William Longyard wrote:
I really wonder if wind driven self-steering gear is better than electronic
gear.

A. Though electronic gear can fail, carrying a few spare units is less
expensive than the initial installation of a windvane system.

B. Though electronic gear consumes power, power generation is not a major
issue for many cruisers.

C. Electronic gear will probably fail at no greater rate than the
wind/mechanical system, and would be infinitely easier to replace a as a
complete assembly than would be a windvane and its associated gearing.

D. Electronic gear takes us much less real estate and leaves an already
cluttered transom untouched.

My two cents. Glad to hear other opinions.
Bill Longyard

Comparing a wind powered self-steerer to an
electronic autopilot is kind of comparing apples
to oranges. Although both will allow you to leave
the helm (under certain circumstances) they
acomplish this quite differently.

For example, an electronic autopilot is useless if
the main rudder is jammed or broken off, while
most wind powered steering systems have their own
rudder. However, the autopilot will continue to
work in very light wind, or when motoring when the
windvane is useless.

IMHO a well-found long distance cruiser will have
both, and they will both be in bristol shape.

In the past a number of boats have broken their
rudders while surfing down large waves and
starting to broach due to the lack of storm
drogues to slow them down. Some were consequently
rolled due to lack of steering capability, and
lack of a storm parachute anchor to keep the bow
into the waves.

A self-steering gear on the transom gives you dual
redundency should you ground and jam your rudder
shaft, or if the rudder is broken off. OTOH, I
like the autopilot as well.

YMMV,

Don W.