Home build pendulum

[PabloPicasso]

Anyone know of, or has built, a DIY pendulum / wind vein self steering system?

 

[pmagowan]

I have heard of, but have no experience of this one: http://www.windvaneselfsteering.co.uk
It is called the Hebridean and there have been threads about it in the past. A search should get it for you, especially through google rather then the site search engine.

 

[knightvision]

http://www.windvaneselfsteering.co.uk/wind-vane-design-details.htm has a build from parts solution.. The cost isn't bad either

 

[Iodine]

Here's another design:

http://windvaneselfsteering.com/waltmurray/model_20-20B%20June%2005.htm

 

[fishermantwo]

Here's another design:

http://windvaneselfsteering.com/waltmurray/model_20-20B%20June%2005.htm

This is a Walt Murray design and fairly easy but time consuming to build. This is mine from a few years ago built from SS and plastic tubing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U66-R0i2c20
This is my current one that is very similar to a Monitor, built in SS mostly. Uses bevel gears which is a more effective method of converting drive than the Walt Murray Z drive. The design of the current one is basically taken straight from an article in PBO a few years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isw529SdN8s

Lots of good info on Youtube

 

[{151760}]

There's a book by Bill Belcher called Self-Steering for Yachts or something similar that has good info including plans. It's out of print, but comes up on e-bay.
An in- depth Google search will find a few web sites devoted to the subject.

 

[TQA]

I used the Belcher book to design and build a servo pendulum one from steel which I then galvanized.

It worked fine when I got it dialed in but the process took lots of time and fiddling with sails to get a balance it could manage. I did not have a remote adjustment on the vane so having a center cockpit ketch made it all a bit of a faff. It was just so much easier to click my old Neco on and rely on the Acquair to keep up with the battery drain.