Little Dorrit
Well-Known Member
Has anyone got any experience of the Trim tab self build vane steering systems? Are they any good?
Trim Tab Wind Vane Steering
- Thread starter Little Dorrit
- Start date
Topcat47
Well-Known Member
I had one fitted to my boat when I bought it, a Haslar. Sadly one part was well worn and I've been unable to source a replacement yet.
jamie N
Well-Known Member
Yup. I've fitted one that I made to my boat.
Is it any good though?
Well, I've not used any of the 'other' types, and didn't consider purchasing one due to the cost, and the need really; I'm not going to do a 'trans-at', and only do 1-3 day stuff, so it's not a necessity more than a 'nice to have', as well as being a good project to attack!
It was relatively simple to make, extremely cheap to fabricate without welding, but did involve a diversity of skills.
These are the basic advantages of them, but they do require the boat to be very well balanced, and aren't single degree accurate; +/- 15° is pretty good.
I've searched for piccies of mine, but haven't any, however there's enough on line for them.
The only tricky bit for me was the piece between the tab and the vane, which took a bit of thought, but was solved by buying a kids BMX bike, and 'repurposing' its steering head, which gave a very good fixed point, with good bearings, and the way of disconnecting the vane from the tab.
The cost is about £80 so far, and fitted easily onto my Folkboat rudder, and I'd happily make a new one were I to swap boats.
Is it any good though?
Well, I've not used any of the 'other' types, and didn't consider purchasing one due to the cost, and the need really; I'm not going to do a 'trans-at', and only do 1-3 day stuff, so it's not a necessity more than a 'nice to have', as well as being a good project to attack!
It was relatively simple to make, extremely cheap to fabricate without welding, but did involve a diversity of skills.
These are the basic advantages of them, but they do require the boat to be very well balanced, and aren't single degree accurate; +/- 15° is pretty good.
I've searched for piccies of mine, but haven't any, however there's enough on line for them.
The only tricky bit for me was the piece between the tab and the vane, which took a bit of thought, but was solved by buying a kids BMX bike, and 'repurposing' its steering head, which gave a very good fixed point, with good bearings, and the way of disconnecting the vane from the tab.
The cost is about £80 so far, and fitted easily onto my Folkboat rudder, and I'd happily make a new one were I to swap boats.
DownWest
Well-Known Member
Have a read here: Fay Marine vane steering plans
I built a couple of the vane bits from that site and they work. The friend with a heavy 34ft ketch unfortunatly trashed the vane when the mizzen sheet hooked it.. But he used the trim tab with an auto helm and that worked OK with low consumption of lecky. He was on a solar panel, no engine.
Mention above of Haslar is misleading, they are servo paddle, not trim tab systems.
The excellent Narvik system is a combo of servo vane and trim tab, but not made any more. (The trim tab is on the servo vane, so only needs a small wind vane)
I built a couple of the vane bits from that site and they work. The friend with a heavy 34ft ketch unfortunatly trashed the vane when the mizzen sheet hooked it.. But he used the trim tab with an auto helm and that worked OK with low consumption of lecky. He was on a solar panel, no engine.
Mention above of Haslar is misleading, they are servo paddle, not trim tab systems.
The excellent Narvik system is a combo of servo vane and trim tab, but not made any more. (The trim tab is on the servo vane, so only needs a small wind vane)
Buck Turgidson
Well-Known Member
I've removed a Hydra Auto Steer - Trim Tab System from my boat. You can have it if you collect from my boat. It's in Valencia.
Theoretically a great system but unfortunately the shaft to the tab (which is more accurately described as a servo tab as it actuates the rudder rather than trims) has two universal joints which induce far too much slop and I've never got round to replacing them. Servo tab control is quite common on regional jets and commuter aircraft for elevator control and a well built one should work well on a yacht. The Hydra top section (wind vane input) works perfectly just the drive shaft to the tab is the problem.
Theoretically a great system but unfortunately the shaft to the tab (which is more accurately described as a servo tab as it actuates the rudder rather than trims) has two universal joints which induce far too much slop and I've never got round to replacing them. Servo tab control is quite common on regional jets and commuter aircraft for elevator control and a well built one should work well on a yacht. The Hydra top section (wind vane input) works perfectly just the drive shaft to the tab is the problem.
jamie N
Well-Known Member
Thanks DW, that web page was the one that I first read, and is perfect.
DownWest
Well-Known Member
Not so much the general vane bits but the linkage % info. Very useful. I used delrin for the bearings on the vane and it performed well before the 'sheet' disaster..
Have to say, the boat was well balanced, as he had sailed it single handed from Falmouth to Portimao on his own with no aides at all. Non stop..