speedometer

[soce009]

I'm looking to buy a speedometer, and had a few questions about choosing one. I'm putting it on a 20 cuddy cabin with a 200 johnson, no speedometer on it now but do have tach and volt gauge. Question is: how hard is it to install, and is there a special kind/brand I need to buy. and if anybody has any recommendations, they would be greatly appreciated. thanks in advance.

 

[moderator1]

Re: speedometer

Moving to Boat Questions.

 

[Lark40]

Re: speedometer

Forget a water pressure speedometer, that's ancient technology. Use a GPS.<br /><br />No installation or clogging hassles, and far more accurate.

 

[marty_scher]

Re: speedometer

I agree with lark40.<br /><br />Boat speedometers are certainly "yesteryear technology", when you can buy a marine grade, mapping GPS, for $150.<br /><br />Every time I look down at my Magellan 350 reading in tenths of MPH and then look at my 2001 speedometer jumping all over, I visualize yanking it out and installing any other type of guage (just have not decided which).

 

[sundancer270]

Re: speedometer

Buy a Fish finder. They have a speed & depth gage. You might even use it to catch fish. I have a GPS and my fish finder is exactly the same MPH down to the 10th of a MPH. You can use the Split Screen feature on the fish finder, and it will show Speed, Depth, and how many Miles you have gone in big 2in Numerals. DRILL HOLE ABOVE WATER LINE !

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: speedometer

I guess I am still old school or cheep. I haven't figured it out yet but let me tell you a story. About a year and a half ago I bought a Teleflex paddle wheel speedo on e-bay for $60 bucks from this guy. Worked great for a couple months till I hit a log (at low speed) and broke the paddle wheel sender. Wrote to Teleflex and explained what I had done and was looking to buy a new sender. They sent me a new one for free. That's service (I'll be keeping it for that reason alone). Right up there with Bennett trim tabs buts that another story about the same log.<br /> Over this winter I bought a Hawkeye high speed in dash depth finder. Supposed to be good up to 60mph, we will see. Will a GPS do that? If so I may have look at one of those gps things.<br /> The point is it depends on what you want to pay. I have a air tube speedo I will give you but it would be cheaper to go buy one then to have mine shipped and that is about what they are worth. Then there is a paddle wheels. Still have some problems but if calibrated properly should be within a mile or so. Then there is GPS with all its features. Average $25.00,$60.00 and $175.00 respectively.

 

[SCO]

Re: speedometer

One cool feature of the gps for speed is it also provides an odometer feature. Cant beat that. They use gps in airplanes and on sailboats. Quite a range. I have checked my gps in the car against the speedometer. It is right on at highway speeds.

 

[Boatist]

Re: speedometer

Soce<br />I guess I agree with everyone else GPS most accurate for over the ground speed not water speed, and should you ever need help can tell Coast Guard or anyone else exactly where you are.<br /><br />Depth finder with paddle wheel Best for slow water speed and Ok for high speed plus gives you a odometer just like the GPS does. These are good for that 5 mph speed zone up the river past the marinea or Coast Guard station when you have a 3 MPH outgoing current.<br /><br />The Old Pitot tube with the air tube and old style speedometer ok for quick reference but no good for under 10 MPH and not that accurate at any speed, still no one will steal it and easy to read. To install need a air tube to run from Pitot tube to speedometer. Need the pitot tube or some motors have the pitot built in but do not think your does, someone eles may know. also need a 12 volt line for light hook to your navigation Switch.

 

[Lark40]

Re: speedometer

SCO,<br /><br />When a car enthusiast brings a GPS into a car and looks at both the GPS and the speedo at various speeds, it is almost always to verify the car's speedometer, not the GPS.<br /><br />This is especially necessary after changing the car's gear ratios or wheel/tire sizes.

 

[DJ]

Re: speedometer

soce009,<br /><br />Save your money and invest in: water pressure guage, trim guage.<br /><br />A pitot tube guage (speedo) is just taking up dash space.<br /><br />GPS is the way to go. It has so many other uses.