Wind gauge for boat

[Kent]

Can anyone recommend a wind gauge for use on a boat? Prefer not to have to mortgage the house for one.
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[wiperhunter2]

There are so many on the market that you might just have to let your budget decide for you. I was looking at these earlier this year, when the forecast was for light winds and they ended up being much higher. I was just curious how high they got and decide to check the prices. I never bought one but will likely get one before next year.
http://www.amazon.com/b?node=13825011
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[Tarponjim]

Here's what I use. Wet finger, hold up in the air. Observe. (smooth, choppy, whitecaps, rollers, water coming in.) Drive boat with the wind until you don't feel air moving, and look at speedometer or gps. See any dust clouds? All free, except the driving one using a little gas.

Really, there's a market for a anemometer on a recreational fishing boat? Who knew?[]

You could buy some kind of hand-held. Or, buy an anemometer and mount it to the boat somewhere with a Ram mount. When running, you'd have both air speed and ground speed. If you buy one that says "marine" anywhere on it, it will cost double to triple that of a land-based instrument.
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[Kent]

[quote Tarponjim]

Drive boat with the wind until you don't feel air moving, and look at speedometer or gps.

[/quote]

Great idea!
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[Tarponjim]

[quote kentofnsl][quote Tarponjim]

Drive boat with the wind until you don't feel air moving, and look at speedometer or gps.

[/quote]

Great idea![/quote]
I do that all the time Kent. Kinda nice when you're doing 25-30, hold your hand up, and can't feel any air movement at all. Now in the same head wind, yikes!

How about one of these? [url "http://www.amazon.com/RZ-Digital-Speed-Anemometer-Thermometer/dp/B00KY2RIBS/ref=sr_1_10?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1446129523&sr=1-10&keywords=wind+speed+meter"]http://www.amazon.com/RZ-Digital-Speed-Anemometer-Thermometer/dp/B00KY2RIBS/ref=sr_1_10?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1446129523&sr=1-10&keywords=wind+speed+meter[/url]
They have tons on there that cost more too.
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[Kent]

Thanks, just ordered the second one listed on that link. Aren't you supposed to be fishing today?
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[Tarponjim]

Yesterday, before the storm!
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[Kent]

I have also wanted a tool to use out on the ice. I think I will get a lot of use out of that instrument.
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[RockyRaab]

The gold standard for hand-held anemometers belongs to the Kestrel brand. But they're for the serious user. For something you just toss into your boat - and maybe OUT of the boat - a $20 unit may be all one needs.

Somewhere around here, I have a simple mechanical wind gauge I used to use at the gun range. It is a simple tube with a small ball inside. As wind blows across the top of the tube, the ball rises due to the reduced pressure/venturi effect.
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[kastmaster]

Kent,
Late to the party here. I have one of those units that RockyR is talking about. And yes, I have taken this unit out on the ice and works great. I have a Kestrel 2000 and it is very functional. Pretty much have similar features to the one that you are purchasing.
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[liketrolling]

This is the one I have
Ambient Weather WM-2 Handheld Weather Meter w/ Windspeed, Temperature, Wind Chill $30. but when I bot it I payed @$23

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005DF9...ge_o07_s00
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[Kent]

That is the exact unit that I ordered.
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[MisterCompletely]

I do a lot of shooting, so I have a handheld unit. Actually I seldom get it out while I'm shooting, but I've checked the wind with it enough times, even in my back yard, that I can now come pretty close to the actual wind velocity by guestimating. On the water, it's either breezy (10), windy (20), or too dad-blasted tempestuous to be out there (30+).

I keep my anemometer rolled up in a heavy sock. They're pretty fragile and wouldn't do well bouncing around loose in a boat.
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