NancyandBud
New member
there not one on each motor????

Sea Wolf":3b8ttq33 said:That's probably a pressure tube to connect to a speedometer (if you have one). There's an opening on the front of the lower unit's leg to let the pressure of passing water get into the far end of the tube. Blow into the tube's upper end (shown) to find out where the opening below is. To explain:
Some simple type speedometers for boats use what is called a Pitot Tube to measure speed. The Pitot Tube extends out into the passing fluid, and takes a measure of the pressure created by the fluid on the front of the tube. The faster the travel the greater the pressure, and a pressure gauge can then be calibrated into speed, e.g., mph. This is also used in airplanes.
Paddle wheels can also be used to measure speed in a fluid (air or water), but speeds beyond a certain point make the use of a paddle wheel inaccurate.
Better yet, use a GPS to measure true speed, irrespective of current flow of the fluid, to get true speed over ground.
"there not one on each motor????" Probably not on counter rotating twins, as only one speedometer would be used/available.
Pitot Tube
Joe. :teeth :thup
Kushtaka":3pp6qocm said:(Some deletions)
Does anyone know what gear it takes to get the speedo up and running? I'm guessing more tubing and a speedo?
Kushtaka":3lb0dhyc said:I have the same tube and have always wanted to connect it but have not done so yet. While my GPS does give good SOG, I like to know my speed through water while trolling cos you catch more fish that way!
The currents around these parts get fairly rippin'. I've produced trolling while moving about 1.5kt into the current (I usually like to troll with the current, but on this day I was making passes through a canyon) but going backwards over ground.
It's just fairly awesome to have both.
Does anyone know what gear it takes to get the speedo up and running? I'm guessing more tubing and a speedo?
Unless you're a fisherman. Speed through the water is what's most important since that's what affects the action of the lure/flasher. Once one has caught their limit, then ground speed matters on the way home.Wigeon":9xnmmb2b said:What a luxury it is to constantly have ground speed from your GPS & if you know your waterspeed or airspeed, you can instantly know if you have a tail current, headwind etc. On the water or in the air, when practible, you can change course to get out of a tide rip or get back in the jetstream to pick up that 200 knots you had on the tail, but estimated ground speed is the number you'll need for calculating your estimated time enroute or estimated time of arrival & of course tide/current tables or winds aloft are carefully checked. And if we know our ETE & fuel burn rate, fuel estimates can be made. So yes, waterspeed/airspeed is important, but groundspeed checked often will be your best friend.
Larry
rogerbum":v24ilg7b said:If you want speed through the water, the best way to get that is to use a gauge you already own - the tachometer. At a fixed RPM, you'll get the same speed through the water regardless of current. You just need to "calibrate" the tach (e.g. learn what RPM correlates with what speed over water). You can do this a couple of ways. Go someplace or measure sometime where/when there is no current. Then SOG = speed through the water. OR - measure your speed over ground with the GPS, turn 180 degrees (at fixed RPM) and do it again. In one direction, you'll get speed over ground + the current. In the other direction, you'll be speed over ground - the current. Average the two (sum/2) and you get speed over ground without the current = speed through the water. Make a little chart of a few measurements and keep it by the helm (or safely tucked away in your brain).