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Any ingenious ideas for simple wind direction indicators ?

Pacific Spirit Marine

Junior Member
Your nose!

I used to teach sailing, and would teach students to use their ears and nose. Turn your head. when you feel the wind on one ear, keep turning your head until you feel it on both ears at the same time. Your nose is now pointing at the apparent wind direction! Voila...

Having big ears probably helps too.
 

e38 owner

Member III
we only have none smokers now days but incents do the the trick. When it goes straight up or around in circles time to go home
 

Guy Stevens

Moderator
Moderator
Old VHF or cassette tape works well. Taped to the shrouds.
Bubbles are also fun in really light air. I find they are so light that they show how the air flow is on your boat too!
 

1911tex

Sustaining Member
Ok folks, found a solution for a simple wind direction indicator:

1) My Bimini made it difficult to see the old mast top indicator
2) Did not want to spend $1k +/- for a professional wind gauge w/new indicator and installation
3) Do not smoke and no one allowed smoking
4) Kiddos too old to blow bubbles
5) Admiral does not approve of flying a nylon stocking
6) Threw my old cassettes out years ago
7) Finger wetting made others nervous
8) My ears are not as sensitive as they used to be and are small besides
9) Flags, ribbons, yarn, string always seem to wrap around whatever they are tied to

Soooo; I noticed this small light weight wind indicator on another sailboat in our marina and asked the Captain about it...She (yes She) loved it, did not tangle, had it for a couple of years, no problems and very accurate...bought one and mounted it on an aft stansion so clearly visible; and oh, thank all of you for your kind suggestions! :

 
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Christian Williams

E381 - Los Angeles
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
Yeah but the air the sails use is up there, not down here.

A $30 windex at the top of the mast remains my primary instrument.
 

Kenneth K

1985 32-3, Puget Sound
Blogs Author
..... Hawk Marine Wind Indicator.....

Sure, that'll work, but it will lead to much tamer discussion amongst your dock-mates than ripped & ragged nylons, smoke rings, and 30 ft of trailing 8-track tape would have. Grateful Dead T-shirt still optional....
 
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JSM

Member III
Behold the Wind Compass. A product of Ahner Marine in Northbrook, Il. Boat came with a pair of these secured to the mast. They now reside in my garage.
20210210_094107.jpg
 
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