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Masthead fly

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kjmeyers
Deckhand

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USA
11 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/16/2008 : 19:21:06

We are looking to place a mast head fly at the top of the mast. Are there any you would recommend?

Thanks

Ken Meyers

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2008 : 20:14:11

Do you mean a wind indicator? We use a Davis.

[url="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/6363/377%20710/0/windex/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=windex&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=0&keyword=windex&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=187&subdeptNum=10908&classNum=10908"]Windex[/url]

[url="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/1685/377%20710/0/windex/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=windex&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=0&keyword=windex&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=187&subdeptNum=10908&classNum=10908"]Mount[/url]

Edited by - on

kjmeyers
Deckhand

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USA
11 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2008 : 13:38:17

Thanks so much for the reply. Where did you find the Davis wind indicator?

Ken

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2008 : 14:21:03

West Marine online. We do not have a local marine store. Most would carry this item. Otherwise get online to westmarine.com and have them send you a catalog. It is a great resource.

You can click on the "Windex" or :Mount" in my reply and it will take you to the WM site. Blue words on this forum are Internet links.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 06/17/2008 14:22:02

Stardog
Captain

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USA
319 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2008 : 21:28:53

I used a Windex for years and replacing it every time a large bird landed on it was a pain in the butt. Then one day I was ordering another new one when my local sailmaker asked why I wanted one? He asked how often I look at the masthead while I'm sailing. He suggested I would be better off with shroud telltales, so I tried it. That was more then ten years ago and I've never missed having a masthead fly since.

Edited by - on

soulfinger
1st Mate

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USA
29 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2008 : 21:49:14

Telltales on the shrouds? You must be some sort of certifiable genius or something! I've got to try that---I'm sick of the stiff neck from constantly looking at the masthead. All that college really paid off!

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2008 : 23:40:45

We have telltales on the shrouds, on the sails, and a Windex. I look at them all. No wonder I'm so dizzy.

Edited by - on

AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2008 : 23:49:49

WM sells a set of shroud wind indicators called Wind-Tels Tailtells for 26 bucks. Cheaper are their Shroud Telltales for 8. (WM '07 catalogue page 1160) Masthead Windex's are a waste of money, unless you like to build up your neck muscles

Edited by - AADIVER on 06/17/2008 23:52:36

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 06/18/2008 : 14:37:09

Shroud telltales, sold on a reel at your local store, typically in white colored plastic boxes about 1.5" square by .5"
The box has a handy dandy cutting tool included. Makes it really easy to replace them, very inexpensive.

They're often mislabeled as 'dental floss'

Paul

Edited by - on

crcalhoon
Captain

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USA
303 Posts

Response Posted - 06/18/2008 : 15:50:43

Had a windex once. Storm blew it apart. replaced it, bird landed on it. Went back to shroud telltales. In some respects, I think they are actually better. I can't help but think that that windex is telling me about wind that is fifteen feet higher than most of my sail area. I don't know if that matters. Probably not. If I ever drop the mast or climb to the masthead, I may install a windex for my racing buddies who sail with me occasionally. They don't seem to mind the pain in the neck.

Edited by - on

Stardog
Captain

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USA
319 Posts

Response Posted - 06/18/2008 : 21:03:58

I've used an old cassette tape for shroud flies for years, but I really do recommend getting some real ones, made for the job. The cassette tape works, but after years of use there is oxidation on the shrouds where I tie it on.

Edited by - on

willy
Captain

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USA
422 Posts

Response Posted - 06/22/2008 : 20:35:51

Like lots of you, I too have had a seagull break my windex. You can replace just the vane when it happens. I find it to be an important tool especially at night as its bottom surface is reflective. I also use wind tells on the shrouds. I love having them as well as the windex as it makes it really convenient to check wind direction from anywhere and I have strong feelings regsarding redundancy. The truth is, old cassette tape or 5 inch pieces of knitting yarn work just as well as the shroud wind tells, but they just don't look as cool. Here is a link to a picture...(You may have to cut and paste)
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|118|311631&id=74383

Willy

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
5884 Posts

Response Posted - 06/24/2008 : 09:51:53

I also use shroud telltales, but they don't have an index, to make them very accurate. They'll help you get in the right ballpark, with regard to steering the boat, but they aren't precise enough to get you in the fastest groove. On my present boat, I have a windspeed and direction instrument, but it swings back and forth too much to be of much help.

Since buying a wheel-steered boat, my steering has been wandering badly back and forth. Last fall I had a Windex installed, and now, when I race, I steer to windward almost exclusively by the Windex. If the sails are correctly trimmed, and if the arrow is lined up with the index, then I know the telltales on the sails will be streaming, without even looking at them.

The sore neck was a problem at first, but I found that I can lean against the backstay while at the wheel, rest my head on the backstay, and look from the Windex to the sail telltales without moving my head, and it's much more relaxing.

I raced my C25 for years without need for a Windex. I think you can learn to steer a tiller-steered boat more accurately than a wheel-steered boat, because you can use sail telltales, shroud telltales, and the feel of the tiller pressure, and, when you combine them all with years of experience, you can learn to steer the boat very accurately. But, looking back, I think a Windex would have sped up the learning curve considerably, even on my tiller-steered C25.

Edited by - on

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