Tom Kirkman wrote:
While underway, are these sort of devices not affected by apparent wind? Will they continue to show actual wind direction or will they not just deflect to rearward of whatever direction the boat is traveling?
On a similar note, the lake I sail on has a golf course on one side. I like to use the flags on the green to take wind direction headings. Sunday, I was moving towards one of the greens to take a reading and just as I got in line with the flag, a foursome walked up on the green and one of the guys pulled the flag and dropped it on the green. He never knew the cussing he got from the guy on the water.
Tom, of course the wind indicator shows apparent wind! To find out the TRUE wind (if no golf courses are handy!), you need GPS data capable of measuring the true course over ground, and combining this with electronic information regarding the masthead wind indicator direction, to calculate the true wind.
BUT... The sails don't give a damn, as they use the APPARENT wind. So a simple indicator is all you need!
And dpstivers, my installation cost me about $5 for the pvc collar and hardware, not excessive. Because the mast rotates, those red squares are just a distraction in my opinion, and you might as well cut them off, still using the inner ends to prevent the indicator axle sliding down between the sail and the mast.
NOHUHU, I have seen KayakingBob's ribbon, and it is a great way to ID different craft, but I have noticed that the leftover string from the top batten tends to point in a slightly different direction due to it being "behind" some of the sail, which bends the airstream. That's why I put my indicator about a foot above the top of the sail.