Airmar takes the paddlewheel out of speed sensing
Airmar is targeting one of the more routine maintenance jobs on boats with a new multisensor that measures speed through water using ultrasonic technology rather than a paddlewheel. The TriSonic Smart Multisensor has no moving parts, and its speed data can be calibrated from a smartphone using Airmar’s CAST app.
“We’ve eliminated moving parts and the burden of paddlewheel maintenance caused by marine growth,” says Craig Cushman, director of marketing.
Ultrasonic speed measurement
The TriSonic is designed for recreational vessels and connects to NMEA 2000 networks. Alongside speed through water, it provides depth, water temperature, and heel and trim data.
The processing electronics are inside the sensor body, removing the need for an external junction box. For existing boats, the unit can be retrofitted into standard Airmar two-inch thru-hull housings used by traditional paddlewheel and earlier ultrasonic sensors.
Paddlewheel speed sensors remain widely used, but they have a straightforward maintenance problem: the moving wheel sits in the water and can be affected by marine growth. That can lead to inaccurate readings or stop the wheel turning altogether, requiring the sensor to be cleaned.
Dual sensors for multihulls
Airmar is also offering a TriSonic 2 system for catamarans and other multihulls.
The system uses two TriSonic sensors that communicate with each other to determine which sensor is sitting lowest in the water and switches between them automatically, with the lower sensor typically sitting in less aerated water and therefore providing the preferred source for speed and depth readings.
Airmar’s changing approach to speed sensing
Airmar has been developing both sides of the technology – with and without the paddlewheel. The TriSonic does not appear to mark Airmar abandoning paddlewheels. Instead, it shows the company continuing to pursue two approaches to speed sensing: improving the performance of a mechanical paddlewheel while developing ultrasonic sensing as an alternative.
Leave a Reply