Steersman?

[nimbusgb]

Anyoune else seen this? looks like a good alternative to a vane on the transom.

http://www.steersman.net/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGEwxEOQYIc&feature=player_embedded

No connection whatsoever just seen the link on another site.

 

[MoodySabre]

Big article about it in November's Sailing Today

 

[multihullsailor6]

What does this Steersman cost?

 

[Billjratt]

You need two, they look expensive (plus new self-tailers), don't like the idea of faffing about on the low sidedeck with the bungee in a bouncy blow, looks like they'd be sore to get flung against.


I'm out.

 

[Hoolie]

... ... ...
I'm out.

Me too.
Really can't see having bars running across the cockpit to the bottom of the wheel, not mention re-mounting the winches.

However, on reflection it's possibly based on a sound idea - it's just the implementation that's flawed. I'll think about it. Perhaps an integration with the Autohelm autopilot?

 

[prv]

Very big and clunky when not in use - ok a vane gear is big too, but at least it's out of the way over the stern. This is right where (on most boats) you do most of your work.

May not fit on some boats with moulded coamings, without extensive rework.

Question how well it works - ok, sheet-to-tiller is a recognised principle, but it's always seemed a bit of a lashup compared to a proper servo-pendulum vane.

What problem is it supposed to solve?

Pete

 

[nimbusgb]

I've been in contact with the develloper and he reckons 'competitively priced against a vindvane'. After all there is a limited amount of engineering in the device - a rotating, lockable winch base and that's about it really.

My comment to him was that his biggest challenge was going to be the reluctance of yachtsmen to adopt new technology.

 

[Signed Out]

Looks fairly ugly to me, but I suppose in comparison to a vane that is again down to acquired acceptance of the vanes.

More important to many of us in smaller craft, particularly those with tiller, is that it's rod system is barely more invasive than a rod actuated tiller pilot- Autohelm/tillerpilot. Only that secondary yoke thing on the winch base.

What I think gives it some potential is the lack of gear over the stern.

One point of that being no need to dangle over the back end to fix or adjust something (do you need to faff about on the lee side of the cockpit any more than you would over the stern? I know where I'd rather faff!).

The second to my mind, is the removal of a bulky mass over the stern, which on a small boat with a low freeboard is important. Yes, there is Mr Vane's Black'n Yellow, such as Nathan's prize, but how sturdy is it compared to this?

I notice though, this is only for boats between 27 and 38 feet presently.

If they can make it neater, and a model for smaller craft, there is potential. Otherwise smaller vane gear still has it. Or good old sail balance/bungees.

 

[wizard]

What does this Steersman cost?

It is around £2500 !!!

I used the same principle on my Caprice 20 years ago with the jib sheet led to the tiller and an adjustable shock cord from tiller to the opposite side of the boat.

A lot better looking than the Steersman and very cheap -but the samer principle

 

[nimbusgb]

It is around £2500 !!!

Holy cow! Think I'll stick with my raymarine setup!

 

[DownWest]

Not that new either. I saw it on a site a couple of years ago. For that money (2 or 1? ) a wind vane does much more.

 

[sailor211]

The real test is downwind in a 6-8 with kite up , will it do that?
Up wind in a 3 - 5 I rarerly need to do more than set the sails and lock the wheel to make a cuppa.

 

[srm]

It is around £2500 !!!

A couple of blocks, none stretch line and some surgical rubber tubing is all you need for your own sheet to tiller set up. No need to move winches or clutter the cockpit. Probably will give you a more flexible set up as well. Google "sheet to tiller steering" for a few different set ups.

If you can set a staysail inside your kite you may be able to self steer on a run. Basiclly you will be using the sail as a large windvane and driving force for the tiller, balanced against the rubber tube.

Having sailed quite a few thousand miles with windvanes doing all the hard work I will stick to them. Well worth the investment in comfort and ease of watch keeping, even in coastal waters.

 

[panthablue]

Just to clarify a few points raised here. The price of The Steersman around £2,500. This includes the two winch platforms (port and starboard) plus the spring and all the fittings.

It uses the existing jib sheet winches (no need to buy new ones). And if you don't have self tailers, then you can either fit a "wincher" on to the winch or possibly fit a cleat on to the unit itself (we've never tried this).

The Steersman works from close hauled right down to about 160 degrees off the wind. Also, the stronger the wind the better it works.

The reason I developed this was because I felt that a windvane system was vulnerable to damage because it is mounted outside the confines of the hull. Also, to operate or maintain you have to leave the safety of the cockpit, not something you would wish to do in a big sea.

Someone also pointed out to me that a windvane upsets the balance of the boat (more true of smaller boats, but a good point).

If anyone would like to take a serious look at The Steersman, we are planning on having some demonstration sails at the end of October.
Please contact me through our website

All the best

Rob Chicken

 

[Kelpie]

In the ST article it is described as a 'tug of war between the bungee and the sheet'.
So what happens if the wind strength changes?

 

[panthablue]

You adjust the spring at the same time as you adjust the sails

 

[prv]

Just to clarify a few points raised here.

Cheers - always nice to hear from those involved when this kind of thread crops up

Also, the stronger the wind the better it works.

That's true of all self-steering as far as I know. The more input force you have to play with the easier it is to make a system work. It's when the wind is very light that things have to be finely balanced in order to react to it.

The reason I developed this was because I felt that a windvane system was vulnerable to damage because it is mounted outside the confines of the hull.

Can't argue with that.

Also, to operate or maintain you have to leave the safety of the cockpit, not something you would wish to do in a big sea.

Many (most?) vanes can be operated via control lines - Roger Taylor controls his from the cabin! You're right about the maintenance of course - not to mention the risk of dropping parts into the sea (I wonder if anyone rigs a scrap of light garden netting between the legs of their vane to catch dropped bits?)

Have to say that the phrase "leaving the safety of the cockpit" does tend to jump out at me when I see it. I'm not suggesting that dangling over the stern to fix something is preferable to doing it on the cockpit coaming, of course, but I find the cliche mildly annoying. My boat is all my domain, it doesn't have chunks of no-man's-land that I don't go to.

Pete

 

[fireball]

Hi Rob - thanks for posting ...
just had a look at your site ... just a couple of comments - in red ...

Benefits of using The Steersman

Reacts Instantly to any deviation from course - No - it responds to changes in Wind pressure

Easy to install – fits on to the existing jib sheet winch holes or can be bolted down using four bolts.

Easy to use. Like riding a bicycle, after a bit of practice, the right settings become automatic.

Works in all wind conditions except light airs. - In that case it isn't in all Wind Conditions!

Works in all sailing directions relative to the wind. - Except Dead Down wind

Can be used when motor sailing (on a reach, or close hauled).

No vulnerable framework is attached to the stern of the vessel

The stern is left clear for boarding ladders, aerials, dinghy davits, wind generator, radar etc

Eco friendly - no batteries needed

Blends in easily with the cockpit design

Ruggedly built; should last a lifetime

You should (IMHO!) address these claims as I, having established that there a few exaggerations, would question the rest too ...

And a question - as it responds to changes in pressure from the genoa sheet - I assume as the wind increases it luffs up and in lulls it will bear away ... ?

 

[panthablue]

OK fair points. Over doing with the sale speak.


In light winds, we've had it working down to about 5-6 knots of wind. I guess a lighter boat may do better, and a boat with a heavier helm would do worse.

The point is. Do you like it?

Rob

 

[prv]

The point is. Do you like it?

If I were in the market for mechanical self-steering, I'd get a wind vane. This seems to be an alternative rather than an improvement, so I'll stick with the proven device.

Pete