The Schaefer Great Hawk is a 15 inch masthead wind indicator for cruising and racing yachts from 8 to 20 meters.
A masthead vane is still the most reliable wind reference on a sailing boat. Electronic instruments average and lag, and a vane shows the wind now, which is what a helm actually steers to. Fifteen inches is sized so it reads clearly from the deck of a boat up to 20 meters, where a smaller vane becomes guesswork at that height.
The vane arm is tough nylon and the reference arms are aluminum, chosen so the assembly survives a masthead environment without adding weight aloft. Weight at the top of a mast affects a boat’s motion far more than the same weight on deck, and masthead fittings are made light for that reason. Explore more outdoor optics and navigation.
- 15 inch vane for yachts 8 to 20 meters
- Shows the wind now, where electronics lag
- Sized to read clearly from deck level
- Light aloft, where weight matters most
