GPS Speedo

[carlos515]

late to the party however this is your best answer.

No offence but if you are 'in tune' with your motor speed is not generally a concern. I really do not care how fast i am going i want my RPMs right, sound in my ears cool, and just humping down the water. If I sense something off, I get my phone out to check gps speed.

No offence taken. The boat is new to me, so I really am not in tune to it yet. I am more interested in knowing my wake speed, so I do not get bothered by the OPP.

 

[jimmbo]

I wouldn't trust a GPS Speedo on a River, or any body of water that has a Current. Or for any Tournament/Competition Skiing Event

 

[Mc Tool]

I wouldn't trust a GPS Speedo on a River, or any body of water that has a Current. Or for any Tournament/Competition Skiing Event

Well you absolutely can trust a gps speedo as long as you understand its giving you speed over ground not speed thru water , and when Im navigating my way from the ramp to my destination the distance between way points ( where I change direction due to coastline or hazards ) is displayed as distance over ground and I can then calculate my eta and current or tidal flow becomes irrelevant . If you want speed thru water you can compare your pitot tube or paddle wheel against your gps whilst in still water and then factor in any discrepancies when in moving water ,ie
If your pitot or paddle is +2km/hr off the mark in still water at your desired trolling speed you simply troll at an (pitot /paddle) indicated speed 2km/hr faster than you actually want to go.......but I personally couldnt be arsed with all that and go by at what speed the lure performs best at by holding the rod as far forward as I can and observe the lure at the side of the boat and as long as the lure doesnt break the surface it will perform the same regardless of depth . And ,anyhow fishing is supposed to be relaxing so .............

 

[airshot]

I wouldn't trust a GPS Speedo on a River, or any body of water that has a Current. Or for any Tournament/Competition Skiing Event

Any type of current in the water will give you false speed readings on paddle wheels or any pressure type speedo. GPS is the most accurate speed when going from point A to point B, wind, current has no effect on GPS. However when trolling lures, water speed including current can make a difference on lure action, that is why folks often add them ..

 

[jimmbo]

Wrong, the GPS will not give a true Water Speed, when there is a Current. It will give an Accurate Speed, in regards to the Ground below

 

[jlh3rd]

well...neither does a paddle wheel or a pitot tube....It's all relative (remember einstein)
If a current is 5 mph but the boat is anchored, the standard speedo will read 5mph +/-.....GPS says O mph.....so which one is more right?...or accurate for the intended purpose.
Pull up the anchor, standard speedo goes to 0....GPS says 5 mph....same question.

throw in the motor, against current, pull anchor....get standard speedo to read 5mph.....you are going nowhere at 5mph.....the gps says 0.

GPS gives the better observation as to what we are doing in the real world.
I prefer GPS. I don't care about my water speed.

someone mentioned airspeed in relation to airplanes and waterspeed to boats as somehow related . It is not. Apples and oranges.
Airspeed is a critical if not the main component of operating an airplane safely. Groundspeed is irrelevant ...except of course in flight planning.
waterspeed is not critical to a boat operation. A boat doesn't sink with zero waterspeed.

 

[jimmbo]

Waterspeed is Imprtant/Critical to several Boating Activities

 

[redneck joe]