Wind Vanes - Do they work as well as we would like?

I have had my Monitor 12 years and not had that problem.

The lines to the tiller are Dyneema, with a short length of chain connecting them to the tiller bracket. I attached the lines to the chain using the knot recommended (and illustrated) in the Monitor handbook and all has been well.

If the your lines have slackened it can only be caused by the knots slipping, the lines stretching or defective mechanical components.

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Note Poignard’s use of the light weather vane. There are those who recommend its use in most conditions.

My Monitor is in bits and due to be installed on the Red Monster in the Spring. It’s just had an expensive overhaul and has gained Scanmar’s own autopilot, possibly the first in the UK.
 
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What are the tiller lines made of? Well worth spending the money on dyneema rather than knicker elastic.
 
I bought a Sea Feather last year. Excellent piece of kit, brilliant service and so easy to use. Not done a massive amount with it, but so far I am very happy. I suspect downwind in the lightest winds, may be a challenge, but then again my 24 foot, heavy old wooden boat doesn't really move in anything less than 10kn apparent, so in those conditions the vane is the least of my problems.
 
Scotty_Tradewind said:
During that time I had to cope , on one trip, with seriously rough conditions and very confused seas for several days.

The Monitor (tiller operated) seemed to cope well most of the time but I did find the lines from the Monitor to tiller, tended to slacken and needed re-tensioning more often than usual in these conditions.

Any others experienced this?
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Yes, problem solved with dyneema lines.
I do not think normal poliester rope can cope with repeated tensions to significant percentages of breaking strain, I had prestretched Marlow rope but after one night of heavy work it had become very loose. (fwiw 6mm on a Windpilot).
After changing to dyneema, no more problems.
 
Poignard said:
I have only ever used the heavy weather vane in conditions I try to avoid, when I worried the light weather one might snap off.
Wassat?
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You remember the old dodge whereby you hooked up an Autohelm 2000 to the vane to steer a compass course in light airs? Well Scanmar now make their own, which fits like it was made to, because, of course, it was. They also offer an emergency rudder fitting which I might save up for...

Meanwhile I look forward to seeing how the Monitor copes with the Red Monster. Scanmar did have an installation tracing for the Nic 55, which is a good sign.
 
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GHA said:
Found it!!


Plain Bearing Aluminium Sheaves | Allen | Proboat

Was AL-1086 Ball bearing / sheave Acetal Resin which doesn't seem to be on their web site any more, and ISTR having to drill out something, but worked.
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Are you local to Burnham? I might be able to turn something up for you, if you have the parts to fit to & can drop them in to St Lawrence bay
 
Daydream believer said:
Are you local to Burnham? I might be able to turn something up for you, if you have the parts to fit to & can drop them in to St Lawrence bay
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Looong since departed Burnham :), the link is to where I got the bearings, fitted a good few years ago - but thanks for the offer ?

Also swapped over to dyneema but found it just a bit too stiff so will spice in a little polyester to give a bit of give. Turnbuckle each side of the tiller which allow you to quickly have a bi more slack in light airs which seems to help.
 
Kukri said:
You remember the old dodge whereby you hooked up an Autohelm 2000 to the vane to steer a compass course in light airs? Well Scanmar now make their own, which fits like it was made to, because, of course, it was. They also offer an emergency rudder fitting which I might save up for...

Meanwhile I look forward to seeing how the Monitor copes with the Red Monster. Scanmar did have an installation tracing for the Nic 55, which is a good sign.
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I was wondering if it was this: Sayes Rig HP | scanmar
I fitted one to a 60fter and they said it worked pretty well on a trial out to the Azores. They also had an antiquated a/p that still chugged on. Boat was a one off designed by the guy who planned Port Grimauld. Had a big Gardner in the centre of the boat. GRP hull, deck etc. wood.
 
Poignard said:
I have had my Monitor 12 years and not had that problem.

The lines to the tiller are Dyneema, with a short length of chain connecting them to the tiller bracket. I attached the lines to the chain using the knot recommended (and illustrated) in the Monitor handbook and all has been well.

If the your lines have slackened it can only be caused by the knots slipping, the lines stretching or defective mechanical components.

View attachment 83414
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Quite busy back there and an interesting mainsheet horse..
 
DownWest said:
I was wondering if it was this: Sayes Rig HP | scanmar
I fitted one to a 60fter and they said it worked pretty well on a trial out to the Azores. They also had an antiquated a/p that still chugged on. Boat was a one off designed by the guy who planned Port Grimauld. Had a big Gardner in the centre of the boat. GRP hull, deck etc. wood.
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Nope; it’s the thing shown as ‘windvane control’ if you open the link and click the header. I don’t know why it doesn’t go straight to the right page:

Windvane Selfsteering

Since that is a snap of their SBS stand and they were (with my entire blessing) using the one they were going to supply to me as the stand demonstration unit you are looking at mine!
 
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Kukri said:
Note Poignard’s use of the light weather vane. There are those who recommend its use in most conditions.

My Monitor is in bits and due to be installed on the Red Monster in the Spring. It’s just had an expensive overhaul and has gained Scanmar’s own autopilot, possibly the first in the UK.
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pelagic system rebadged. Which is funny because they rebadge the actuators and sell them at *10 markup. I have one right in front of me so if anyone is thinking of just using the actuator then the part number is HB-Dj809-12-250-453-58 and you're better off ordering direct from china :) LINK:)
 
Buck Turgidson said:
pelagic system rebadged. Which is funny because they rebadge the actuators and sell them at *10 markup. I have one right in front of me so if anyone is thinking of just using the actuator then the part number is HB-Dj809-12-250-453-58 and you're better off ordering direct from china :) LINK:)
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Thanks!

I don’t need one because I only bought the wind vane attachment rather than the whole Pelagic autopilot - if you can work similar magic with the Raymarine hydraulic linear actuators I shall become very interested indeed!
 
Kukri said:
Thanks!

I don’t need one because I only bought the wind vane attachment rather than the whole Pelagic autopilot - if you can work similar magic with the Raymarine hydraulic linear actuators I shall become very interested indeed!
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My winter project is to drive it with my ST1000+ PCB. Then come up with a decent housing. It's basically what pelagic did I think. Don't think you need a hydraulic actuator on the wind vane!!
 
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