Pitot tube or Paddle wheel speedo pickup?

[Joe S.]

I'm concidering upgrading gauges and would like to hear what are some of the pros and cons of a paddle wheel vs a pitot tube. The gauges I am looking at are the Beede 2000 series which use a paddle wheel transducer for the speedo. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Forktail]

Re: Pitot tube or Paddle wheel speedo pickup?

I like the paddle type for slower speeds and trolling, and the pitot tube type for higher speeds and accuracy.<br /><br />I also find the paddle type to kick up spray more than the pitot. The pitot slices through the water where the paddle spins and flips water around. Most outboards already have the pitot pick-up in them and you can hook your gauge right up to it. The paddle type means mounting (drilling) into the transom and running cabels (I guess the pitot does too if you don't use the one on your outboard!).<br /><br />The pitot's on my Yamaha's (40-225 hp's) are within 1-2 mph of my GPS at WOT. The paddle can be off up to 5 mph.<br /><br />Hope this helps.

 

[ob]

Re: Pitot tube or Paddle wheel speedo pickup?

Neither one will be as accurate as a gps speedo.Pitot tubes are prone to restrictions,turbulence ,and are simply not accurate.Any pickup that relies on movement of water over the hull will have questionable reliability.Probably not the response you were hoping for but I gave up on messing with water actuated speedos long ago.If its not accurate it serves little purpose.

 

[DJ]

Re: Pitot tube or Paddle wheel speedo pickup?

JoeS,<br /><br />I don't know what you use your boat for, but I found the following combo. to be best.<br /><br />Depthfinder speedo. using a paddlewheel-for slow speed.<br /><br />Engine pitot tube for planing speeds.

 

[Mumblerone]

Re: Pitot tube or Paddle wheel speedo pickup?

GPS! If you talking speed over ground. Now, if we're talking current or tide when trolling or for that matter speed at the downrigger ball, you should go with a paddle wheel. I don't like Pitot tubes. It's all relative, anyway!

 

[macojoe]

Re: Pitot tube or Paddle wheel speedo pickup?

I use my GPS it works better then anything else I have ever had.I have had pilot and paddle, Had problems with both.

 

[Waterbugtoo]

Re: Pitot tube or Paddle wheel speedo pickup?

Having had the opportunity to test this very thing with a radar gun running directly towards a very large bridge pier (actually gauging how fast the pier was approaching us), we found that most pitot systems are about 5 to 10 MPH off up or down. Paddle wheel/locater type systems are usually about 3 to 6 MPH off up or down. Nothing available in todays technology relying on water for its operation source will be able to tell you a dead on accurate speed but the paddle wheel is closer up to a point.<br /><br />