Velocitek GPS, and much more
Shown above, the new Velocitek Shift. The Shift is a completely different device from the ProStart and SpeedPuck (shown below), as the Shift actually senses the Earth's magnetic field and relays that information with an electronic readout, whereas the ProStart and SpeedPuck are true GPS (Global Positioning System) devices. All of the instruments track wind shifts, just using different technologies. The Shift is not a data logger; both the SpeedPuck and the ProStart are. Retail pricing on the Shift is $699.00. The Shift is typically used where Neanderthal class rules prohibit the use of GPS-driven devices. The major numerals on the Shift are 38mm high, whereas the readouts on the ProStart and SpeedPuck are 30mm high. The Shift carries the same start timer as the ProStart, which is simply the best start timer that I have ever used. The SpeedPuck does not have a timer.
Many more details, and views, are on Velocitek's website: http://www.velocitek.com/
Many more details, and views, are on Velocitek's website: http://www.velocitek.com/
The Velocitek ProStart. Utilizing a GPS (Global Positioning System) chip, it gives the racing sailor heading, speed, time to start, and distance to starting line in a new, easy to use device. US$599.00.
At US$339.00 retail, the Speedpuck is truly the poor man's GPS device. It gives the sailor both speed and heading, updated twice a second, by measuring the Doppler shift in GPS signals.
Both SpeedPuck and ProStart sport LCD numerals that are 30 millimetres high, which is about 1.2 inches for the metrically challenged. Both devices continuously log waypoints so the intensely curious geek can connect the device to a PC or Mac computer, and play back the 'tracklines' that show where the boat went, at what heading, and at what speed.
For the straight poop on these marvelous devices, call or email:
Willie Crear
5696 County Road 7 Southwest
Post Office Box 84
Howard Lake
Minnesota
55349 USA
email: williecrear@hotmail.com
cell: 207.423.0061
Velocitek ProStart installation on Tom Burton's E scow.
A ProStart installation on a carbon I-20 mast, the 'Aaron Lynn' solution. This utilizes electrical tie-wraps, so that there are no holes drilled in the spar. That white stuff in the mounting cradle is due to an avian strafing run.
All Velocitek devices have been water resistant from day one, and are all now certified to immersion standard IPX-8, or 3 metres. Having said that, here is the first ProStart undergoing what is a very low tech test of water resistance and flotation capabilities, in the kitchen sink.
Shot of a Velocitek SC-1, which is the predecessor to the ProStart. This is in David Tenney's 'kilo boat', and is the speed, in knots, of a one kilometer run at Devil's Lake, Lincoln City, Oregon, in fall of 2008. This was a new world record, and he pushed it up farther the following day. The electrical cabling is for another engine monitoring device, a Mychron 4.