Self steering

  • Thread starter Thread starter G12
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Wunja said:
The quote I had was for 1700 GBP (ouch!), but this is dependant on what mounting brackets etc are required. Best if you go to the prices page of the website, and request a quote, specifying the boat type.
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One of the benfits of the Sea Feather is that chances are you wont need any extra brackets as it is pretty much taylored to your boat.

The Windpilot is also worth considering, but certainly on mine it would have incurred extra costs for a bracket to take it out aft of the rudder. The Windpilot alone stacks up well for price, and is of a similar weight to the Sea Feather.
 
G12 said:
Ouch? Thats excellent compared to Hydrovane!

I asked Paul for a quote earlier and will get one from Hydrovane too and see how they stack up. I think HV is about 3.5-4k by the time all the brackets are added on and also VATman gets a fatter slice these days.
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Have a look at the Windpilot site and check out the prices. You will be paying German VAT with a Windpilot which I don't believe has gone up. I think you will find that the Windpilot Pacific Light can be found in many of the boats that have completed either the Jester Challenge of the Jester Azores Challenge. When I bought mine at the end of 2005 the price was comparable with the Sea Feather after delivery ex Hamburg. However there has been significant moves in the Euro/Stg relationship which may now change that. Mine has done over 20,000 nM and only on the last trip to the US did I have something go wrong when the handle on the Clutch which fixes the vane in position broke on the way over. I was able to use a pair of multigrips on the clutch to close the jaws. I do intend replacing the bolt [which has the handle attached] which operates the clutch.

Peter Forthmann has writen an interesting book on windvane steering comparing all the different types. Fortunately it has been very well translated into English and be found as a free download here: http://windpilot.de/index.html
 
Glayva said:
Have a look at the Windpilot site and check out the prices. You will be paying German VAT with a Windpilot which I don't believe has gone up. I think you will find that the Windpilot Pacific Light can be found in many of the boats that have completed either the Jester Challenge of the Jester Azores Challenge. When I bought mine at the end of 2005 the price was comparable with the Sea Feather after delivery ex Hamburg. However there has been significant moves in the Euro/Stg relationship which may now change that. Mine has done over 20,000 nM and only on the last trip to the US did I have something go wrong when the handle on the Clutch which fixes the vane in position broke on the way over. I was able to use a pair of multigrips on the clutch to close the jaws. I do intend replacing the bolt [which has the handle attached] which operates the clutch.

Peter Forthmann has writen an interesting book on windvane steering comparing all the different types. Fortunately it has been very well translated into English and be found as a free download here: http://windpilot.de/index.html
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My quote arrived from Sea Feather today - A Sea Feather Mk4 is £1725. Not bad.... Paul enclosed a couple of pictures of one fitted to a contessa 32 - Nice to see it can handle something bigger than my boat and won't be working on it's limit. Does seem a tidy bit of kit. I have asked Paul a couple of other questions regarding materials and fitting also.

I'll have a read of the link you posted shortly, sounds like it could be of much use.

Geoff.

EDIT: Great link! Many thanks for that! :-) Also had a look on Youtube..... some videos of different systems there too.
 
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If second hand vanes are being considered why not look at the Navik, not made now admittedly but the units have a good reputation and can be bought quite cheap (few hundred pounds) on e-bay etc
 
Well yesterday I decided to go with the Sea Feather. I will have to sell my motorcycle to pay for it though. I will really miss it but sailing is statistically much safer so I'm consoling myself with that.
 
Hi guys,

I've bit the bullet and bought a s/h Hydrovane, heavy piece of equipment, not cheap, but will give peace of mind. All I've got to do now is work out how to instal it !

Bon voyages,

David
 
Wunja said:
I finally decided on the Wind Pilot and ordered it today.
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I'm sure you will be very happy with your decision. For its weight it is extraordinarily robust.

The easiest thing you will find about the Windpilot is fitting it. The hard bit is learning how to use it effectively. The first trick is working out which way the vane has to face the wind to steer the boat. Everyone I have spoken to has tried it back to front first. A new one will be quite stiff, don't be afraid to spray a lot of WD40 in all the joints. Buy a jar of Lanolin [anhydrous] and use it on all the stainless steel bots before you put them near the aluminium.
 
Wunja said:
I finally decided on the Wind Pilot and ordered it today.
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So having ordered, an exchange of e-mails lead to an interesting delivery option.
Yesterday I met the man himself in the car park of a marina in Almere. In exchange for an envelope, a shiny new wind vane steering gear was put in the back of my car!
I have to say Peter is a genuine enthusiast and very knowledgeable for his product. He is also very interested in the concept of pocket cruisers and the Jester. I think his comment "No German would venture off-shore in a boat that small." had an element of admiration, rather than reflecting on our sanity.
 
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Karouise said:
So Vince I guess you will fit the vane this weekend and then are ready to sail over for the ECF Fitting Up Supper!!

I may well be in Flushing on 28th March for the night, then on up to Antwerp. Not in Karouise though!
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I will be fitting it this weekend (weather pending), but I've been banned from the Fitting up supper :mad:.... My son's birthday :D.
 
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