[C38] Tom is right

[Don Strong]

I apologize for the facetious post. Of course the knot meter is very 
useful for current calculations. It pegs while we come in under the 
Golden Gate Bridge at max ebb; the GPS says 1.567 knots. This is the 
main reason, by the way, that the paddle is inconstant on any given day. 
The big problem with the paddle is its need for constant cleaning; the 
bugs love to grow there. One could teach an invertebrate zoology course 
with the species that find a home on the paddle. Don't you just love the 
green column of water that shoots up into the boat when you extract the 
device from its mounting!  This still gives me an adrenaline lift, after 
many years of the experience. I use a wooden bung to plug the hole while 
cleaning off the paddle wheel.
Don

On 1/14/11 6:56 AM, Tom T. wrote:
> I like using both the knotmeter and the GPS.
> Coming in and out of Tampa Bay can be a real thrill when you need to 
> maintain a schedule, like getting crew back to the airport on time.
> The GPS is very accurate but doesn't tell squat about boat 
> speed through the water.  I've seen 5kts on my knotmeter and zero on 
> the GPS when we were sailing back beating against an outgoing tide.  I 
> like to know both speeds, VMG as well as water speed when I'm trying 
> to calculate my progress and my own tuning performance.
> Tom T.
>
>     ----- Original Message -----
>     *From:* Don Strong <mailto:drstrong at ucdavis.edu>
>     *To: *listserve at catalina38.org <mailto:listserve at catalina38.org>
>     *Sent:* 1/14/2011 9:09:12 AM
>     *Subject:* Re: [C38] speed. GPS is lots better than wheel
>
>     We did tests of our Signet paddle wheel versus several GPS over
>     measured courses with stop watches etc. The wheel was
>     inconsistent, faster and slower than the GPS. The GPSes matched
>     each other as perfectly as we could record and exceeded the
>     precision we could muster with stop watches. No contest. We quit
>     after a few tries and had a beer.  My pal was a VP at Magellan,
>     and predicted the outcome. He still teases me about it.
>     Don
>
>     On 1/13/11 7:46 PM, Steve Smolinske wrote:
>>     Does anyone have any knowledge on the location of the knot meter
>>     on the centerline?  Peregrine is in the yard having mushroom
>>     mounts removed and replaced with flush mounts.  I instructed in
>>     writing to the yard along with a photo to place the knot meter on
>>     centerline 33% of the distance from the keel to the waterline
>>     entry point.  They have placed it 1' in front of the keel and
>>     stated that is the perfect location and any further forward it
>>     will be subject to disturbance from the bow wave.  (yes they went
>>     ahead without contacting me first)   We are going to talk about
>>     it tomorrow morning and Im hoping someone has some definitive
>>     information I can use. Grrrr  Thanks
>>     Steve
>>     #312 Peregrine
>>     Seattle
>>
>>
>>     _______________________________________________
>>     Listserve mailing list
>>     Listserve at catalina38.org
>>     http://catalina38.org/mailman/listinfo/listserve_catalina38.org
>
>     -- 
>     Donald R. Strong
>     Professor
>     Dept. of Evolution and Ecology
>     University of California, Davis 95616
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Listserve mailing list
> Listserve at catalina38.org
> http://catalina38.org/mailman/listinfo/listserve_catalina38.org

-- 
Donald R. Strong
Professor
Dept. of Evolution and Ecology
University of California, Davis 95616

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://catalina38.org/pipermail/listserve_catalina38.org/attachments/20110114/1e01758d/attachment-0001.htm>