Almost the same phrase as a famous song by Bob
Dylan but wind speed is the culprit. To be fair just
about any atmospheric measurement you care to check. I am talking
about the line of meters that go by the brand name Kestrel.
If you sail, paddle or even use your outboard motor at some
point you may want to get the temperature, wind speed or maybe
even the wind-chill factor. Nielsen-Kellerman makes these wonderful
meters that are easy to carry and actually float if accidentally
dropped overboard as sometimes things do. I had a friend who
would throw a few shackles into the water each new sailing season,
as he would say, “to appease the lost gear gods of the
water”. I myself still go by the tried and true method
of muttering obscenities under my breath. Have no fear with
these meters because you can retrieve them as long as you’re
not on a cruise liner. These meters are meant for our type of
sporting in boats.
This brings me to the Kestrel 2000 thermo wind
meter that I am reviewing. It is the size of my new cell phone
and of course much lighter. It measures wind speed in knots,
meters per second, feet per minute, kilometers per hour, miles
per hour and the Beaufort force. The impellor is replaceable
and starts turning on the slightest breath of air. It is a fascinating
device and can measure the exact conditions where you are. It
can also track maximum wind speeds or even average the wind
speed. It reads temperatures in either Celsius or Fahrenheit
and in any way you desire. It is built to be used and has a
handy cover that slides down the lanyard it is attached to.
When you are finished you can slide the cover back over the
unit and hang it around your neck or store it on your boat in
the manner you feel is the correct way for you.
I have used the meter from the summer into the
winter weather we are now having and it has snowed a lot out
here in Oregon already. I watch the wind whipping through the
trees and all I have to do is step outside and measure it t
within +/- of 3 percent of the reading. It can become addictive
to use and I don’t know how I got along without one.
That is just the second meter in a line of four.
The Kestrel 1000 measures the wind without temperatures. The
Kestrel 3000 is the only handheld meter that measures relative
humidity heat index with all of the features of the Kestrel
2000 and dewpoint temperature to boot. So you don’t wake
up in the morning soaked from sleeping in the bottom of an open
boat as I have too often.
The instrument I wish I had is the Kestrel 4000.
What a machine! It is a 21st Century weather station you can
fit inside a pocket! All you will be missing are the satellite
photos and you could be an on-scene weather man (or woman).
It can show you the information in charts or graphs and reads
eleven major weather environmental conditions. You have altitude
density, relative humidity, wet bulb temperature, altitude,
barometric pressure, dewpoint, wind speed, wind chill, temperature
(maximum, minimum or average), and even a heat stress index.
You can put in up to 250 multiple chart type readings of different
things and it will store them with the exact time they were
taken. It even stores them should the meter shut down. Guess
what, it even has a PC interface so you can upload the data
and print out charts and graphs.
It is the best small weather station for the cost
of any made and you can use it in a dingy or super yacht. These
meters are not just for the rich anymore. If you can build a
boat nowadays you can own a Kestrel. Ordering one of these jewels
is made very easy. You can call toll free 800-784-4221 or fax
your order to 610-447-1577 or email at kestrel@nkhome.com
Call for a brochure or go to www.nkhome.com
and see these meters for yourselves.
I have even seen custom shooting
programs that hook up to the Kestrel 4000 and use
it’s information to find the off-set so the super scope
can make the bullets hit their target the first time and every
time at 1,000 yards. The scope uses a PDA with the Kestrel 4000
hooked up to it. This Kestrel is used to register wind speeds
along with other weather information by some television stations.
They quote them in on-air reports from different remote locations.
For the job they do, these instruments are the most accurate
handheld devices ever made. I am positive that many other applications
for their use are available for boating and sailing.
I am buying the Kestrel 2000 that I tested. That
is the highest rating I can give any device. I really like the
accuracy they have. I hope you look at these instruments and
try one yourself. You can know exactly what the wind chill factor
is when sailing this spring. Most people call me crazy for boating
in early spring. This year I can make them really cringe when
I give them the wind speed and temperature. Use this
link to see all of the many features.
| Available
Functions |
Kestrel
1000
$89US |
Kestrel
2000
$119US |
Kestrel
3000
$179US |
Kestrel
4000
$329US |
| Wind Speed |
|
|
|
|
| Max
Wind Speed |
|
|
|
|
| Average
Wind Speed |
|
|
|
|
| Temperature |
|
|
|
|
| Wind Chill |
|
|
|
|
| Relative
Humidity |
|
|
|
|
| Heat Stress
Index |
|
|
|
|
| Dew Point |
|
|
|
|
| Wet Bulb |
|
|
|
|
| Altitude |
|
|
|
|
| Density Altitude |
|
|
|
|
| Barometric
Pressure |
|
|
|
|
From my frozen wet tool crib to yours,
