"Thomas Wentworth" wrote:

I have seen these on many boats over the years. I have never operated one
though.

What is the cost of a self steering windvane system? Where does one go to
purchase one?

Depends on which one you want. If we were to get one, we'd like not
to have lines all over the cockpit, and since we have a center cockpit
boat that limits us a good bit. Also we don't have a tiller, we have
a wheel.

How much work is it to install? Will it work for coastal cruising?

It isn't like an autopilot that steers a course heading. And it
'wanders' a little bit too much for places where the shores and stuff
near the surface of the water is close to you.

It's real good for out in the middle of the ocean because it takes no
electrical energy (unlike the autopilot) and has fewer parts to break.