[C320-list] Speed paddle

[Warren Updike]

See Scott Thompson's post later today. I don't follow the details; but, he doesn't sound confused to me so I'm disposed to defer to him on the matter. He lost me in the difference between true wind, apparent wind, ground wind, and breaking wind. Actually, I found support on the internet from a Raymarine post that Scott knows of what he speaks. 

The situation may be different for different boats depending on the instruments used. My comments were meant for an older 320 with ST50 instruments and "Sea Talk" networking, and an ST50 wind instrument. In this case, the paddle wheel provides STW to the wind instrument for the purpose of calculating the true wind. If the speed transducer is not working or not in use, there will be no STW signal and no true wind available. The device I referenced, the Cruz Pro SOG1, is a Speed Pulse Converter that takes a NMEA 0183 SOG input, and converts it to an analog paddlewheel signal that is fed to the wind instrument. Last time I checked, Downwind Marine is carrying the SOG1: http://www.downwindmarine.com/CruzPro-Speed-Pulse-Converter-p-91000223.html 

Newer GPS and Chartplotter devices, with the necessary inputs, will calculate wind, set, and drift components, and more, in an accurate manner. But for old farts like me, who were happy with paper charts and a compass, and are now ecstatic to have an accurate Lat/Lon from a real GPS, don't feel the need for the fancy stuff. We have traversed the length of the Chesapeake Bay from Delaware to North Carolina using only our base map GPS and paper charts. Truth be told, we are now using e-charts on a tablet for navigation; and, we still have our paper chart books on board.

Warren and Pattie Updike
1994 C320 "Warr de Mar" #62
Middle River, Chesapeake Bay

-----Original Message-----
From: Bev Wright [mailto:bev.wright at verizon.net] 
Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2017 7:39 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Speed paddle

Warren and Richard,

I have hull #15 and I find the same thing true - gets fouled easily, inaccessible under the v-berth and water shoots out, no flapper, so we don't end up using it unless it miraculously starts working.  However, for me as a club racer, while I have a GPS for SOG, I believe that the primary reason we should have it operational is to see how much current is with us or against us, i.e. speed through the water. I'm not so much interested in true wind even if I should be. I have a wind instrument that has a true wind setting but I thought that was calculating the difference between our speed and the wind speed/direction. Are you saying that this instrument you mention will calculate the speed through the water? 

Sorry, I'm not an engineer, although my sailing/racing father is, so I should ask him as well.

Bev Wright
s/v Whoosh
Edgewater, MD

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Warren Updike
Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2017 6:01 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Speed paddle

We have stopped using the speed transducer because, here on the Chesapeake Bay, the damn thing doesn't last a week in the Summer before some critters decide to take-up residence in it. As a result, it stops working. And, as our older hulls don't have the transducer with the shutoff flapper, and the transducer is under the V-berth, it's a real pain to get at it to remove it. Further, the in-flow you get when you do pull it has no direct path to the bilge (all issues on the older, shallow bilge design.) All reasons why we no longer use it. If you don't have a wind instrument and you have a GPS, why would you need Speed-thru-the-water (STW?) Gauging set and drift, perhaps?  

There is, however, a solution for racers, those with wind instruments, and others who want/need true wind display. This is a device from New Zealand, for about $100, that will take an input of GPS speed-over-ground (SOG, as a NMEA-0183 message from the Sea Talk network on-board,) and output an analogue STW to the Wind Instrument. Problem solved. I've seen it said that SOG is a better factor in calculating true wind than STW. 

Oh, BTW, we haven't yet installed this thing. But, if anyone is interested, message me off-list and I'll dig out the info for you.

Warren and Pattie Updike
1994 C320 "Warr de Mar" #62
Middle River, Chesapeake Bay

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Wotruba [mailto:wotrubadick at yahoo.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2017 7:40 PM
To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Speed paddle

Thanks for everyone's help regarding salt water under engine.Looks like it is raw water pump.I ordered new one from tr diesel hope it works.Next challenge does anyone know where to purchase new paddle wheel for speed instrument.     WindSong,hull 3,1993 thanks for support⛵️⛵️🙏😀✌️