Garmin gWind wired kit for sale

[Nick Orchard]

Quick info: I have a brand new/part used Garmin gWind wind instrument kit for sale, asking price £300 + postage. The kit does not include a readout/display, it needs to be connected to any NMEA 2000 compatible display or plotter.

Longer version for those who are interested:
I originally had a Garmin gWind Wireless wind system installed on my boat in 2016, as I liked the idea of not having an additional cable down the mast plus associated connectors at the foot to make mast raising/lowering easier. The system worked fine for about 6 months but it then started dropping out occasionally, apparently going off for a fag and a cup of tea for 10 minutes before making a reappearance. This was annoying but I could live with it, and Garmin were unable to offer any reason or fix for the behaviour.  The drop-outs have gradually got worse this year (in spite of replacing the mast-head battery) until it gave up the ghost completely on the way to this year's Raid. Garmin, although generally fairly helpful, are unable to offer any form of repair to the system and strongly recommend using a wired system for better reliability, which doesn't say much for their confidence in their wireless product.  Since I bought my system they have brought out the Mk 2 version which may be more reliable, but it is only compatible with a Garmin instrument and all my instruments are B&G. The best they could do was to offer to replace my wireless masthead unit with a new wired unit, plus all the cable needed to plug it into my existing GND10 interface box. I have decided to abandon the Garmin unit and have bought the new B&G wireless system instead, which appears to be rather more reliable than the Garmin. I therefore now have a Garmin wired system surplus to requirements. The system comprises:

Brand new, only taken out of the box for photos:
Garmin gWind masthead wind speed and direction transducer unit.
Mast cable 40 metres, with female connector one end (plugs into transducer unit) and bare wires the other end (4 connector pins included).
Nexus male and female field-installable connectors. (These could be used to provide a quick disconnect at the foot of the mast)

Previously used on my boat, but in as new condition:
GND10 interface box. This has 2 Nexus male sockets, one of which is used for the input from the masthead unit, one NMEA 2000 connector to allow output to any NMEA 2000 instrument or display, one mini USB socket to enable connection of a laptop in order to run the Nexus Race software (optional).
Nexus cable 2m with Nexus female connector on one end, 4 wires with pins the other. This could be used to join the end of the mast foot cable to the GND10.
NMEA 2000 drop cable 2m.
NMEA 2000 T-connector.
Masthead mounting bracket with self-tapping screws.
Masthead bracket spacer with long screws. (I think Swallow may have made this in order to raise the bracket up above the radio aerial and masthead light bracket.)

The only things not included for complete installation are a couple of cable glands that would be needed where the cable goes in and out of the mast, and also if the cable is run through the deck to get to the GND10.

Please be aware that although the masthead transducer unit is brand new, as it is a service exchange unit there is no warranty on it.

I can arrange postage for about £10-£20 depending on speed of delivery, or it could be collected from near Newton Abbot, Devon.

If you'd like any more info about the unit or installation then please feel free to contact me direct at nick.b.orchard@gmail.com or tel 01803 873614.