Time was, maybe 30 years ago, weather information was relatively hard to come by, unless you happened to be on the bridge of a ship equipped with HF radios or within range of the coastal forecasts. In recent years, developments in microelectronics and programmable chips have brought atmospheric measurement capability literally into the palm of your hand.
Devices range from the simplest anemometer to complete weather stations with special applications for everyone from hikers to aviators to hunters. Most foot-plus boats have wind instruments mounted at the masthead, where they give a more reliable reading than a handheld device.
Still, we are always interested in what the wind is doing, and some of us no doubt can find clever ways to put these handheld devices to use to improve sail trim, for example. Barometric pressure is essential information for sailors, and any device that can tell you current pressure and its history over the previous few hours is of real value. Practical Sailor contacted the major manufacturers and requested a selection of weather tools.
One device will even tell you if the moment is propitious for taking your rifle ashore for a spot of deer hunting. From Kestrel, we tested the , , and Weather Tracker.
What did testers deem important? Big, easy-to-read numbers on the screen. This was particularly apparent when trying to compare several devices wind speed, side by side. The numbers, apart from never agreeing between instruments, change too often. Do we really need to know if its What testers found most frustrating were the tiny LCD characters that were hard to read and tended to hide in the shadow of the screens frame. Weve grouped them roughly from the most simple to the most complex.
We rated them after evaluating the functions offered, the price, user-interface, intuitiveness, and how useful the device is for sailors. The simplest of the simple, the Kestrel gives wind speed plus maximum gust and the average speed since it was turned on. The battery cover opens with a coin and has an O-ring seal. The is handy and rugged, if all you need are wind readings. Similar in size and feel to the Kestrel , the Skymate SM gives wind speed; maximum gust; averages over 3, 5, and 13 seconds; temperature; and windchill.
The flip cover is practical and has positive grips that enable it to be opened with gloved hands. Simple, two-button operation and large LCD characters make it easy to use and easy to read. A tripod mount is provided; its not much use with the unidirectional propeller anemometer, but it could be for monitoring temperature.
The Speedtech Skymate is a quality instrument. Three of the Skywatch models tested had a cup-style anemometer rather than propeller-style anemometer.
They were all similar in outward appearance, clunky at first impression. But once we took them in hand, they fit well, allowing a firm grip on the foam-clad body with fingers clear of the screen. The drawer fits only one way, but the battery can be installed in the drawer the wrong way, although no damage will result from this.
No gasket around the drawer means the device is not water-resistant. All three models have large, easy-to-read LCD displays and simple button sequences for setting and selecting display information.
Eole is the basic model, providing wind speed the operator can set the units , maximum gust, and average over 30 seconds. Large, digital numbers are accompanied by a Beaufort scale bar graph. The Meteos shows current wind in digits and as a vertical Beaufort bar graph , wind average since the device was turned on or reset , and maximum gust.
At the same time, it provides current temperature, minimum temp, maximum temp, and wind chill. It will scroll through the temperature functions or you can select the one you want to monitor. The Meteos also has a tiny compass in the cap, but to use it, you have to move the cap away from the magnetic influence of the device itself. Meteos, while not a salty tool, delivers basic wind and temperature data for the budget-minded and can be mounted on a tripod or post. The Atmos has all the features of the Meteos plus a hygrometer and wet bulb, so it also provides relative humidity without needing to be calibrated and dew point.
A very different design from the Eole and its siblings, the Xplorer series 1 through 4 uses a small propeller-type impeller for wind measurements and, in models 2 and up, an internal temperature sensor that abuts the metal backplate on the plastic case.
We tested the Xplorer2 and Xplorer4. These devices are small. They are hard to grip without touching the temperature-sensing backplate. Each comes with a lanyard, but would best be carried in a rucksack pocket where a bump wont accidentally turn it on. The Xplorer2 has a two-line display that shows wind plus maximum wind measurements, wind plus temperature, or wind plus wind chill. The numbers are clear, but our testers found the small mode characters hard to see, especially in poor light.
On this device, with its few function buttons, thats not a big problem. It has a backlight for use after dark. For its size and price, Xplorer2 is a good choice for the data it offers.
Xplorer4 is the top of the Skywatchs Xplorer range of products. Identical in looks to the Xplorer2, the Xplorer4 shares the handling drawbacks. Simply holding it by its plastic case during use affects the thermometer dramatically.
All of its functions are accessed by a single button, so you have to learn to press it for varying lengths of time to find what youre looking for. Among them are wind speed and temperature, or wind speed and barometer, barometer trend, or altitude trend over time. The choices are aimed at the outdoorsmen from hikers to hang-gliders, so many of them are superfluous for boaters. The compass is of minor utility. In our testers opinions, the small characters for units and mode are hard to read, except in the best lighting, or with the battery-eating backlight on.
Testers were impressed by the amount of information Skywatch packed into such a compact device, but accessing the info demanded too much fancy fingerwork. A note about the devices with altitude: Altitude is calculated by barometric pressure. Assuming barometric pressure changes slowly, you can determine changes in altitude without recalibrating the barometer during an outing.
Mariners operate at sea level, so were interested in QNH. Testers found the feature-laden Xplorer4 to be not rugged enough and a little difficult to use with its single button. Getting Started. It is very important that you keep the calibration.
Each instrument has unique voltage input numbers. Open case and click into fully opened position or, if using a tripod, click to the Hold the Skymaster at. It is.
Operating Modes:. Which Windmeter do I choose? No posts. Subscribe to: Posts Atom. Basket No of items: 0 Your cart is empty View Cart. Recover Cart.
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