Any other aux rudder windvanes other than Hydrovane?

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steve1963

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I'm having a 'discussion' with somebody over here in Spain who seems to insist that there 'must be other systems' (non servo-pendulum; he doesn't want lines in the cockpit) as an alternative to the Hydrovane. Anyone know of any other tried and tested, (commercial, non trim tab, non servo) systems other than the hydrovane?
 
Depends on a lot of factors, including boat and intended usage.

Arguably the days of wind vane steering are past. Their main benefit is not needing electric power - and one big disadvantage is not working well when motoring, which is why many boats with wind vanes also have electronic autopilots.

But nowadays the alternative solutions are increasingly
(A). Massively better autopilots - which can handle waves and difficult situations much better even than most human helmsmen, and way ahead of wind vanes (partly as a result of things like Open 60 round the world racing); and
(B) Massive improvements in power generation - particularly the hydro generators like Watt&Sea.

So to avoid ropes etc, a Watt&Sea and spare autopilot ram would be top of my list.

Interestingly, on the ARC I did, there seemed to be proportionately much more tech problems with the wind vane users than with the ram based autopilots, which are much more reliable these days.

Don’t expect vane enthusiasts to agree with any of the above, but looking at the power generation seems the way ahead.
 
Thanks for the reply; it's not quite what I am after though. I am really just looking to see if anyone is aware of an auxillary rudder system, other than the Hydrovane (not including the Pacific Plus). It is simply to settle an argument that I am having with someone (who seems incapable of doing his own research) who insists that there must be other, non servo pendulum, windvanes out there
 
I think there were a lot of different makes and systems in the past, but no idea what's current.
It isn't rocket science, but making windvane systems work optimally has seemed to involve a lot of experimentation.

The ARC would not be the ideal testing ground either, as these things are easier to get right upwind than down.

Dunedin's point about motoring is key, IMHO. Motoring in no wind is certainly when I most want an autopilot.
 
Scanmar do their Auto-Helm which is an auxiliary rudder windvane as well as their Saye's Rig which also doesn't have lines in the cockpit.
 
steve1963 said:
I'm having a 'discussion' with somebody over here in Spain who seems to insist that there 'must be other systems' (non servo-pendulum; he doesn't want lines in the cockpit) as an alternative to the Hydrovane. Anyone know of any other tried and tested, (commercial, non trim tab, non servo) systems other than the hydrovane?
Click to expand...
There is the Monitor wind vane, and also one version of the Windpilot, the Pacific Plus
 
The Hydrovane is the only non servo wind vane that is available . There may be some home made or deign only but te best IMHO is a servo with aux rudder.

I have a monitor and have designed an additional aux rudder as I have hydraulic steering and you really need a aux rudder for that to work correctly.
 
If the problem is "lines in the cockpit", this has the transmission mechanism inside the hull

Modèles intégrés – CapHorn – Régulateur d’allure intégré

Forgot about that one as well. This guy is looking for a system for a Westerly Fulmar. He told me that he is not interested in my Windpilot Pacific, because he wants an 'automatic' system (by which he means a stand-alone system such as Hydrovane.) I have told him that the Hydrovane is his only real option, if he is insistent on 'no lines in the cockpit' but he seems reluctant to believe me, saying 'but there must be more systems than this'. He keeps sending me pics o second hand SailoMats and others, saying, "What about this one then? this isn't a servo-pendulem" Not sure why I am doing his research for him.....
 
steve1963 said:
If the problem is "lines in the cockpit", this has the transmission mechanism inside the hull

Modèles intégrés – CapHorn – Régulateur d’allure intégré

Forgot about that one as well. This guy is looking for a system for a Westerly Fulmar. He told me that he is not interested in my Windpilot Pacific, because he wants an 'automatic' system (by which he means a stand-alone system such as Hydrovane.) I have told him that the Hydrovane is his only real option, if he is insistent on 'no lines in the cockpit' but he seems reluctant to believe me, saying 'but there must be more systems than this'. He keeps sending me pics o second hand SailoMats and others, saying, "What about this one then? this isn't a servo-pendulem" Not sure why I am doing his research for him.....
Click to expand...

But he's going to have to have lines to the cockpit to hold the tiller. They might as well be steering lines connected to a servo wind vane?
 
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