Need to replace wind indicator on top of mast

[sailinggreg]

HI All,

I searched for this but surprisingly didn't see any threads on this topic. I need to replace the wind indicator on top of the mast that got knocked down last year when the boat was hauled out. (Boatyard blamed a bird.) I have a 1980 Ericson 30+.

Can anyone tell me what is a good replacement? Is there such a thing as the standard replacement? It seems like a WindTrak 15 Wind Indicator should work. I saw less expensive brands on Amazon, but I'm afraid of their quality/durability.

Any tips for making the installation go smoothly?

Also, when I get someone to go up the mast for me, I'll ask them to replace the light bulb in the anchor light that hasn't worked in years. Hopefully, its just the bulb. I plan to get several bulbs, in case the anchor light fixture has been changed over the years. What bulbs should work, if its still the original light fixture? Or what bulbs would you take up hoping that one of them will fit?

Thanks!

Greg

 

[Loren Beach]

Clarification: is this regarding the "Windxex" vane with the two tacking arms?

 

[gabriel]

I tried several LED bulbs in my traditional anchor light set up, but they all burnt out quickly. I finally bought a complete LED fixture and it’s been reliable. These days dont even use it, I hang a lamp from the boom instead.

 

[Christian Williams]

WindTrak ought to be fine. Or Windex brand. As for the bulb--yeah.

 

[sailinggreg]

Clarification: is this regarding the "Windxex" vane with the two tacking arms?

Hi Loren,

The one I saw online is WindTrak 15 Wind Indicator made by Davis Instruments:

https://www.westmarine.com/davis-in...O8D8nJt9UhwfYd0zmCNqAGc0XILFKasQaAiKzEALw_wcB

I'm just learning, that there are two different brands, "WindTrak" and "Windex". Here's a picture of the WindTrak 15 one I looked at online. Yes, its got two tracking arms.



I see now that WinDex is written on my old one that fell down (even though it looks very much like the WindTrak one in the picture). So, now I'm thinking I'll go with a WinDex one. Maybe it'll fit in the bracket still up there and will make installation easier. I just need to figure out the model for an E30+. Looks like its basically based on length of boat.

Unless anyone has a recommendation as to why the WindTrak 15 is better than some version of WinDex?

Thanks!

 

[sailinggreg]

I tried several LED bulbs in my traditional anchor light set up, but they all burnt out quickly. I finally bought a complete LED fixture and it’s been reliable. These days dont even use it, I hang a lamp from the boom instead.

We don't anchor out, so just wanted to send someone up the mast with several bulbs to give it a try. Otherwise, will just get a lantern.

 

[AK67]

A lantern hung in the foretriangle between the mast and forestay does the job. Technically it needs to be visble all around and visible for 2 miles. While the foretriangle light could be partially obscured by the mast, I think it's more visible in an anchorage than a light atop a mast.
Tom Cunliffe takes a traditional approach.

 

[klb67pgh]

The advice I have re the Windex is I don't remember If I could reach the nut with a wrench that secures the Windex without removing either the main or genoa halyard sleeves. I think I did have to remove one. I replaced my cracked base last yesr in the offseason when my mast was down. My mast head is solid and not removable and there isn't a ton of room there. YMMV. But you may need to plan for that before you climb. Assuming you need to replace the base. I suggest refuel on the mounting bolt since it will be stainless through aluminum.

 

[bigd14]

There was a tapped hole on the top of the masthead on my 30+ that accommodated the Davis Windex (or whatever it was called). You might take an appropriate size drill and tap with you in case the existing hole size is smaller or to make a new one if the bracket doesn’t work.

 

[sailinggreg]

There was a tapped hole on the top of the masthead on my 30+ that accommodated the Davis Windex (or whatever it was called). You might take an appropriate size drill and tap with you in case the existing hole size is smaller or to make a new one if the bracket doesn’t work.
View attachment 55156

Thanks. That's a great picture! My old one, which says WinDex on it, looks similar to yours. The part that fell off, looks like it would fit right on that bracket. But things are rarely that simple...

 

[bigd14]

Just to confirm on my boat the shaft is threaded directly into a tapped hole on the top of the masthead, no bracket is used.

 

[Slick470]

From what I recall WinDex and Windtrak are the same product. Davis just lost the rights to sell it as WinDex in the US.

The other thing I was going to mention, but if you have parts in hand it might be a moot point, would be to take the old one down and match it vs buying what you think you need from the ground. I did that and found out later that mine was actually a wind indicator/VHF antenna combo made by a British company that looked very similar to a WinDex with the bird spike option from the ground. It has a very different attachment, and if I had just installed the WinDex I bought I'd then need to mount a new VHF antenna.

 

[sailinggreg]

Some good points, thanks bigd14 and Slick 470. From what fell on my deck (see pics), it just spins.

From my pictures you can see it looks like mine just sat on a shaft, until the bottom got old and cracked. I thought maybe new ones come as two parts, and if there's a shaft still up there a new wind direction indicator could be attached/glued to the old shaft. But now I'm thinking that's not likely.

Will have to see when I get someone to go up the mast.

Thanks all!

 

[Slick470]

That looks like a standard WinDex 15 / Windtrack 15 to me. It is supposed to come apart just above that fitting and that black part comes attached to the vertical rod that attaches to the base. My sense is you'll be find ordering another to replace. You may be able to get away with just attaching the new one to the existing base, but given the age and you've already had a plastic failure, it's probably worth replacing the whole thing.

Here are the instructions for the Davis version (should be the same for what you have) https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0515/5992/3873/files/3150_IM_WindTrk15-asmbly.PDF

 

[sailinggreg]

That looks like a standard WinDex 15 / Windtrack 15 to me. It is supposed to come apart just above that fitting and that black part comes attached to the vertical rod that attaches to the base. My sense is you'll be find ordering another to replace. You may be able to get away with just attaching the new one to the existing base, but given the age and you've already had a plastic failure, it's probably worth replacing the whole thing.

Here are the instructions for the Davis version (should be the same for what you have) https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0515/5992/3873/files/3150_IM_WindTrk15-asmbly.PDF

Slick470: Thanks for the good advice. That's how I'm thinking now, given the age and that it fell, better to replace the whole thing.

Thanks for the instructions sheet too, that helps clarify things until I get one.

It does seem that the WinDex 15 and WindTrak 15 although made by different companies are very similar(?).

 

[Slick470]

@sailinggreg I looked into it a few years ago when I first saw the name change. Davis used to be the US manufacturer/distributor for the Windex product. Something changed with that relationship and now Nautos is the US distributor and Davis changed the name of their product to Windtrak.

I'd have to look a the two side by side to tell if they are exactly the same, but I wouldn't be surprised if they are due to the shared history.