Seen in used by some serious paddlers
Use them, know that serious expedidioners use it, plus a barometer, and knowledge of clouds and the loca area to predict the weather when they are out of range of Noaa.
Not a must for me, but then again, any mariner might like to keep a more accurate log book.
Beaufort scale oh yes! but the wind on the water will be quite different fron that flag flying on the staff atop the nearby cliff.
i dont own one but
i would like to have one of the digital ones with the little propeller (speedtech)…they appear at the sailing club on windy days. interesting how much difference there is in the effects of the wind as the speed goes over 20 kph. 20 is the usual upper end for sailing regattas here (dinghy and small boat racing)
Did you check the link?
The Beaufort Scale that NOAA published has reference to water and land. It’s pretty specific. I like techno-toys myself and have a gust registering anemometer for my house. I live in an area that gets very high winds in the winter and I just like to know. That said, I prefer to be able to judge without instruments when necessary. It’s like not throwing out the compass because of the GPS.
I bought one through STP
a couple of months ago. The kind with the “propeller” and digital readout, not too expensive (maybe $30?). I like to test myself on estimating wind speed; I never really planned on using it while on the water.
Well, Christmas is coming…
I have had a Davis weather station at the house for over 15 years, but the anemometer died a long time ago. So even if the novelty on the water wears off, I’ll use a Speedtech or Kestrel handheld somewhere. Maybe Santa is listening.
maybe Santa will give you
a photocopy of the Beaufort scale
A valid use
I bought one for my employee who does refrigeration work at our place of business. We use it for balancing discharges through plenum ducting in commercial banana ripening rooms and such.
Jim
The best use I found
for the one I was given a couple of years ago was learning how to estimate wind speed more accurately. When I started using it I found I had been consistently guessing way high. (Reading some of the accounts on this board I sometimes suspect I’m not the only one.)
i bet sir francis
– Last Updated: Nov-30-06 8:03 PM EST –
he would have loved to have a speedteck. me too! santa are you listening?
Lately
I’ve been guessing at what the wind speed is and have come to be pretty good at it. After I get back home I check the historical weather data the next day on NOAA site. It’s become more of a game to see if I’m right or wrong.
However, the wind speed indicator would be fun but as some have said, how are you going to stop paddling in high winds (the only kind worth investigating) to use this gadget.
OK, i admit it, i’ve got one
its a cheapie, the Brunton Wind ADC. I have used it frequently and the main function I use is the 24 hour temp display…we’ve used the wind speed indicator to help decide which sail to rig on the sailboard, dipped it into the river to see how fast it was running, used the timer/chronograph…but the temperature feature lets me know how cold it got each night. We used it extensively on the Rae Lakes Loop in Kings Canyon this summer. Its a good product with awesome battery life…and its waterproof, light enough (but not light enough for real backpacking)…
Guess I cheat…
We have a NOAA weather buoy just offshore and can access it on the computer. It gives present and historical conditions.
When I get the hell beat out of me I come home and see what the wind was, then I know better the next time I go out.
My Wetted Finger Does Well!
Seriously… Go out in progressively in different forecasted conditions, and then double check the buoy info afterwards to confirm. After awhile, you will be able to judge within 2-3 knots the wind speed by the feel and look of things.
In my opinion, when you’re out there, holding up a guage to figure out what you’re dealing with is pretty pointless. Just deal with it and then check to see what you dealt with afterwards.
sing
Wife uses one often
My wife uses one all the time. We live in chicago and get a bit of wind.
Prior we lived in Portland, OR and found it useful for fall/winter paddles in the Columbia Gorge.
Wade
Agreed
That was my intent as well, and I came to the same conclusion.
Mike
Been playing with this stuff for a whil
but on water based indicators what about the fetch?
I agree; if you need a wind meter you should be able to use the beaufort scale. The wind meter when it works, will be more exact.
When I started paddling
I kept a journal that included the mileage, time, conditions, currents, wind etc for the paddle. It helped me in developing my sense of seamanship (I find the ocean environment to be encredibly complex and intimidating, and this approach helped me to identify and avoid/purposely encounter big stuff as I got more experienced. For example, 6 foot swell at 10 seconds is really different than 5 feet at 15 seconds, add opposing wind etc). If I had a wind gage, I would have used it, and can see the value in it.
I agree with the previous post that people over estimate the wind (and swell size). We get some winds here in the summer (regularly 25 knots in the afternoon) and its really hard to make any progress into that kind of wind.
I only ever over-estimate the wind
when I’m recounting the tale
I use a Kestrel 2500
and when I hold it up and read the meter I ask folks what they think the wind is doing. Once in a while they get close. The experienced ones are more accurate. (Ok, I’m being a little dramatic with that statement, but not by much.) Just like measuring swell height or beach break it takes a little practice to get good at estimating. I like barometers, as every year I paddle in places where we cannot hear NOAA or the host country’s equivalent. It’ss a simple thing to record the barometric trend on a homemade graph. Like everything, there are tools, analytical powers and the right combination for you. Choose well and be happy.
Dogmaticus
I’m probably guilty too
of over estimating wind velocity, which is why I’d like one. Just for checking from shore before and after a paddle. I wouldn’t want to pay more than $10 for one though. Maybe ebay.
Paul S.