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14-09-2017, 17:05
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Callington,Cornwall,UK
Boat: Rival Sailing Yacht 34ft
Posts: 37
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Do you need a dedicated speed instrument
As speed and distance can be seen and measured via a gps instrument is there a need for a dedicated speed log instrument. It would not only save extra expense it saves time on routine cleaning of the hull fitting.
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14-09-2017, 17:13
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Scotland
Posts: 873
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Re: Do you need a dedicated speed instrument
Only in that it saves you turning on the Navionics
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14-09-2017, 17:15
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#3
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2008
Location: cruising SW Pacific
Boat: Jon Sayer 1-off 46 ft fract rig sloop strip plank in W Red Cedar
Posts: 21,156
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Re: Do you need a dedicated speed instrument
This is often discussed here on CF. Bottom line is that a log tells you speed through the water, something useful in sail trim, etc, as well as in evaluating currents. This data is not available from the GPS.
Some folks don't find this a problem, others (like me) do. There is no absolute answer to your question.
Jim
__________________
Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II, lying Port Cygnet Tasmania once again.
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14-09-2017, 18:04
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Astoria, NY
Boat: Sabre 38
Posts: 566
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Re: Do you need a dedicated speed instrument
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Cate
This is often discussed here on CF. Bottom line is that a log tells you speed through the water, something useful in sail trim, etc, as well as in evaluating currents. This data is not available from the GPS.
Some folks don't find this a problem, others (like me) do. There is no absolute answer to your question.
Jim
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Agreed. Both speed over ground (GPS) and speed through water (log) are fundamental units of sailing, just like wind speed. That said...
If you are just day sailing for relaxation or even island hoping in the Bahamas, then you could be fine with GPS only. Many learn to sail on board without any speed info at all.
__________________
Stephen
s/v Carpe Ventum
1983 Sabre 38
My Intro
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14-09-2017, 18:27
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#5
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Moderator and Certifiable Refitter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South of 43 S, Australia
Boat: C.L.O.D.
Posts: 20,305
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Re: Do you need a dedicated speed instrument
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Cate
This is often discussed here on CF. Bottom line is that a log tells you speed through the water, something useful in sail trim, etc, as well as in evaluating currents. This data is not available from the GPS.
Some folks don't find this a problem, others (like me) do. There is no absolute answer to your question.
Jim
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Also agreed
Plus I like the redundancy of having both.
__________________
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangereous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. T.E. Lawrence
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14-09-2017, 18:52
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Katy, TX
Posts: 400
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Re: Do you need a dedicated speed instrument
Many of us have sailed with no speed instrument or GPS. So, no, it's not "necessary."
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14-09-2017, 19:08
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Bumping around the Caribbean
Boat: Valiant 40
Posts: 4,625
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Re: Do you need a dedicated speed instrument
Also, if you have wind instruments, true wind speed is calculated based on speed through the water as an input, so without the paddlewheel that information is going to be less accurate.
If you sail in areas with significant currents, speed through the water information can be extremely useful. As to whether you "need" it or not, that's a function of what information is important to you.
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15-09-2017, 05:28
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: North Charleston, SC
Boat: Camano Troll
Posts: 5,176
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Re: Do you need a dedicated speed instrument
On my boat I do not have a way to measure speed through the water, only speed over ground (GPS). No problem for me. When I'm on my boat, I don't care about speed. I'll get there when I get there.
__________________
Ron
HIGH COTTON
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15-09-2017, 07:21
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Hudson Valley N.Y.
Boat: contessa 32
Posts: 826
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Re: Do you need a dedicated speed instrument
change of speed thru the water, tells much about sail trimming and is big help if racing.
I personally never race, unless of course ,there is another boat.
......luv you all.......mike.....................
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15-09-2017, 08:21
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Juneau, Alaska
Boat: Jeanneau 43DS
Posts: 337
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Re: Do you need a dedicated speed instrument
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15-09-2017, 08:32
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Skagit City, WA
Posts: 25,483
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Re: Do you need a dedicated speed instrument
I would not install one on a 'new to me' boat.
-They often stop working from debris,
-a hole in the boat that is often just a plastic fitting,
-I never look at it anyway. What I want to know is how fast am I moving toward my destination.
-In a pinch a piece of wood on a string can tell you your speed.
-Here in the PNW where tidal currents run fast at times, it's useless.
__________________
"I spent most of my money on Booze, Broads and Boats. The rest I wasted" - Elmore Leonard
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15-09-2017, 08:34
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#12
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CLOD
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: being planted in Jacksonville Fl
Boat: none
Posts: 20,364
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Re: Do you need a dedicated speed instrument
I haven't cleaned my log in years and it doesn't work. Far as speed goes if I adjust the sails and my GPS speed across land goes up that's good enough for me!
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
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15-09-2017, 08:47
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Victoria BC
Boat: Rafiki 37
Posts: 1,390
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Re: Do you need a dedicated speed instrument
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cheechako
-Here in the PNW where tidal currents run fast at times, it's useless.
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I'd say the strong currents make one MORE useful. Improves the reading for true wind speed, helps work out current direction/speed and helps with sail trim tweaking
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15-09-2017, 08:54
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2017
Boat: Lagoon 400S2
Posts: 3,755
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Re: Do you need a dedicated speed instrument
I assume you have had some sailing classes some day...
If your electronics fail, you still will have a compass, a log (speedometer) and a wind vane. With paper charts you can estimate your location using calculations of youur last position, the course sailed and the speed.
So it is important for redundancy and is good seamanship. You can of course use a long line with some knots on it, throw it on the bow into the water and measure the time while it passes along your boat - so you can calculate the speed from m/s or ft/s in kn.
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15-09-2017, 09:01
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Bumping around the Caribbean
Boat: Valiant 40
Posts: 4,625
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Re: Do you need a dedicated speed instrument
Mine is part of a speed/depth/temp transducer. When the boat is sitting for more than a day or two I pull it out and put in a plug which keeps it mostly clean. Every once in a while a bit of seaweed will jam it but that is rare.
It's certainly a piece of gear you can get by without, and I got by for several years with my old one broken. But it is useful, for sure.
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