Hobie Tandem Island Wind Indicator

thingiverse

This design is somewhat unconventional, yet fulfills a genuine requirement for me and potentially others. It's a wind indicator specifically tailored for small Hobie sailboats, utilizing a carbon fiber arrow shaft to deploy a streamer at a considerable height above the mast. The arrow shaft is secured using an 8/32 threaded fastener embedded in the printed part, allowing for effortless removal when storing the sail in its bag. This design was created on Solid Edge to address the need for a reliable wind indicator on Hobie Island series sailboats, which currently lack a satisfactory solution. The stock wind indicator on these boats is poorly designed and can be difficult to see under certain sailing conditions. Given that the Island series employs a roller furled main, you cannot position the stock wind indicator in a way that ensures it remains visible at all times. This design overcomes this limitation by positioning the wind indicator high above the rotating mast, making it easily visible in various sail and wind conditions. I've successfully employed this sailing technique with excellent results, but unfortunately, I didn't capture any photos of the process. However, I plan to add images to this project come springtime when the water is less frozen, allowing for a more suitable photography opportunity.