GPS Speed Versus Speed Sensor

[RedDB76]

I just picked up an Eagle FishElite 640c, and I see in the manual that you can add a speed sensor. It looks like I will get a speed based on the GPS anyway.

Is there a big difference in the GPS speed and the speed from the speed sensor. I would expect the GPS speed to be pretty accurate, maybe even more so than the speed sensor. Anyone have any input?

Thanks!!!!!!!

[Valv]

You are absolutely right.

The little paddle wheel is good for speed above 2mph, GPS is much more accurate even and very low speed ( I can mark .2mph with my Garmin).

I would not install it, more work and clutter inside and outside boat.

[marine_man]

Quote:

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The little paddle wheel is good for speed above 2mph

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I always thought the paddle wheels were great for speed below 2 or 3 mph.. not above...

Have I been way off all this time?

marine_man

[Can'tFishEnuf]

I agree with Valv, the GPS speed is very accurate. No need to add more things that can break-down and add clutter.

[musky hunter]

I believe you can fool the gps at low speeds in certain situations, like doing tight "S" curves at slow speeds. The GPS averages signals and continually updates based on direction of travel, and there is some small signal error. That being said, my gps is accurate enough for my trolling and I feel no need to buy the paddle wheel.

[PerchJerker]

Don't use the standard paddle wheel, use the GPS, it is going to be right on or very close. I've seen larger, very accurate paddle wheels that are designed for trolling, that are very accurate up to 5 or 6 mph. But I don't think you want to leave them in the water when running faster than that. GPS is the way to go.

On one of my previous boats I had a gps and paddle wheel, and could calibrate the paddle wheel. If I calibrated it so the paddle wheel was accurate at trolling speeds, it said I was doing 75 mph at WOT. If I calibrated it so it was accurate at WOT (50 mph), at trolling speeds it would say I was doing about .5 to .8 mph when I was actually going anywhere from 1.8 to 3.5. I screwed around with the frickin' thing for about a month, after that I turned off the speed display from the paddle wheel and never looked back.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Not to mention the paddle wheels are very innaccurate in moving water.