Repair Aries self steering - or sell as is?

[dutyhog]

I've an Aries wind vane self steering in the garage. Some years ago I stripped down its moving parts. I bought most of the new bearings etc, meaning to renovate it. It had been knocked (with a previous owner) and one of the castings is broken. Does anyone know if/how I can get done an aluminium weld and/or some reinforcement of the join?

Alternatively would it be worth putting it up for sale as it is, on this forum, or eBay? I already have a good Aries on the boat: I was keeping this as spare, but they're so tough it seems unlikely that I'll need it, or any of its parts.

Gordon

 

[fishermantwo]

I've an Aries wind vane self steering in the garage. Some years ago I stripped down its moving parts. I bought most of the new bearings etc, meaning to renovate it. It had been knocked (with a previous owner) and one of the castings is broken. Does anyone know if/how I can get done an aluminium weld and/or some reinforcement of the join?

Alternatively would it be worth putting it up for sale as it is, on this forum, or eBay? I already have a good Aries on the boat: I was keeping this as spare, but they're so tough it seems unlikely that I'll need it, or any of its parts.

Gordon

Easy weld or you could just use a good epoxy repair using something like Devcon. Clean up the surfaces to glue with brake cleaner, watch your eyes and glue as soon as it dries.

It would be an easy sell I would have thought. Shame your so far off.

 

[dutyhog]

As I've mentioned before, I've a spare Aries wind-vane self-steering system. It's now on eBay (Uk only) from 2011 Sunday 3rd April for 7 days. If interested, search for
Aries wind-vane yacht self-steering system

or go straight to the auction at URL

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300542783722&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:GB:1123

The gear in this auction had been knocked with a previous owner, and one of the castings is broken - part no 1 the toothed vane carriage aluminium alloy casting (repair by epoxy, welding or bolt on strap).

It needs rebuilding - instructions, diagrams, parts lists and most spare parts will be provided, and they are also available from http://www.ariesvane.com.

I dismantled most of its seized and moving parts, including the most difficult shaft. Then I bought new bearings etc, meaning to renovate it, and use it instead of the older Aries on our boat. But it seems unlikely that I'll need it, or any of its parts. So I've decided to try selling it as it is - for someone else to rebuild and get good use from it.

The gear on offer does not include a few minor items, but they can be bought, found or made readily:
• blocks for taking the steering lines to the tiller
• attachment for steering lines to tiller, eg a short length of chain, and simple hook/clamp on tiller
• a 6mm plywood windvane - size and shape is not important, but a template is provided for the standard size
• new nylon bushes, blocks, spacers etc are included, apart from a few of lesser importance which you may want to replace
• maybe not every small screw, washer, nut & bolt, but certainly most of them.

Also:
• part 63 - the stainless steel servo rudder spindle has a very slight bend that isn't important.
• part 30 - vane pivot shaft - is a bit bent (it's just an easily obtained stainless steel rod)
• part 25 - the vane holder casting - needs opening a bit wider to slot in a 6mm plywood vane

I noticed that someone else sold an Aries on eBay today.

 

[ProDave]

Why is the postage so high? £40.46 will put a lot of buyers off.

It can't possibly weigh over 30Kg, so send it with Parcel Force 48. Book that using senditnow.co.uk and it will cost you £10.50 to send it, and they will collect it from you.

With a lower postage cost, you will be more likely to sell it for a decent amount.

 

[dutyhog]

weight and parcel cost

Thanks, Dave. I'd taken the weight from the Danish web site - the modern ones weigh 35kg. But I weighed my old one and it is about 24kg. So I can at least halve the cost of delivery.

senditnow.co.uk have a size limit which may be exceeded when packed as neatly as I can (height + girth).

Unfortunately eBay wont let me change the description or postage cost.

Gordon

 

[penfold]

You can add stuff onto the description after the auction has started, and I'm fairly sure you can add extra postage options too, but not 100%. You could always take the nuclear option and cancel the listing and list it again, you are allowed to do that if you've made an error.

 

[dutyhog]

Thanks for the advice. When packed the whole thing (which included spare items) weighed 37kg, and was too big for a single parcel. Senditnow.co.uk asked our regular postman to collect it from home and are sending it on by Express 48, all for £30.90, so that's what I invoiced the buyer.