Aries or Hyrovane types

castaway

castaway

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I would welcome opinions on the merits of the 'Aries' type vane steering versus the 'Hyrovane' type. Fundamentally the Aries system (and its various imitators) work via the boats own steering gear, whist the Hyrovane works via its own 'stand alone rudder'

On my Halberdier the wheel is a long way from the steering gear, therefore I am predisposed to go for the Hyrovane as it would cut out lots of string and also give an emergency rudder. however, as the Halb can be a bit strong willed on occasions, I was wondering if the Hyrovane would provide as much control as the Aries system would by working through the boat's own dirty great big rudder?

I,m sure I don't need to point out that these systems are stupendously expensive!! and thus would also be interested to hear of any real life experiences with other systems such as
Fleming/ Beaufort/Pacific etc etc.


Thanks in advance..Nick
 
After a lot of thought, we fitted a Hydrovane to our slightly smaller Moody. Best yacht kit I ever bought. Done 2 Trans Atlantics with it and rate it highly. Easy to use. Strong winds, lighter winds, even a dead run (twin headsails) worked perfectly. Very happy customer!!!
 
Oh well, I might as well give a different view. We have a Monitor (a stainless version of an Aries) and have had no probs inc a few long passages up and downwind. The monitor is the only windvane system used in the BOC challenges. Have friends who have a Hydrovane which they rated for a transat then slated subsequently because of poor course holding characteristics.

Oh well, I said it was a different perspective.
 
The world would be a bit boring if we were all the same!! I didnt mention the other factor for us in that we have a centre cockpit. That made the decision really, rigging lines to the wheel would have been a bit of a pain.
 
Re: Aries or Hyrovane types - or a third way........

I too am going through this same debate. It seems to be one of those subjects like anchors which polarises opinion.

I have a Moody 425 with a centre cockpit and wheel steering (cable). Like you I am attracted by the Hydrovane selling points of ease of use, no lines running through the cockpit, and the backup rudder.

I also like the idea of an off centre fitting that allows me to use the sugar scoop stern bathing ladder etc.

However I am aware of a number of experienced hydrovane sailors who have adopted conventional servo pendulum systems when changing up to boats above 40ft on the grounds that they deliver more power.

So I remain firmly undecided and definitely put off by the huge sums being demanded by these companies for their products. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

...and just to add to the confusion I had a recommendation from an American 425 owner who strongly argued the merits of the Canadian Cape Horn wind vane system.

Cape Horn Homepage

This overcomes most of my objections to the conventional servo -pendulum designs because it doesn't take up much room, connects directly to the steering quadrant, can be mounted off centre, and can co-exist with a dinghy in davits

.... and it looks better and its cheaper than many of the alternatives

So having confused the issue by introducing a third possible option "the integrated servo pendulum" I shall now sit on the fence until I pluck up the courage or motivation to make a decision. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

If there are any forumites out there with experience I should like to join Castaway in asking to hear from them.
 
Re: Aries or Hyrovane types - or a third way........

I too am going through this decision - heard many people praise Hydrovane. Attracted by (in this order):

1) Emergency Rudder
2) No lines to the cockpit (we are a centre cockpit)
3) Off centre mounting

I think we will end up with hydrovane for the above reasons. So many ARC stories of rudder failure mean the emergency rudder argument is quite strong!

Jonny
 
Aries in a center cockpit.

We had a real struggle with ours downwind, or for that matter less than 30 degrees off, the windvane would rock and flop to one side and the rudder would come out of the water to one side!

The ropes and pulleys were a nightmare and had to be constantly adjusted and checked, at the right tension the pulley on the helm would be ok and she'd steer straight, any slack and she'd wander to the point of stalling the windblade.

We did put a tillerpilot on the top of the pendulum when dead downwind and that worked ok but it was all very tiresome after that long at sea.

On the beam or to windward - Perfect!!

Ian
 
Re: Flopper stoppers....

For what its worth I started early on with an Aeries that was already fitted to a boat I purchased but found it was difficult in light winds and a rather sluggish response. Later with another boat I got a new Windpilot with lines running to the wheel - did a few thousand miles with that - mainly fine.. Got another boat and decided on the Hydrovane for the 2nd rudder reason mainly... Brilliant - far far better than the other two.. Loved stronger winds but still was steering with only 3knots apparent over the stern.
[ QUOTE ]
However I am aware of a number of experienced hydrovane sailors who have adopted conventional servo pendulum systems when changing up to boats above 40ft on the grounds that they deliver more power.


[/ QUOTE ]
Friend of mine with a 60 footer have the larger Hydrovane - the big one and it works brilliantly for them.... You must purchase the correct sized gear for the boat - I find more power difficult to understand when you have those lines running from the stern to the wheel then pulling the wheel around on the drum...
 
Re: Flopper stoppers....

I guess, having started, I'd better continue. All windvanes work better with more wind. The difficult bit is low winds especially downwind.

Monitor now offer two blades for the windvane, one made of plywood which is great for apparent winds over 10 knots and another, the light airs one made of plastic laminate. We've used the latter down to 2-3 knots apparent and it works well.

Windvane self steering is also a bit of a black art partly dependent upon how well you set the sails for the course steered. We've been v. happy with the monitor and clearly other are happy with the Hydrovane. You pays your money and......
 
Monitor works for me ...

The comment about using the large plastic vane on the Monitor is good advice - I only go to the smaller plywood vane at F6. Maybe the difficulty or ease of use has much to do with the type of boat. My aft-cockpit long-keeler (Rustler 36) handles immaculately on the Monitor on any point of sailing provided that sails are trimmed for a neutral helm. This is extremely easy on the Rustler. Downwind sailing should be no problem provided most of the sail effort is in front of the mast.
I've not used a Hydrovane and have heard varied reports from owners. There are certainly strong arguments for a trimtab system in a centre-cockpit boat. I'm less impressed by the argument about mounting off-centre; the safest place to board a boat is usually amidships (least motion and no chance of getting clobbered by the back end). If I want to board at the stern I climb up the Monitor.
For me the "spare rudder" argument is not important; the Rustler's rudder is a massive Iroko item hung from the keel and transom with the tiller directly attached to it - anything that took the rudder off would probably take the back end of the boat (including windvane of any design) with it.
 
Hydrovane every time

Big advantages are no lines to cockpit, emergency rudder, ease oif fitting simple tillerpilot, excellent service from Hydrovane and equipment is comparativelt light.

Have used our for 6 years with no problems - other than boats running in to the gear and causing huge damage to our stern.
 
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