[C320-list] Airmar CS4500 replacement for speed paddlewheel?

[Jeff Hare]

Since we have our instruments connected to a C70 chart plotter, I want the actual speed through the water so that I get the benefit of accurate ocean current vectors showing on my charts.

The airmar unit has 2 ultrasonic sensors and no moving parts. Whether it is as accurate as a properly spinning paddlewheel I don't know. But whereas the paddle wheel sensor costs under 100 bucks to replace, the ultrasonic doo-dad costs 4-5x more. Ugh.

-jeff 

Dean Vermeire <dean at vermeire.us> wrote:

I saw an interesting alternative about a year ago - a device that takes 
a signal from a gps and sends pulses to the st60 unit as if it were 
pulses from the speed transducer. That was not a good option for me at 
the time, since I do not have a gps. However, it might be a good option 
for you.

Dean Vermeire

On 6/21/2011 1:26 PM, Jeff Hare wrote:
> Hello,
>
> My speed sender seems to have died. Still getting temp readings but no speed.
>
> I read from raymarine's website that the airmar cs4500 ultrasonic speed transducer is compatible with the st60 (and others) .
>
> Has anyone done this swap? The only comment I read regarding replacement compatability was that the st40 thruhull fitting was too long. So is the st60 thruhull a direct fit?
>
> I suspect the paddlewheel version is also made by airmar?
> Sure would be nice to not have to mess with clogged paddlewheels.
>
> -jeff
>
>
>