Self Steering Windvane, question/cost/set-up
 

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?

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

Self Steering Windvane, question/cost/set-up
 

You can find them from a couple of grand to 6 or 7 thou. You can buy them
direct from Cape Horn, Scanmar, Hydrovane and others. Installation for most
is not that hard as long as you have the space and nerve to bore a few holes
in your transom.

Probably not worth it for coastal cruising but invaluable for long haul
passages.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

"Thomas Wentworth" wrote in message
news:VJzOg.4$I.1@trndny05...
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?

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

Self Steering Windvane, question/cost/set-up
 

"Thomas Wentworth"

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

A boat or a windvane?


What is the cost of a self steering windvane system?

If you look at the cost of far, far, simpler devices that are common
enough for the development and marketing costs to be spread over many
more units, you should be able to guess that they won't be cheap. Low
end, minimal units will be very expensive and ones you would want to
rely on for a long voyage will be in the neighborhood of an engine by
the time you are done with the installation.

Where does one go to purchase one?

To a windvane seller.

How much work is it to install?

If you have ever done any work on a boat, you should be able to answer
this question after looking at one.

Will it work for coastal cruising?

No. The little electronic brain that interfaces the wind vane to the
steering mechanism accepts NEMA input from the GPS and prevents
operation in waters where lack of attention by the operator could
result in hitting shore, obstructions, or other vessesl. All windvane
systems sold are now required by international treaty to have this
device along with circuitry that disables the system inless the proper
position signal is detected and software charts containing the entire
world are loaded.

--

Roger Long

Self Steering Windvane, question/cost/set-up
 

"Thomas Wentworth" wrote in message
news:VJzOg.4$I.1@trndny05...
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?

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

I have the Monitor Windvane on VALIS (a Pacific Seacraft 44), and it cost
about $4,000 for the system, and took a couple of days to install. I had to
drill holes in the stern for the mounting bracket, assemble the various
pieces of stainless tubing, etc, mount some turning blocks in the cockpit
for the control lines, and attach a special hub to the steering wheel (you
can also use this system with a tiller). The Monitor is made by Scanmar:
http://www.selfsteer.com/ -- they manufacture and sell other windvane
systems besides the Monitor, and are good people.

There are various types of windvanes out there, and depending on your boat's
characteristics you may prefer one style over another. The Monitor is a
"servo-pendulum" type, and provides a lot of steering power and
sensitivity -- perfect for my heavy-displacement boat. The Scanmar website
has some good general information about windvanes, and a google search will
find lots more info on the subject.

A windvane will work for coastal cruising, but I don't know if it is worth
the hassle. I like the windvane because it doesn't draw any power during my
long (multi-week) passages. I also have a below-deck autopilot, and the
combination of the two systems is great. Occasionally, a windvane control
line will chafe through, and having the autopilot instantly ready to engage
is really handy. Of course, autopilots can fail too, so having the windvane
gives me the redundancy I want. For coastal cruising I might just have the
electronic autopilot, and be prepared to hand-steer if it failed (or carry a
spare).

Windvanes can be quite hypnotizing to watch in operation, by the way.

Good Luck,
Paul

Self Steering Windvane, question/cost/set-up
 

Roger ,,,,,,, are you having a bad day? You sound very angry.
What's the matter.

My present self steering system is a "bungy cord". And, it works. But, I
can't leave it for more than 10 minutes.

I got to thinking that a windvane would be a nice upgrade.

PS: I took a look at your summer cruise. You and I crossed paths. You
visited some very nice harbors.

What is your plan for next summer? Down east?

The prevailing southwest wind gets you there but that same wind makes for a
long trip home.

================================================== ================================



"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
"Thomas Wentworth"

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

A boat or a windvane?


What is the cost of a self steering windvane system?

If you look at the cost of far, far, simpler devices that are common
enough for the development and marketing costs to be spread over many more
units, you should be able to guess that they won't be cheap. Low end,
minimal units will be very expensive and ones you would want to rely on
for a long voyage will be in the neighborhood of an engine by the time you
are done with the installation.

Where does one go to purchase one?

To a windvane seller.

How much work is it to install?

If you have ever done any work on a boat, you should be able to answer
this question after looking at one.

Will it work for coastal cruising?

No. The little electronic brain that interfaces the wind vane to the
steering mechanism accepts NEMA input from the GPS and prevents operation
in waters where lack of attention by the operator could result in hitting
shore, obstructions, or other vessesl. All windvane systems sold are now
required by international treaty to have this device along with circuitry
that disables the system inless the proper position signal is detected and
software charts containing the entire world are loaded.

--

Roger Long

Self Steering Windvane, question/cost/set-up
 

Roger Long wrote:
"Thomas Wentworth"

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


A boat or a windvane?


What is the cost of a self steering windvane system?


If you look at the cost of far, far, simpler devices that are common
enough for the development and marketing costs to be spread over many
more units, you should be able to guess that they won't be cheap. Low
end, minimal units will be very expensive and ones you would want to
rely on for a long voyage will be in the neighborhood of an engine by
the time you are done with the installation.


Where does one go to purchase one?


To a windvane seller.

How much work is it to install?


If you have ever done any work on a boat, you should be able to answer
this question after looking at one.


Will it work for coastal cruising?


No. The little electronic brain that interfaces the wind vane to the
steering mechanism accepts NEMA input from the GPS and prevents
operation in waters where lack of attention by the operator could
result in hitting shore, obstructions, or other vessesl. All windvane
systems sold are now required by international treaty to have this
device along with circuitry that disables the system inless the proper
position signal is detected and software charts containing the entire
world are loaded.

Roger,
Take a nasty pill this morning?

Self Steering Windvane, question/cost/set-up
 

"Gary" wrote

Roger,
Take a nasty pill this morning?

No, just trying to have a little fun at the expense of those too
paranoid to tell us what kind of boat they have.
(You may remember the threads where several here tried to elicite this
information so as to be able to better respond to other questions by
the OP.)

Windvanes are somewhat type specific, some only are suitable for boats
with outboard rudders, etc.

"What kind of windvane would be suitable for my Venture 22?" would be
a reasonable question. We have no idea whether the OP is in a 17 foot
trailer sailer or an 85 foot Baltic Trader so the whole exchange is a
bit pointless.

I'll admit though, it hasn't been one of my better days. I hate it
when a joke falls flat, even in cyber space.

--

Roger Long

Self Steering Windvane, question/cost/set-up
 

"Glenn Ashmore" wrote in message
news:AdAOg.45466$ok5.25311@dukeread01...
You can find them from a couple of grand to 6 or 7 thou. You can buy them
direct from Cape Horn, Scanmar, Hydrovane and others. Installation for
most is not that hard as long as you have the space and nerve to bore a
few holes in your transom.

Probably not worth it for coastal cruising but invaluable for long haul
passages.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

"Thomas Wentworth" wrote in message
news:VJzOg.4$I.1@trndny05...
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?

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

Actually, it depends on how you define coastal cruising.. I've seen people
using them in the SF bay.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

Self Steering Windvane, question/cost/set-up
 

Roger,

There are no electronic parts on a windvane--that is the beauty of the
system. It IS possible to use an electronic tiller pilot in
conjunction with a windvane. Such an arrangement allows you to
automatically follow a compass course. A windvane does not follow a
compass course--it simply maintains a steady course in relation to the
wind. If the wind shifts direction, the windvane will shift course.
Like any self-steering device, electronic or not, the captain must
monitor the consistency of his course. Using a tiller pilot in
conjunction allows the tiller pilot to replace the wind as the force
that controls the vane which controls the wheel (or tiller).
I have a Sailomat windvane--installation is quite simple--howver, it
does require drilling 4 holes in the transom. Once in place and tuned
to the wind, it will free the helmsman from the wheel. Wonderful on
long hauls--even trips of just a few hours. It is only useful,
however, on trips that do not require frequent changes of course.

Cost? figure $2000-3000. If your boat is tiller steered, it is
possible to rig up a sheet to tiller steering mechanism for very low
coast. This sytem uses your jib sheets to control the tiller. This,
too, is based on maintaining a steady course relative to the wind.
Plans are easy to find on the internet.



Peter
s/v Now or Never!


Roger Long wrote:
"Thomas Wentworth"

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

A boat or a windvane?


What is the cost of a self steering windvane system?

If you look at the cost of far, far, simpler devices that are common
enough for the development and marketing costs to be spread over many
more units, you should be able to guess that they won't be cheap. Low
end, minimal units will be very expensive and ones you would want to
rely on for a long voyage will be in the neighborhood of an engine by
the time you are done with the installation.

Where does one go to purchase one?

To a windvane seller.

How much work is it to install?

If you have ever done any work on a boat, you should be able to answer
this question after looking at one.

Will it work for coastal cruising?

No. The little electronic brain that interfaces the wind vane to the
steering mechanism accepts NEMA input from the GPS and prevents
operation in waters where lack of attention by the operator could
result in hitting shore, obstructions, or other vessesl. All windvane
systems sold are now required by international treaty to have this
device along with circuitry that disables the system inless the proper
position signal is detected and software charts containing the entire
world are loaded.

--

Roger Long

Self Steering Windvane, question/cost/set-up
 

You missed the tongue in the cheek.

Can you think of reason why a windvane wouldn't work in coastal
waters?

--

Roger Long

Self Steering Windvane, question/cost/set-up
 

"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.

Self Steering Windvane, question/cost/set-up
 

"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
You missed the tongue in the cheek.

Can you think of reason why a windvane wouldn't work in coastal waters?

No reason they wouldn't work in coastal cruising. It is more of a
cost/benefit question. You tend to make more course changes in coastal
sailing and the electrical budget is usually not as strict so an auto pilot
will give you more utility for the money. On a long passage you tend to
remain on one tack for hours or days at a time and electricity becomes more
precious. That is when a wind vane really pays for itself.

However, from a purely emotional view point windvanes have a much higher
Ludite quotient. Rivaling that of sextants. There is something extremely
satisfying about navigating and getting your boat to sail itself without any
modern electronic black boxes. :-)

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

Self Steering Windvane, question/cost/set-up
 

Roger Long wrote:
You missed the tongue in the cheek.

Can you think of reason why a windvane wouldn't work in coastal
waters?

I think they work just fine but land gets in the way. Because the winds
aren't from a constant direction, like trades etc, the wind vane needs
constant attention. If the vane needs constant attention, just steer.

Most coastal folks use auto pilots, in fact they are quickly replacing
windvanes on bluewater boats because electricity is becoming easier to make.

Sorry I wasn't awake enough to get the tongue in cheek.

Gary