anyone with a Monitor Wind Vane?

[oldvarnish]

I'm new to the Monitor (had a Hydrovane for years but changed boats).
When connecting the steering lines to the wheel, the manual shows a recommended knot. I don't care for it much, and it's not easy to make neatly in Spectra. Also I find it difficult to get enough slack out of the system.

How's everybody else doing it?

 

[Poignard]

I just use the recommended knot. Not very neat but it does the job, and I find it does allow adequate tensioning of the lines.

I suppose you could use a bottle screw or a Clamcleat instead. Or maybe just form an eye in each end of the line and use tensioning lanyards as you would for guardrail wires.

 

[michael_w]

I've gone the other way, from a Monitor to a Hydrovane.

The "Monitor special" aka a bowline with a long tail works well. Just use the tail as a purchase round the tiller chain as per the manual. Don't get it too tight! I found it useful to mark the line to ensure the lines were even.

One way of tying the bowline neatly is to use a "German bowline" Same as a regular one but the rabbit goes clockwise round the tree!

IMO the Monitor is vastly superior to the Hydrovane.

 

[dulcibella]

My solution is to use a doubled anchor bend for the "fixed" side and a doubled round turn and two half-hitches for the adjustment end. Both sem to hold well even in dyneema line.

 

[Blueboatman]

I also have a Monitor/wheel set up.

Still early days and playing with it but so far I use plastic snap shackles to connect the wheel lines to the Monitor output 'special bowline' somewhere over the aft deck.

I am considering adding a bungee, jam cleat and single block with one of the output lines fed through the block, thus with the bungee tensioned at right angles to the output line, the amount of slack 'may' be readily adjustable without fiddling with bowlines etc...

I too have come from Hydrovane to Monitor and hmmm, we'll see!

I was expecting friction to be more of a problem in light airs than it actual is, the unit is actually very good in light airs downwind, I just don't like having to connect/undo the steering lines each time I decide to use it and they are 2 more lines running across from the coaming. And it still needs me to fit a downhaul line to set the rudder more easily at sea. Poking ones fingers down through the frame seems rather impracticable, nay dangerous.

 

[Poignard]

And it still needs me to fit a downhaul line to set the rudder more easily at sea. Poking ones fingers down through the frame seems rather impracticable, nay dangerous.

I also find it difficult to get the Monitor rudder (paddle?) to lock in at any speed above a couple of knots, and usually end up poking at it with a boat hook. I have thought about fitting a couple of blocks to the transom and running a line through them from the rudder to somewhere on the transom but it's well down the 'things-to-do' list.

 

[oldvarnish]

I also have a Monitor/wheel set up.



I too have come from Hydrovane to Monitor and hmmm, we'll see!

I

I was very fond of my Hydrovane - did over 10,000 miles with it and never a problem, so changing to a Monitor is like settling into a new marriage. But years ago I had a Hasler, which is pretty much the same.

The one thing I do like is the ability to quickly get the paddle out of the water when not needed.
The old Hydrovane paddle didn't half make a bit of engine-driven marina work interesting at times.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I have a tiller/Monitor.
I really like it and find it very easy to set up and use.
I have a line to the small lever which 'breaks' the paddle in the water and another line low on the paddles stem which allows me to either set it locked in the down position, or retrieve it back up into the 'parked' position to then tie the same line off onto the pushpit.
I also put a bungy hook through the small hole in the paddle and attach the other end to a part of the Monitor frame to assist in holding the paddle up.
The Monitor benefits from having the boat balanced in the first place and not having the lines to my tiller too tight.
I use the larger wind vane in light airs of about 3 or less, and especially downwind.
I found it useful recently when I had to motor a long way with the wind on the nose.
I simply sat on the foredeck for a couple of hours and watched the World go by.
S.

 

[dulcibella]

I've had a Monitor for 15 years (on two boats. Re the air vanes - on Hans' advice I tried using the light air vane in all conditions below F6 - good advice as it sharpens performance, particularly downwind.