Definitive list of windvane options?

[Buck Turgidson]

Small point about trim tabs. The rudder does not need to be balanced. The tab does. It is the hydrodynamic balance of the tab which dictates how much force is required to alter it's angle of attack. The size of the tab and it's hinge moment dictates how much force it exerts on the rudder.
If you're super smart you will also mass balance the tab to reduce flutter.

Well that's how we do it on aircraft anyhoo!

p.s. just to add to the confusion they are correctly called servo tabs or Flettner tabs.

 

[Roberto]

I think you need to add "the majority of long distance British cruisers'.

The choice of windvane is very country specific. I think the majority of Germans buy WindPilot and Americans overwhelmingly favour Monitor and the other Scanmar products (which incidentally have been in continuous production as long as any). If you head to the Pacific where British boats are in a minority, it's very rare to see an Aries (the preserve of very long term cruisers who equipped years ago) and I have even more rarely seen a Hydrovane.

The most skewed 'reviews' are the British sailing magazines that do their 'blue water' reviews at the end of the ARC. They always say things like 70% of those (with wind vanes) chose Hydrovane and 100% of those (who want to justify their choice) said they were happy with it. This then becomes the 'self evident truth' that 70% of world cruisers think Hydrovanes are the best windvanes.

quote 100%, at least if related to the atlantic

I am not sure why this "most widely used wind steering system" discussion is so important, all widespread wind steering systems show 99% enthusiastics followers, whatever the brand. A bit like anchors, maybe? if I am happy with mine, yours must be second choice

Hydrovane are relatively more frequent on British boats, Windpilots on German and French boats; some Monitors, other brands less represented. I ve never been to the Pacific but I suppose a different balance with the excellent Monitors. Go to English speaking areas and you find relatively more Hydrovanes, in other areas one finds Windpilots; despite the "oh yeah we're free souls travelling the world" fuss most people congregate where other similar people are, language being a particularly strong magnet, which makes for funny statistics.

 

[Brent Swain]

http://www.docdr.co.uk/Images/2018/Drawing23BS.gif

http://docdr.co.uk/Images/2018/Drawing24.gif

http://docdr.co.uk/Images/2018/Drawing23.gif

http://docdr.co.uk/Images/2018/Drawing22.gif

Here are the drawings for the upper unit on mine. Check the "Is a windvane neccesary," thread for more info.

 

[Daydream believer]

Is there an Icon for " p..sing ones self laughing" ?

 

[jamie N]

Is there an Icon for " p..sing ones self laughing" ?

?

 

[Brent Swain]

Is there an Icon for " p..sing ones self laughing" ?

I could use one, for the times I think of my critics in heavy traffic ,going to work ,to pay for their fragile yottie gear, with their "I'd rather be sailing " bumper stickers on, so they can cruise 3 weeks a year, while I have been cruising 11 monhs a year for decades.
This vane design has been in use on many of my boats since 1982 , and has done several circumnavigations, with ZERO failures. Costs under $75 for materials. Less than a days work to build.