Looking for a functioning Garmin GWS 10

[southofvictor]

Hi all,

Here’s a long shot - anyone out there have a functioning Garmin GWS 10 they’re willing to part with? I’ve been scouring the interweb with no luck.

Something flew off with my vane and the anemometer bearing has been on its last legs for a couple of years.

I’m trying to avoid the GWind upgrade that requires new mast wiring and mounting a GND 10, but I’m getting close to biting the bullet and doing it.

Thanks!

 

[Marlin Prowell]

If you have a Garmin chartplotter, an alternate is the Garmin gWind Wireless 2. No cable necessary. The anemometer connects wirelessly directly to the chartplotter. I have one of these and I do not recommend it. My 50 foot mast on my E34 is at the limit of the wireless range and it disconnects all the time. Your mast is even taller. Also, the anemometer has rechargeable batteries that need to be replaced every three years or so.

The wired gWind 2 is a better choice. Your current anemometer has a NMEA 2000 backbone running up the mast, which to me was a very questionable design choice by Garmin. Any issues with the cable (shorts, leaks, breaks) and your entire NMEA 2000 system is shut down. Consider this your chance to replace that hazard. Yes, it requires the GND 10 interface box to connect the new anemometer cable to the NMEA 2000 network, but this is a better solution than running the NMEA 2000 backbone itself up the mast.

The NMEA 2000 cable inside the mast is undoubtedly thicker than the new anemometer wire. You can use the old anemometer cable as the messenger for the new cable. As long as they are securely attached, this might be relatively simple.

 

[southofvictor]

Thanks Marlin, I appreciate the details. This looks like the route I’ll be taking.

 

[southofvictor]

Thanks for the advice @Marlin Prowell I installed the GWind and GND-10 yesterday and everything seems to be working as expected. Pulling the mast cable was a little nerve wracking at a point or two where it got sticky but Chris and I worked it through. The job took 2 hours at the masthead (pull cable, drill & tap for new mount, mount vane) and 2 hours below (pull cable to N2K locker, install GND-10, build cable-end for Nexus connection, connect to N2K backbone).