Gadget Junkie's Discovery by Don Hagan (Visitor Submitted) OK, I admit it…I am a gadget junkie. I purchase Palm Pilots, a new cell phone each year, laptops, stereos, digital cameras, watches…anything new and improved. When I bought my Siren 17 sailboat, I had a new and wonderful reason to purchase gadgets. Stereo system, trolling motor, electrical panel; the one item I really wanted was a knotmeter, so that I can tell how good (or lousy) a sailor I am becoming. A search of the available products left me confused and concerned. Most of the electronic knotmeters required "through-the hull" transducers. To me, this meant a hole in the hull, and a possible leak! What's a gadget guy to do? Well, salvation was found! I stumbled across a site for a product called "Knotstick". Not one to grow moss under my wallet, I purchased a Knotstick through their Internet site (www.knotstick.com), and it arrived two days later. What a wonderful innovation for we sailors who don't like punching holes in our boats! The Knotstick is a relatively simple device consisting of a plastic tube with a stainless spring inside. The plastic tube has knot readings applied for the three sizes of disks, and is clear and easily read undersail. Attached to the unit is a dacron-neoprene towline, with a "trolling unit", and a disk to create drag as your sailboat speeds along. There are three disks for measuring speed, a large disk for 0-3 knots (recommended for measuring current speed), a medium sized disk for 0-6 knots (the one I use), and a small disk for measuring 0-9 knots. The Knotstick comes with a small line for mounting on a cleat, or an eyehook. It is recommended that the unit be mounted on the port or starboard side of the boat, but not directly to stern. It provides a steady reading undersail. In a stiff wind, we never exceeded the calculated hull-speed of our Siren on the Knotstick. Knotstick can be used on boats ranging from 12 foot sailing dinghies to 60-foot racers. The manufacturer recommends that the trolling unit be replaced every two years. They sell these units directly on their website for $39.95 (US), plus shipping and handling. The replacement-trolling units are $12.95 each (US). The Knotstick comes with a money back 30-day guarantee, and the read head is guaranteed for one year. An inexpensive, accurate alternative for us novices who fear putting a hole in our hull. Back to the top... Back to the Feature Articles Index...