Moving speed sensor to centerline
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2022 2:27 am
Hi,
I'm trying to race to polars, and I've reached the tack-to-tack and other limitations of my existing circa 2015 Triton B&G system. My electronics guy is recommending that I move the Airmar DST800 paddlewheel speed sensor to the centerline. (And also upgrade to some Zeus components, the paddlewheel to a DST810 or Signet, etc.) I see that a few boats here have already moved the sensor. Two questions:
1) Is it worth (for some value of "worth") the effort and expense for the accuracy gained? It seems difficult, if not impossible, to get things calibrated as it is in the default starboard position. I have both AWA and boat speed issues tack-to-tack, several things are wrong.
2) Any structural hints in moving the sensor? There's a plywood rib right down the centerline under the V-berth that seems to add some structural stiffness to the whole bow area. It seems that static and shock load would need to be accounted for and re-distributed around the sensor somehow.
Thanks,
John
Lindo #195
I'm trying to race to polars, and I've reached the tack-to-tack and other limitations of my existing circa 2015 Triton B&G system. My electronics guy is recommending that I move the Airmar DST800 paddlewheel speed sensor to the centerline. (And also upgrade to some Zeus components, the paddlewheel to a DST810 or Signet, etc.) I see that a few boats here have already moved the sensor. Two questions:
1) Is it worth (for some value of "worth") the effort and expense for the accuracy gained? It seems difficult, if not impossible, to get things calibrated as it is in the default starboard position. I have both AWA and boat speed issues tack-to-tack, several things are wrong.
2) Any structural hints in moving the sensor? There's a plywood rib right down the centerline under the V-berth that seems to add some structural stiffness to the whole bow area. It seems that static and shock load would need to be accounted for and re-distributed around the sensor somehow.
Thanks,
John
Lindo #195