MacGregorSailors.com

How about twin windexes, mounted on a v-shaped support? The one on the starboard side could be set for where the mast rotates when the boom is to port, and vice versa.

Seems fairly simple.

I use cassette tape tied to my shrouds.

The shroud mounted mini windexes work pretty well however they are not very durable at all. I used to have a set on my keelboat and I don't think they even lasted a whole season. Sun tore them up and made them brittle. My second set I only used once in a while and tried to keep them in the cabin when the boat wasn't being used (which of course is a nuisance). The bigger mast on that boat (with a flat top) was much more attractive to birds so it seemed my mast top windex got stepped on all the time and broken off. The Mac is better in this respect as the smaller hollow mast is not bird friendly...and also, the PO put one of those lightning deflectors on which I think scares the birds (probably wouldn't do anything to divert lightning though). Bottom line is that my windex has lasted almost 3 years so far on the Mac and this was unheard of on my previous boat where I was lucky to get 6 months before a big ospry would trash it.

jg9546.......I think we got a little off track.If you are mounting a regular "Windex",which is simply a mechanical wind direction indicater,you should have no problem.As mentioned before,I don't think you can rely on the "tacking tabs",but the "Windex" will definatley tell you the wind direction,even though the the mast rotates.Mine works great. Happy sailing.......Don

I recently replaced my masthead Windex that had lost its battle with an overweight sea fowl with one with a "bird spike", a putative means of enhancing its longevity. We shall see.

Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL wrote:I use cassette tape tied to my shrouds.

Absolutely the best idea yet. maybe I'll put those old Betamax tapes to use???

I don't have a windex, the nuisance-to-benefit ratio was too low.

How does the rotating mast have any effect on the windex.

The windex will point into the wind regardless if the mast is rotating under it or not.

Am I'm missing something???

Bob

Bill said

I use cassette tape tied to my shrouds.

Bil which do you recommend, Simon and Garfunkel tapes or Patsy Kline??

8 track or cassette??

How does the rotating mast have any effect on the windex.

The windex will point into the wind regardless if the mast is rotating under it or not.

Am I'm missing something???

Yes. A "Windex" (brand name I believe) is an electronic device, and it does matter whether the mast to which the base is mounted rotates.

For a simple wind vane, you're right.

Chip Hindes wrote:Yes. A "Windex" (brand name I believe) is an electronic device, and it does matter whether the mast to which the base is mounted rotates.

For a simple wind vane, you're right.

Not exactly ... the Windex brand (Davis products, here) is a "dumb" pointer that will point to the wind regardless of mast orientation. As Don described, it does have a pair of tails that will become almost useless due to the rotating mast. The tails are fixed to the mast, indicating for example when the wind is within 45 degrees of the bow or stern - no longer true as the mast rotates.

As Chip mentions though, the rotating mast problem mainly relates to how the wind pointer is electronically interpreted for display over a graphic of the boat (as in Raymarine's ST40 and ST60 wind instruments, others by Navman, etc). This interpretation, wind versus hull, is designed into the masthead mount, which "assumes" that the front of the mast always points at the bow. The electronics need some method to interpret the degree of mast offset from the bow, or the pointer will be displayed incorrectly versus the bow.

The great advantage of an electronic wind indicator is to avoid craning one's neck to view a Windex pointer ... which instead is displayed on a gauge, right next to your GPS, etc., and clearly illustrates your exact point of sail. Mounting to the bow pulpit can avoid the rotation problem. But only a masthead mount (properly offset for mast rotation) can display the downwind arc - which some might argue is even more critical than displaying the upwind angles.

Thank you again for your responses. Since I am new to sailing I was hoping to use those two tails which usually come with the windex. I will have to only watch the windex itself and disregard the tails since they will rotate along with the mast.

By the way does anyone know where to buy 6 gallon dura plastic gas containers (around $66) ? I could not find it on the internet.

Jacek

Here ya go, Sailor! Just noticed recently that Defender carries the OMC tanks, though their catalog doesn't show the usual Duratank brand name. I can't link the actual product page, but use Defender's search field for "bombardier fuel tank" and you'll see it. Pricey at $55 each, but they fit the 26X fuel lockers perfectly.

One problem though - after about 3 years of service both of my Duratanks developed air-leaks at the top of their nylon pickup tubes - the nylon simply splits where it grips the internal nipple . I'm going to try replacing the pickup tube with standard rubber fuel hose.

But since you have a 26M, you could probably get by with a much less costly alternative, like these Tempo Valu-6 tanks @ $20 each, pictured below by Duane Dunn. The great feature of these tanks - both the fill cap and the hose nipple are immediately accessible. Also, the pickup tube is molded into the tank body - solving my problem with the Duratanks. I have two of them from West Marine's closeout sale. Unfortunately the Valu-6 tanks don't fit so well in the lockers of my 2000 26X - send me a PM if you have other questions.