Vakaros

[trend.ab]

What was your order nr? Thanks!

 

[Vakaros]

Tried it out on a Wednesday night beer can race.  It was easy to set the line.  Not giving perpendicular compass heading or line headings yet.  I'm sure this is because you can't set a gps compass variation to magnetic so the info would be useless until that can be set.  No bow offset either. 

Yep, we track declination but had it disabled while testing. You'll get the option to turn it on in the next release as well as have the finished start screen. Same with bow offset. 

Easy and intuitive to set and sync the timer.  The compass is a bit sensitive and no way to dampen.  Same with the speed. 

Everyone seems to have a different taste for dampening, so we're going to offer two options: manual dampening per "channel" or an automagical adaptive dampening that we hope will be the easier option. 

The display is wonderful.  Very easy to see and love the contrasting display backgrounds. 

Thank you. We've certainly put a lot of effort into it and wanted to have the best display possible. It's always fun for us to see people's reaction to the display. 

Looking forward to being able to fiddle with the settings and data pages.  Hoping a software update will bring new features like wind direction capture and/or computation, line bias, shift tracking, VMG... 

All things slotted for the coming update. Lot to say about all of these features - we'll try to get some info out prior to the release. 

I think it would be cool to have a flashing background on the timer in the last 10 seconds.

That's a cool idea. How to convey all the information at a start is always a much debated topic @ Vakaros. We're looking forward to having some great options for you to choose from. 

We'll see what they come up with.  I see some FB posts about a phone app to do some of this and possibly control the device.  Hopefully not 6 month vaporware.  Our season is getting underway and my ProStart officially gave it up just when the Vakaros arrived...Perfect timing.  Regatta next weekend.

Pretty close to an initial release. It's a pain developing for both platforms. Expect the first version to be pretty limited and new features and abilities introduced incrementally. 

Thanks for all the kind words and feedback; it's tremendously helpful!

 

[Vakaros]

It would be nice if they opened up their API and let us common folks develop apps for their HW.

[Todd] I'm sympathetic to this as a software developer. I'd say the chances of an on-device API are low for a lot of reasons, but we will be providing an API over BLE. I'm curious what people would like to do and how many want to do it. 

 

[Vakaros]

Got mine!!

Got a text from Todd (Thursday) that they were finishing up my Vakaros and would ship out the next day.  It was on my doorstep Tuesday.  When I opened the shipping box and saw what was inside, I reflected back to my first IPhone I ever got.  The Vakaros was not shoved in a box and shipped out.  The carrying case for the Vakaros is nice and compact, holding the unit, charging cord, mast bracket, and mast track attachment.  When you pick up the unit, you can tell it is well built and solid.  I spend some time that evening getting acquainted to features.  The next day, I slap the Vakaros on the dash of my truck and head to work.  Top speed of 78 heading in that morning.  After work I head to Yacht Club to show it off.  Lots of oohhs and ahhs.  Saturday rolls around and we have a quick race around our lake and crawfish boil that afternoon.  We mount it under our existing race master and it has nice tight look on the mast.  We have been racing the Melges 24 for 10 years and have only ever had a compass and timer.  

• Visually - Clear and crisp.  
  
• Compass - Fast refresh rate compared to the TackTic Racemaster.  The Vakaros would change 2* and racemaster wouldn't move.  
  
• Speed - Seemed to be pretty accurate, but nothing to compare it with.  We did win the race.  So we were fast.
  
• Heel and Pitch Angle - I really like this feature.  I have always sailed the Melges 24 watching our heal angle and now I can actually see a number.  I think the pitch will come in handy downwind.  
  
• Start Ping - Worked really well and easy to use. Our start was a pursuit start so we tested it a few times and appeared to be accurate.  Its something we haven't used on this boat so will have to get used to using it.
  
• Timer - It's a timer, it worked.
  

Full blown test will be in a week and half at the Melges 24 Nationals.

Overall I love the feel of the unit.  It's solid and doesn't feel cheap.  Definitely made well and should last a long time.  I am not an tech geek, so the current functions meet the need we have for the Melges 24.  I would like the ability to have some post race analytics or tracking.  I will be interested to see what the app will be able to do.  I am pulling for these guys.  Taking a risk like this is not easy mentally and physically on anyone.  

Thanks Glaze! 

 

[gabespar]

Glaze, or anybody else that just received their order,

What was your order number?

 

[NYBOZO1]

I was #90.  Ordered about 10 months ago.

Received 2 weeks ago.

So far, so good.

Suggest you call them.

 

[Vakaros]

Hello, I paid for mine 9 months ago. No replies to my emails, no order number. No ETA. Super frustrated...

PM'ed. 

 

[GLAZE]

We sailed our first full regatta with the Vakaros this past week, Melges 24 Nationals.  Since I have had the boat, we have only sailed with a TacTick Racemaster using only the compass and timer.  As the class continues to get stronger, I decided to upgrade our instruments to include the starting feature and speed.  Prior to the regatta, we used the Vakaros once in a local distance race.  When we arrived to the regatta, we set up with both the TacTick and Vakaros.  After the practice day, we ditched the TacTack since we quickly became use to the Vakaros.  

The Vakaros is very simple to use.  Having never used a DTL function on the Melges24, we tested it repeatedly before the start and it was amazingly accurate.  Too bad it can drive the starts for me, as I couldn't start to save my life.  Speed was as great added feature for me.  Angle of heel really helped a lot for the one day we had breeze.  So far, I am happy with my decision to go with it.

 

[Jubblies]

Why is @Vakaros using the SA Forums as there own personal customer support channel? Makes me not want to buy one. How about you set up good customer support and communication technologies so that your startup issues (issues just about every startup has) don't escalate to the point that your customers have to go to a third party community forum for information about your product. Jus sayin...

 

[MR.CLEAN]

. How about you set up good customer support and communication technologies so that your startup issues (issues just about every startup has) don't escalate to the point that your customers have to go to a third party community forum for information about your product. Jus sayin...

The vast, vast majority of customer service systems run on a system built, provided, or run by a third party who might actually handle dozens or hundreds of corporate support channels.Just because you can't tell, doesn't mean it ain't real.  

 

[Jubblies]

The vast, vast majority of customer service systems run on a system built, provided, or run by a third party who might actually handle dozens or hundreds of corporate support channels.Just because you can't tell, doesn't mean it ain't real.  

True and point taken. I'm simply pointing out that a thread like this doesn't make the company look very good. Nothing will drive the consumer away like finding a thread on a forum with nothing but complaints of delayed delivery and unresponsive customer relations. I can only speak for the approach our team takes as a software startup, which is to have our entire team on call in shifts to handle customer support. We also have an arsenal of communication streams between the team and the consumer, all of which are third party services, but none of which are staffed by third party representatives. Communication in our culture, even if it is not the news the customer wants to hear, is the key to keeping everyone waiting in line for our product happy. Seeing communication and customer service issues escalate to the point of being posted about here is definitely concerning to the casual consumer sitting by watching. Now with that being said...

I am really interested in the Atlas. We currently use the Tacktick Racemaster, and I am bothered by it on the technology level for several reasons, but mainly it's proprietary network and the fact the it requires additional proprietary hardware to be able to communicate with other networks and devices. I also find it's display clunky compared to what modern devices are capable of. Hopefully new disruptive technologies like the Atlas will eventually solve some of these issues. In the meantime hopefully they get their supply chain and communications issues sorted out. When it's clear they have their supply chain, inventory, and communication improved, they can reach out to me. I'll buy two!

 

[Michael E]

https://www.facebook.com/velasailingsupply/

 

[Michael E]

https://www.velasail


Vela Sailing Supply - Order #23023



Order Status: Awaiting fulfillment
Order Date: Jan 18th 2019 @ 12:53 PM
Order Total: $1,099.00 USD



Billing Details

Michael Ellis
186 se 46 loop
keystone heights, Florida 32656
United States

 



Shipping Details

Michael Ellis
186 se 46 loop
keystone heights, Florida 32656
United States

 




Order #23023 Contained the Following Items:






ingsupply.com/account.php?action=view_order&order_id=23023

 

[drop]

Give these guys a break....

Why is everyone so quick to hate? If you put your money down it is YOUR decision, believe in it, or don't.. Yes it can go either way, but everyone putting down the cash in this kind of set-up should have the intelligence to know what he is doing. 

They started from scratch, are doing something great, probably gave up their day jobs, are making an item which is not easy in terms of production and suppliers. Don't hate from your armchair.

Got my unit arrival in Europe, two weeks ago, order number somewhere in the 150s...

Its a great approach, keep it simple, functions are all I need, screen is STUNNING, super super readable, quick processor etc. Also the bracket mount is engineered with great attention to detail. 

For me personally nothing else comparable on the market for ease of use, battery live, readability and KISS.

 

[Efsix1479]

Got a heads-up from Jake & Todd end of last week that my device was ready to be shipped and already this Monday before lunch it arrived to my place in The Netherlands! incredible fast shipment!!

As with other people's experience, when you open the package you get the thrill similar to getting your hands on your very first iphone.

Attention is paid to many facets of the user experience; -the overall packaging, -a sturdy yet compact and comfortable carrying case, - and the device...wow! its nimble and the numbers are adjusting instantly - a compact unit and you can read the numbers from miles away.

I'm going to try it today by placing it in the car today; will try it on the boat tonight and thankfully can try it on a competition this weekend.

Keep you posted!

Picture below provides a size comparison with an iphone 8 and a iphone 8Plus; Atlas has about a comparable screen width comparison as with the iphone8plus.

 

[Efsix1479]

Have been using the Vakaros Atlas on my boat (Efsix) this weekend for the first time. In brief, it's really an awesome tool and a great enhancement to sailing experience!

- Friday-evening sailing into the low-standing sun and sunglasses on, not an issue for the Atlas - always very clear display readings.

- Having used the Atlas over 3 days and easily more than 20 hours or so, plus a few hours of demoing to friends, without intermediate recharging battery is still showing well above 80% capacity.

- It's true you can see the display from pretty much everywhere on the boat; even when I'm in the trapeze and looking at the display at an angle of 80-89 degrees, you can still read the display clearly. It almost feels like that the more sunshine, the brighter the display is. And when cloudy, not an issue too.

- The overall size is just perfect; anything larger would be bothersome and the display numbers are clear enough to see from way further than my boat length is. It also fits easily in my pocket for convenient carrying when leaving the boat.

Thanks Vakaros team! keep up the good works and very keen to receive the next updates ;-).

 

[Flanman1866]

Hi All,

I have sent a bunch of emails to the Vakaros guys over 3-6 months, but no reply.... Two questions: 

1) How will the unit work regarding heading if it's mounted to a moving base, such as a boom (shown on their website), or on a tacking bracket on a moth. Can the heading be set to run off GPS instead of compass for that situation? 

2) Their website says there is a one month approximate lead time, but from what others have shown it seems it will be much longer....is there anyway to estimate how long it will actually be?   

 

[flyingdog]

Mine just shipped...

 

[Efsix1479]

Hi All,

I have sent a bunch of emails to the Vakaros guys over 3-6 months, but no reply.... Two questions: 

1) How will the unit work regarding heading if it's mounted to a moving base, such as a boom (shown on their website), or on a tacking bracket on a moth. Can the heading be set to run off GPS instead of compass for that situation? 

2) Their website says there is a one month approximate lead time, but from what others have shown it seems it will be much longer....is there anyway to estimate how long it will actually be?   

Not that I am an expert but I'll try to respond;

- One can select to show Heading (magnetic) or Course over Ground (thus GPS-based).

- Leadtime, whatever it will be, its worth the wait ;-). this tool is a redefinition of instrumentation, a game changer and nothing compares.

 

[dickie greenleaf]

Got mine in the mail on Monday.  Order number 234.

Threw it on the Melges tonight for the first time, and man... I'm impressed.  Easy to read in the sunlight, I love the ping feature for the line - incredibly easy to use and accurate -  timer is easy to use, and it's just a great little package, period.  Fast data updates.... just great!

Totally worth the wait.  Apart from what it does now, I'm looking forward to an app at some point, and the additional features that they are considering.

In short, I love it... period.  Works as advertised.

Well done Vakaros!  Total win.

DG