dealer? ------------- Cherub 2649 "Dangerous Strawberry |
Posted By: 29er397
Date Posted: 06 Sep 06 at 8:27pm
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theres a french one, seems close enough.
------------- http://www.kielderwatersc.org - Kielder Water Sailing Club |
Posted By: timnoyce
Date Posted: 06 Sep 06 at 8:30pm
thats what i thought too 
------------- http://www.facebook.com/bearfootdesign - BEARFOOT DESIGN Cherub 2648 - Comfortably Numb |
Posted By: 29er397
Date Posted: 06 Sep 06 at 8:33pm
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it doesn't matter anyway, there's free shipping worldwide. ------------- http://www.kielderwatersc.org - Kielder Water Sailing Club |
Posted By: Hobbo
Date Posted: 06 Sep 06 at 8:39pm
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Looks pretty good, luckily the co-ords are only necessary for VMG not true speed though if you can get that feature workig it could be awesome
------------- Contender GBR 362 Osprey 1318 - IVplay SSC |
Posted By: 29er397
Date Posted: 06 Sep 06 at 8:44pm
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i wouldn't mind sailing round the marks once before the races start, but as soon as the OOD changes the course you would have to do it again! bit too much effort for my liking!
------------- http://www.kielderwatersc.org - Kielder Water Sailing Club |
Posted By: 49erGBR735HSC
Date Posted: 06 Sep 06 at 9:01pm
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Why not just buy a Tacktick micro compass and hunt for a Garmin Foretrax on E-Bay, seen 101s going for £60(ish). Dedicated compass for the boat and you can use the Garmin for cycling and other activities too. ------------- Dennis Watson 49er GBR735 http://www.helensburghsailingclub.co.uk/ - Helensburgh S.C http://www.noblemarine.co.uk/home.php3?affid=560 - Boat Insurance from Noble Marine |
Posted By: les5269
Date Posted: 06 Sep 06 at 9:10pm
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I've just bought a Garmin foretrax so if you give me a few weeks I'll give you some feedback on that. I have a couple of friends who have them and they swear by them (which is why I bought mine !) ------------- 49er 531 & 5000 5025 and a mirror(now gone to mirror heaven)! http://www.grafham.org/" rel="nofollow - Grafham water Sailing Club The greatest inland sailing in the country |
Posted By: Worthy
Date Posted: 06 Sep 06 at 11:06pm
I like mine, I bought the battery operated version rather than the one with the in-built battery so I don't have a problem of charging it when camping in a field. ------------- |
Posted By: Stefan Lloyd
Date Posted: 07 Sep 06 at 7:46am
| Is anyone getting good results from using a GPS as a tactical compass? All my experience indicates otherwise; that you get large spurious short-term fluctuations in speed and heading from GPS. There is another thread on this board which shows the same as far as speed goes. However I haven't tried the particular unit being suggested here. |
Posted By: catmandoo
Date Posted: 07 Sep 06 at 1:58pm
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got a foretrex 201 last year , just used it for fun mainly and strapped to boom with pvc tape - safer that way ,
anyway mounted it on a bracket on spin pole last night and could see it most of the time , left it set on speed and didn't see any great fluctuations as described , numbers seemed to flow pretty smoothly in line with percieved by the seat o pants device.
was good at showing when you hit adverse tide ie numbers would drop without apparent change in speed thro water and in oppo scenario good too .
what really need is the vmg device from sailing anarchy as used by rohan veal etc ------------- |
Posted By: 29er397
Date Posted: 07 Sep 06 at 4:57pm
known as a Velocitek it is probably cheaper than buying both a gps and a tacktick as suggested. ------------- http://www.kielderwatersc.org - Kielder Water Sailing Club |
Posted By: Guest
Date Posted: 07 Sep 06 at 5:17pm
Is a GPS system like that really any use for boat tuning? I would not have though the GPS accurate enough ... Also - can't you do this by setting a way point a long way upwind (i.e. 100 miles) and tracking your speed towards that waypoint? Rick ------------- |
Posted By: far canal
Date Posted: 08 Sep 06 at 12:47pm
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with the velocitek you set it up before the start and it does the rest , knows when beating or running.
with gps if you set a waypoint 100 miles away you would only get vmg one way - usefull undeniably but as you would never reach the waypoint it wouldn't switch to other direction without fiddlin with buttons which prob would loose you more than you gain.or would it show negative vmg ???, never tried it - anyone ?? |
Posted By: Stefan Lloyd
Date Posted: 08 Sep 06 at 1:17pm
| So has anyone actually tried the Velocitek, or are we all relying on "celebrity endorsement" here? |