Efficient and cheap wind guage ?

NOOB · Since 21 Jun 2007 24 Posts

I know the experienced guys just say they know or they use their hair or some junk like that. But NOBODY within 300 miles of me knows what kiteboarding is and I would like to accurately measure the wind on my water as there is no one out kiting to talk with about sizing.

Any reccomendations on a CHEAP wind guage that will be half arse accurate? Or are there any tricks I could use.

Mark · Tue Jul 10, 07 12:44 pm

sand starts blowing....20 mph rig the nine and rip!

pacifichigh · Since 11 May 2005 1004 Posts ATX Texan

Beaufort Wind Scale

Developed in 1805 by Sir Francis Beaufort of England

Force Wind
(Knots) WMO
Classification Appearance of Wind Effects
On the Water On Land
0 Less than 1 Calm Sea surface smooth and mirror-like Calm, smoke rises vertically
1 1-3 Light Air Scaly ripples, no foam crests Smoke drift indicates wind direction, still wind vanes
2 4-6 Light Breeze Small wavelets, crests glassy, no breaking Wind felt on face, leaves rustle, vanes begin to move
3 7-10 Gentle Breeze Large wavelets, crests begin to break, scattered whitecaps Leaves and small twigs constantly moving, light flags extended
4 11-16 Moderate Breeze Small waves 1-4 ft. becoming longer, numerous whitecaps Dust, leaves, and loose paper lifted, small tree branches move
5 17-21 Fresh Breeze Moderate waves 4-8 ft taking longer form, many whitecaps, some spray Small trees in leaf begin to sway
6 22-27 Strong Breeze Larger waves 8-13 ft, whitecaps common, more spray Larger tree branches moving, whistling in wires
7 28-33 Near Gale Sea heaps up, waves 13-20 ft, white foam streaks off breakers Whole trees moving, resistance felt walking against wind
8 34-40 Gale Moderately high (13-20 ft) waves of greater length, edges of crests begin to break into spindrift, foam blown in streaks Whole trees in motion, resistance felt walking against wind
9 41-47 Strong Gale High waves (20 ft), sea begins to roll, dense streaks of foam, spray may reduce visibility Slight structural damage occurs, slate blows off roofs
10 48-55 Storm Very high waves (20-30 ft) with overhanging crests, sea white with densely blown foam, heavy rolling, lowered visibility Seldom experienced on land, trees broken or uprooted, "considerable structural damage"
11 56-63 Violent Storm Exceptionally high (30-45 ft) waves, foam patches cover sea, visibility more reduced
12 64+ Hurricane Air filled with foam, waves over 45 ft, sea completely white with driving spray, visibility greatly reduced

kitebot · Since 20 Feb 2007 251 Posts Obsessed

You could try at an aviation store for a handheld wind gauge. Instead of the fancy LCD gauges there are ones that look like a thermometer with a styrofoam ball that gets blown up by the wind -very very simple and accurate. I haven't seen one in years we used to use them for flying gliders, I figure if they're good enough for that they should work fine for kiting. I'll bet you could find one online cheap. Regardless of what you use eventually you'll either lose it or stop relying on it when you get better at judging conditions at your local site, guaranteed!

Good luck!

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4907 Posts Portland Unstrapped

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Windmeter-Windtronic-Wind-Speed-Meter-Anemometer_W0QQitemZ130132644758QQihZ003QQcategoryZ48624QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Mine went the way of my reel leash but fun for days when things get 40+ to 50. "Look the wind guage says we are out of our mind"

After a few years - you will be a human wind gauge - close your eyes - listen, grasshopper - airconditioner blowing 2kts NNE.

pdxmonkeyboy · Tue Jul 10, 07 1:57 pm

NOOB · Since 21 Jun 2007 24 Posts

Mark · Tue Jul 10, 07 4:12 pm

Off the subject....
Is that you snowmobiling in your avatar?

NOOB · Since 21 Jun 2007 24 Posts

Sure is !

I used to guide and am currently working full time in snowmobile area management and promotion in Valemount BC, is a paradise ! 65+ Days on the mountain last year

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1313 Posts Possessed

I took a 20' PVC pipe and added a tell tale
using the strips that come around a new kite.
The 0 is a weight like a small rock that only
starts to blow outward from the pole | when
it gets windy. You might rig up a swivel at the
top so it doesn't wrap around the pole as easily.
(pay no attention to the cyan ..... -just for spacing)

wind -->

|\
|..\
|....\
|.....0 _______
|
|
|
|
|
|

Or you could just put up Old Glory!

or make one using a bike speedometer

pacifichigh · Since 11 May 2005 1004 Posts ATX Texan

Nice Sled bro. RMK!!!!!

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

looks like good snowkite terrain behind the king

G-dog · Since 04 Jan 2007 61 Posts Portland

You could try at an aviation store for a handheld wind gauge. Instead of the fancy LCD gauges there are ones that look like a thermometer with a styrofoam ball that gets blown up by the wind -very very simple and accurate[/quote]

My office has a ton of these type devices lying around in the basement because they used to need wind data for certain biological studies. They're similar to what kitebot described, only all plastic. If you can't find them at aviation sites, try science/lab supply places and they shouldn't be more than $20. If you don't find anything, let me know, I could probably just send you one!

Nice pics by the way, looks like some beautiful terrain. Can you ski there (besides heli-ski)?

NOOB · Since 21 Jun 2007 24 Posts

Thanks guys

as fare as skiing, we do alot of sled access boarding, but have no chairlift. Ive been know to do a bit of touring as well in my thinner days

As for the snowkiting terrain, i hope to find out !

five · Since 03 Mar 2007 7 Posts Hawaii Kook

How bout this? If only there was more water in Wyoming...

tonyb · Sun Jul 15, 07 9:50 am

The Wyoming wind gauge reminded me of a few years ago when I was teaching a class in Casper in March and I asked when the snow melted. Was told that "the snow never melts in Wyoming, it just blows around until it wears out..."

windyway · Since 20 Jul 2007 3 Posts Portland Kook

First, spend $75 and get a digital Kestrel. I've used mine for three years and it is durable and accurate. All the little ones with tell tales and floaty balls just tell you what you already know from your eyes and ears.

An accurate gauge will tell you what you can't feel, and I can guess the wind better than anybody because I always get to verify my guess.

As a newbie, a gauge will save your butt and allow you to rig the correct size kite. You'll know the difference between gusting to 47 and gusting to 37 which can be life and death. On the other end of the scale, if the peak gust is not over 20 you can ride a 16m or if the lowest lull is 16, you can get away with a 9m bow. You'll quickly learn the exact range of your kites.

Spend the bucks, its a long term investment and money well spent. WW