dulcibella
Well-Known Member
Both the Hydrovane and the leading servo pendulum vanes are good kit. The Hydrovane has clear advantages on a centre-cockpit boat. My impression and those of others with whom I have discussed this is that the servo pendulum types are considerably more responsive off the wind - an important factor since most ocean sailing tends to be on a broad reach or a run. Can't really agree with the criticism of servo pendulums as complicated - the mechanism is quite simple and massively engineered in the load-carrying parts - all I have had to change in twelve years with a Monitor is the tiller lines (once) plus an occasional pre-emptive change of the safety tube (the intentional weak link) above the pendulum oar. The supposedly complicated link to the tiller is simply a chain which slots into a simple tiller fitting. Whichever type of vane you prefer, the real issue is good trimming of the sails to neutral helm.
