Speedometer Pickup

[gstanton]

I had a paddle wheel speedo pickup on the underside lip of the transom... until it got smooshed by the trailer bunker in a misguided loading. The only thing I see in the online store)s) is a pitot. Where can I get a paddle wheel?<br />Are pitot and paddle wheels interchangeable? Just how do they work anyway? What do I need to know? There is a depth finder involved also (that shows speed).

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Speedometer Pickup

The wheel is supplied as part of the FF, need to contact them. it isn't a generic item.

 

[Salmonseeker]

Re: Speedometer Pickup

On the wheel type the speed is measured by the speed the wheel is travelling.<br /><br />On the pilot tube type the speed is measured by the water pressure. Water is forced into the pilot tube and sent up to the speedo. The faster the boat travels, the more water pressure created causing the speedo to read higher.<br /><br />They are not interchangeable. As dunarama stated, the paddle wheel is usally part of the fishfinder. Check under accesories for your fishfinder. You should be able to get one.<br /><br />If it is not part of your fishfinder, I can't really help.<br /><br />Goodluck

 

[gstanton]

Re: Speedometer Pickup

OK -- Thanks to both. My problem... I'm pretty sure that the original pickup was a Pitot (same Humminbird depth finder-same in dash ((Sea Ray)) speedo) then a service dept (now defunct) changed to a paddle wheel. Everything worked fine! <br />How does a paddle wheel get it's information? Water pressure? The tube doesn't appear to have been changed. This really is a minor problem but I'd like to get it right.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Speedometer Pickup

Paddle wheel speedometers are electronic and receive pulses from paddle wheel rotation -- hence there is an electrical cable between the speedo (or locator) and the paddle wheel. Pitot pickups are water pressure driven and the heads are not electronic -- strictly a mechanical device. They are not interchangeable.

 

[gstanton]

Re: Speedometer Pickup

Makes sense. I need to go remove the smooshed paddle wheel pick-up and see that there is a wire in that tube.<br /><br />Thanks!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Speedometer Pickup

By the way, its not difficult to tell the difference. A paddle wheel pickup looks like -- well -- a miniature paddle wheel. I hangs slightly below the bottom of the boat and it spins as the boat goes over the water. A pitot pickup is a plastic device about five inches long that sticks down into the water and has a small plastic tube off the top.