Windvane steering Aries or Monitor

srm

srm

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I have just made an offer for a 35 ft long keel boat that has an Aries self steering gear. Boat launched in 1994 but English model of Aries so may be older.

My current boat has a secondhand Monitor self steering that had all new bearings a few hundred miles back.

I will be taking the Monitor off current boat before offering boat for sale.

My intention is to use the new boat for ocean passages. Which vane gear do I use on the new boat and which do I sell?? oh and why?
 
I think the monitor gets a better reputation than the aries but there isn't much in it.
Both are still made and parts for both are readily available
Look at the overall condition of them and look how much work would be involved in changing them.
The earlier aries you have to remove the paddle to get it out of the water the newer ones it will flip up
Rob
 
I've had both, one on each of my last 2 boats. We had excellent service from the Aries but, I'd keep the Monitor for 4 reasons:

1. Better light airs performance.

2. Fewer dissimilar metals (I had problems dismantling my Aries after 3 years in the Med').

3. The Monitor is lighter.

4. I find the Monitor easier to fine tune.
 
It would be helpful to date the Aries. An alloy windvane vs s-steel one -do you have a particular preference or favorable experience of one over the other ?

I would try it in earnest before condemning it or swapping around and all that effort.
 
What I would do is to remove the Monitor before selling the current boat. Sail the new boat with the Aries for a while, then decide which system to keep and which to sell.

ps I have a Monitor and I'm delighted with it.
 
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