Windvane steering.

[Tradewinds]

Not wishing to get into a pissing contest but I put a few miles on my Hydrovane and within a remarkably short time it rattled like a good un.Only bothered me at anchor so I used to put the pin in that kept the tiller stub central and tie off the rudder safety line hard onto the aft quarter.Later on I fitted a 316" shoe" on the top of the rudder as the sloppy fit was getting worse.The nylon blade to rudder stock connection is not a great piece of engineering.I'd still buy one but secondhand.Re; astern work I'm crap at maneuvering boats under power so at least it's something to blame if it all goes pear shaped.

I think Hydrovanes were designed to be a slightly loose fit.

I do the same with my rudder - drives me nuts at night otherwise with its constant thump thump as it wiggles about.

Be interested in more details about your "shoe" - got a pic?

 

[rubbishman]

I think Hydrovanes were designed to be a slightly loose fit.

I do the same with my rudder - drives me nuts at night otherwise with its constant thump thump as it wiggles about.

Be interested in more details about your "shoe" - got a pic?

I'll try to upload a pic on here.

 

[rubbishman]

I think Hydrovanes were designed to be a slightly loose fit.

I do the same with my rudder - drives me nuts at night otherwise with its constant thump thump as it wiggles about.

Be interested in more details about your "shoe" - got a pic?

"Shoe" pics on my profile,why on profile? god knows!

 

[Tradewinds]

"Shoe" pics on my profile,why on profile? god knows!

Thanks for that - interesting solution.

 

[jeanpaulcopie]

I've had windvane steering for quite à number of years now ; a "plastimo navik" on a 26f ; a Monitor on a round the world singlehanded 3 years trip (tiller steering) , a windpilot pacific on an "ovni 36 alubat", and now a Hydrovane on an "old" Amel KIRK. Had I really known before I would have gone for "Hydrovane" all the time! Except for the first one because of the weight of the Hydrovane. No attached lines, emergency ruuder if necessary, easy to handle with a small electric autopilot ( SimradTP32). Never tried the "Windpilot Pacific Plus". The only drawback with the Hydrovane is you can't lift up the rudder and if you remove it very difficult to put back except with a dingy!

 

[jeanpaulcopie]

>Can anyone with a hydrovane comment about the claimed constant rattling caused by prop wash when motoring & the steering rudder left in the idle state

We sailed/motored over 10,000nms with a Hydrovane and never heard the vane rudder rattle. We spent six and a half years in the Caribbean and the majority of windvanes were Hydrovanes. We also saw two Aries windvanes frozen solid by dissimilar metals.

 

[jeanpaulcopie]

Hydrvane do rattle ! But to my mind not a real nuisance. They just seem a bit loose! But their book of words say that they should rattle!