Home Weather Station ...on a boat

Welcome aboard! In this episode, we are thrilled to share our latest addition to the SB Seeker – an ambient weather system. As avid sailors and adventure enthusiasts, staying informed about changing weather conditions is essential for any maritime journey.

The Challenge of Measuring Wind Direction on a Boat

Initially, we encountered a minor hurdle with the wind direction. As anyone familiar with boating knows, North can be a relative term depending on which way the wind is blowing from. This is particularly relevant for sailors and navigators aiming to maintain optimal courses while sailing. While the ambient weather system we selected may not perfectly accommodate this, it provides us essential real-time data that compensates for any limitations.

Introducing Key Features of the Ambient Weather System

The ambient weather system, connected to the ambientweather.com website and interfaced with Weather Underground, offers invaluable insights such as wind speed, rainfall amount, and temperature. This data is particularly crucial in stormy conditions where having this information accessible without needing to power up more extensive onboard systems is immensely beneficial.

Pete’s Expert Setup

Setting up the ambient weather system involved collaboration with Pete, an expert in this field and a frequent presence on fast sailboats. He ensured that we connected the device correctly to the ambientweather.com site as well as Weather Underground. The process involved making the unit compatible with the Boat and setting it up for real-time data transmission.

Boat Integration and Accessibility

The wind Shadow Watch is mounted in a strategic position, allowing it to generally face into the wind while also detecting changes when the wind blows from the side. This capability helps us anticipate changing weather conditions effectively. The system can now be left on without worrying about damaging expensive onboard equipment during storms.

Accessibility and Data Sharing

Having connected the ambient weather system to our boat’s internet, we now have remote access via mobile devices. While sailing, I can view wind speed data on my phone, making it much easier to track conditions when away from the vessel. Moreover, we are developing a custom web page featuring key information such as wind speed, rainfall, pressure, and humidity. This feature further enhances our ability to monitor onboard weather in real-time.

Monitoring System

The system updates the location’s forecast automatically, and I use Weather Underground for reliable forecasts. To maintain accuracy, we update our position when moving from one place to another.

Conclusion

The ambient weather system has been a game-changer for our boating experiences. Its integration offers us real-time information that can significantly impact decision-making, safety, and enjoyment while sailing. If you are considering a similar upgrade to enhance your on-water experience, consider this option. Remember that even small details make a considerable difference in understanding changing weather patterns at sea.

Until next time, fair winds and following seas! Stay tuned for more updates from the SB Seeker as we continue our journey through various projects and adventures on the water. Feel free to explore other content or reach out with any questions you might have about our marine expeditions.

Notable Mentions

To help further customize your onboard experience, check the video description for relevant links. Additionally, as our community grows, consider supporting us on Patreon to keep the content coming and be a part of our maritime journey.

Home Decor Find

In this episode, we stumbled upon a delightful discovery in the SB Seeker’s storage room – a unique range of handmade garden art and home decor. Created from school bus steel by Doug during the final stages of our vessel’s build process in 2021, these items have found their place on land as reminders of our journey. Keep an eye out for new listings on Etsy, where we offer one-of-a-kind turtle and crab sculptures made exclusively for our community.

As our exploration continues, remember that the SB Seeker team is here to inspire, inform, and entertain. Together, we’ll continue discovering the world both on land and sea – and share it all with you along the way!

Links

The ambient weather system is available through Amazon. To show our appreciation for your support, please consider clicking on the affiliate link in this video’s description when making your purchase.

We hope you’ve found this overview of adding an ambient weather system to a boat informative and engaging. Feel free to reach out with any questions or share your own experiences in incorporating similar upgrades for improved navigation and safety while sailing.