Speed Puck alternative for "live" speed reading?

[Luc Benac]

Hello,
My new board comes with a FCS mount on the nose. I am most definitely not planning to buy a GoPro as there is really nothing to film about.
On the other hand I would love to have an immediate feedback of the current speed as a learning tool.
I am looking for something really simple not a multi-use gadget.
The Velocitek SpeedPuck would fit the bill with possibly two exceptions:
1) There is no attachment to fit on a FCS mount
2) The price is rather hefty for a simple device
I do have a Garmin GPS that I use for hiking but it would only give me very approximate speed after the fact and forget about reading the small letters on the screen while paddling..

Is anybody aware of a simple alternative to the Speed Puck?

Cheers,

Luc

[Easy Rider]

Simple and cheap alternative - no - but a fantastic item is the SpeedCoach. 

[PonoBill]

If you have a smartphone you already own your solution. there are lots of apps for reading speed. You can get a waterproof case with a tripod mount and dig up an adapter. Or just put it in a shoulder pocket of your camelbak and use an app like Motionx to tell you how fast you're going.

[Ichabod Spoonbill]

MotionX is pretty good. It sucks battery life like crazy, but the readings are helpful. I like the talking feature every five minutes.

[Luc Benac]

No Smart phone and no plan to get one. Just have an cell phone for emergencies.

Cheers,

Luc

[Luc Benac]

Simple and cheap alternative - no - but a fantastic item is the SpeedCoach.

Doing more than I need and for more money.
I am somewhat of a fashion contrarian and like single use devices instead :-)

Cheers,

Luc

[hbsteve]

A slightly less multi use tool--how about trying an iPod and download the needed apps.?

[Luc Benac]

A slightly less multi use tool--how about trying an iPod and download the needed apps.?

An iPod has a GPS?
Do you happen to know which model is doing that?
Cheers,

Luc

[hbsteve]

Ops!!!  I just remembered that some iPods can use apps.  But, I sure didn't think it through.  Sorry about that.

[Luc Benac]

Ops!!!  I just remembered that some iPods can use apps.  But, I sure didn't think it through.  Sorry about that.

No worries and thank you just the same. At least I knew what an Ipod is :-)

Cheers,

Luc

[PonoBill]

iPod touch comes closest, and you can get a plug-in GPS for it, but it's pretty silly. Time to bite the bullet and get a smartphone. I know that 14 year old girls make them look ridiculous, but they are probably one of the most useful bits of tech ever devised.

[yugi]

Yes, and for the use case in question it's going to get even better. The smartphone in the pocket (good to have a phone with you in any case) and one of the new paired wearable devices (smartwatch) on your wrist where you can glance at the speed will be the best combo.

There already are a few out but some nice new ones will be coming out soon. Not a smart time to be investing in a GPS watch. Let the smartphone do that and just have the display on your wrist.

[Glowmaster]

Get a locosys GT31.   1 HZ readout of speed, and easily downloaded tracks.  It is what the windsurf gps people use in international competition.


ed

http://www.midwestspeedquest.com/page31/page31.html

I use it with high strength velcro to the deck with no bag.   Not waterproof enough for a 30 mph crash, but enough for a powerboat wake over the deck.

[TN_SUP]

I posted this to the speedpuck thread awhile ago - it is easy to modify the bracket to fit the FCS plug, takes 5 minutes, just need to glue plastic pieces to the bottom and drill two small holes that align with the allen bolts. I cut pieces from a sheet of plexiglass I had. It is great to get immediate feedback when vary your stroke and trim. I still attach a camera floating lanyard because I heard stories of some pucks sinking even though they are supposed to float.

[Luc Benac]

Get a locosys GT31.   1 HZ readout of speed, and easily downloaded tracks.  It is what the windsurf gps people use in international competition.
I use it with high strength velcro to the deck with no bag.

Hello Ed,
That looks more affordable...
A few quick questions:
1) How big is the display?
2) Can it simply show the current speed with no fuzz and no changes in what is showing on the display? I had a quick look at the web site but this was not clear.
3) Is there a big difference between the GT31 1 Hz with Doppler and the Speed Puck 2Hz with Doppler

I have to say that I like almost everything of the Speed Puck except the price...

Cheers,

Luc