GPS Speedo

[carlos515]

I have a complete gauge set that was to go in my Sunray restoration. The gauges are Faria Euro design. Totally different from the 5-inch Newport gauges in the boat now.
Now is there a big difference between performance from the GPS and pitot tube speedos ? I will have to change all my gauges, so deciding if it is worth the effort as, if it ain't broke don't mess with it, keeps popping in my thoughts on this one.
I have installed a new dual battery system, audio system, speakers, and a xintex gas fume detector system. Waiting for a Hook 2 -9 TS FF. This would be my last mod that I think I need.....lol

 

[Mc Tool]

Pitot tube speedos are marginally better than a drunken wild stab in the dark as far as accuracy and consistency is concerned, whereas gps will give you an exact and reliable speed reading .

 

[jlh3rd]

I installed a GPS speedometer in my pontoon. Great accuracy, no more clogged line to clear.

 

[jlh3rd]

Meant to add...
Also when fine tuning my trim at speed, it can show speed difference 1 mph +/-....if someone wanted to be that precise.

 

[carlos515]

Meant to add...
Also when fine tuning my trim at speed, it can show speed difference 1 mph +/-....if someone wanted to be that precise.

That would be precise for sure.

 

[jlh3rd]

lol...yep, just depends on a person's....analality.

 

[Mc Tool]

Meant to add...
Also when fine tuning my trim at speed, it can show speed difference 1 mph +/-....if someone wanted to be that precise.

Yeah I do that too .....Id forgotten that

 

[boscoe99]

Depends upon what speed is desired.

Speed through the water (think boat and motor performance) or speed between two points in space.

Pitot tube or paddle wheel for the former and GPS for the latter.

When taking off and landing aircraft need speed through the air. Not speed over the ground. Thus they use pitot tube speed only is used when landing and taking off.

 

[ratdude747]

I GPS'd my gauges when I redid them as part of a larger overhaul (pitot tube setup was destroyed and useless). But while I mostly used Faria gauges like you chose (literally the same models), I went with a "generic" cheapie LCD unit for the Speedometer as that also grants me heading (never use it, though), trip/total odometers (handy for quantifying fuel mileage), and digital voltage (use it all the time). Does have some glare issues at times, but otherwise, it's great. Although a bit sobering since the speed is "accurate" to the point of there being no room for fluff or other "error in one's favor".

I hid the GPS antenna under my helm's doghouse... well hidden, but can pick up signals through said doghouse's plastic no problem. Should be able to read through fiberglass I'd think... just nothing metal.

I've attached a few pics from my thread on the boat for reference. Other than putting all the gauges on the ACC stud of the ignition switch (originally and as shown, only the GPS speedometer was) and adding an extra wire to tap the bilge pump breaker (upgraded to an automatic bilge pump), the wiring shown is still in use three seasons later.

 

[BWR1953]

I have a Faria Platinum GPS Speedo. Works great. I tested it by connecting a small 12v battery to it, put on my truck dash and drove it down the road. Accurate! And it has a built in antenna, so none of that mounting it somewhere else stuff.

 

[carlos515]

Thank you all for the advice.....The Newport GPS speedo is discontinued for my boat. I looked at the connections of my gauges and they are all proprietary. As in plug in, not studded. So I am on the hunt for a 5 inch GPS that will blend in. The Kronus looks to be close.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Most gauges no longer have studs

 

[carlos515]

Most gauges no longer have studs

Ok, good to know.

 

[redneck joe]

Pitot tube speedos are marginally better than a drunken wild stab in the dark as far as accuracy and consistency is concerned, whereas gps will give you an exact and reliable speed reading .

late to the party however this is your best answer.

No offence but if you are 'in tune' with your motor speed is not generally a concern. I really do not care how fast i am going i want my RPMs right, sound in my ears cool, and just humping down the water. If I sense something off, I get my phone out to check gps speed.

 

[Mc Tool]

Well being as how my boat is maxed out at 41km/hr Im not all that interested in speed.
You gotta watch that "seat of the pants " thing tho .....Speedo cable on my Paso broke just as I was crossing Haast bridge while riding from Wanaka to Nelson (no cops on the west coast ) so I settled in at a comfortable speed and noted 6500rpm in top gear ......which turned out to be 170km/hr . My Dad rang Di (some time after I had departed )and told her that by his calculations I would be home in an hour ,I had been there for ½ hour .
, and it was raining datsun cogs the whole way .( Its always raining on the west coast )

 

[dingbat]

I really do not care how fast I'm going. I want my RPMs right, sound in my ears cool, and just humping down the water.

Agree...my boat didn't even come with a speedometer.

My boat has three speeds.... 1,000 rpm ("no wake"), 4,400 rpm cruise (~31 MPH) and 850-950 rpm (trolling speed)

Having said that, I have both GPS (x2) and paddle wheel speed inputs.

 

[redneck joe]

Agree...my boat didn't even come with a speedometer.

My boat has three speeds.... 1,000 rpm ("no wake"), 4,400 rpm cruise (~31 MPH) and 850-950 rpm (trolling speed)

Having said that, I have both GPS (x2) and paddle wheel speed inputs.

i cruise at 4-4200.


A paddle wheel sounds interesting, did not know of such.

 

[airshot]

While a speedometer is not something I look at often, it us a tool to let me know how things are performing and helps with my trim setting. However, I would not be without one !