Speed Sensor Paddle Wheel
Submitted by pharlap on Sat, 2012-01-21 07:16
Guys when I purchased my boat recently, the speed sensor paddle wheel was missing from the housing (still attached to the transom) Is this common, has anyone had this before ?
I've finally managed to get a replacement paddle wheel assembly, is there any trick used to make sure this doesn't happen again. I was thinking maybe a spot of silicone or araldite over the round clip that holds the pin in place ?
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Does anyone use them
Does anyone use them anyway?
Most boats use the GPS for speed, and its a lot more accurate anyway. Pity the boat store that sold it to you didn't tell you that.
pharlap
Posts: 69
Date Joined: 02/01/12
Till I would prefer to use it
Till I would prefer to use it as I am a newbie and until my judgement is on track I think it's the safest/legal way.
Yes this paddle wheel is for/connected to my GPS.
I bought the boat privately so I accepted it as is, I was aware it was missing, as you are saying was told that I didn't need it, but in the river and that to be accurate it's a goer for me.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Missing the point mate. GPS
Missing the point mate.
GPS uses satellites, not the paddle wheel, to work out how fast your boat is. GPS is a lot more accurate than a paddle wheel.
pharlap
Posts: 69
Date Joined: 02/01/12
Sorry Till
Sorry Till yep got it.
It does beg the question then doesn't it, why have it at all ?
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Probably a couple answers
Probably a couple answers there:
1) See Tomcat's answer
2) Transducers and parts are made by just a couple of companys (Airmar) for many others (Furuno, Lowrance, Raymarine, Garmin).
In my old A65, I had a paddlewheel, but as far as we could tell, it did nothing at all, just it was part of the default cheapie transducers they sold with it.
Tomcat
Posts: 614
Date Joined: 24/02/11
Wheel
On some sounders that wheel is not for speed it gives the sounder information to adjust it's sounding rate the p66 on a lowerance if I remember is one sure I read it back when I had one
pharlap
Posts: 69
Date Joined: 02/01/12
2nd water temp
Tomcat I understand it's a speed sensor paddle wheel and 2nd water temp reader, why you would need two temp readings (including the temp reader from the transducer, on the other side of the transom) I'm not sure but that's the case apparantley.
Tomcat
Posts: 614
Date Joined: 24/02/11
?
Maybe of use if just connected to a sounder without a built in gps
iana
Posts: 652
Date Joined: 21/09/09
SOG verses SOW
Two instances where I can see the use of the paddle wheel. 1/ traveling distance, the paddle wheel will give the water speed. If there is a current, the GPS may give a speed indication 6 or so knots more or less than the water speed, for a dissplacement hull this could make a big difference with fuel consumption. 2/ in rivers where there is a strong current, or tidal flow, the trolling speed where the lure performs best would not be SOG but water speed.