Nothing is ever easy

[rebel heart]

So after a few days of killing myself in the heat of the Sea of Cortez I finally "finished" installing my new Hydrovane.

Woops, it won't clear the aft rails on some points of sail.

So now I get to have those re-fabricated which I was sort of planning on doing anyway, but uh.

Plus sides:

- I'll have them more the way I want.
- I can still leave La Paz and motor or sail around with the wheel pilot for a few months. No big deal.
- I've got a couple of local contacts already to choose from for the welding.
- I'll have to move the solar panels, which really isn't a plus.
- I'll finally have a proper home for the grill and outboard.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

So after a few days of killing myself in the heat of the Sea of Cortez I finally "finished" installing my new Hydrovane.

Woops, it won't clear the aft rails on some points of sail.

So now I get to have those re-fabricated which I was sort of planning on doing anyway, but uh.

Plus sides:

- I'll have them more the way I want.
- I can still leave La Paz and motor or sail around with the wheel pilot for a few months. No big deal.
- I've got a couple of local contacts already to choose from for the welding.
- I'll have to move the solar panels, which really isn't a plus.
- I'll finally have a proper home for the grill and outboard.

If it was easy, anyone could do it.

Looked it up on line. It's so much smaller and lighter than my friend's windvane.

[atoll]

welcome to the world of "refitting boats in exotic places!"

[zeehag]

lol and baja isnt ll that exotic....lol..... parts and epoxy are easily obtained there----stories like these make me really love my autopilot more and more each time i read someone else's troubles. glad it is mounted--i hope it works for ye.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by zeehag

lol and baja isnt ll that exotic....lol..... parts and epoxy are easily obtained there----stories like these make me really love my autopilot more and more each time i read someone else's troubles. glad it is mounted--i hope it works for ye.

I've got an autopilot, a chinsy little X5 wheel unit which has served us well for a few thousand miles. But it's not up to snuff for an ocean and the power bill is decent.

And this place isn't so much about being remote, more just the hassle of needing to dissemble everything on the stern, pay money for a hopefully well done welding job, put everything back, and then figure out what I gained and lost. And pay to be in a marina while I'm doing it all, baking like potatoes in an oven.

[zeehag]

rh--if there is an elektra store near you, i found my air conditioner for 140 usd at elektra--makes all the difference with kids and heat and all that---might want to think about that--is low investment for such wonderful comfort and respite from heat,easier to work on boat when it isnt a bake oven........

[pressuredrop]

nothing (worth doing) is ever easy*

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by pressuredrop

nothing (worth doing) is ever easy*

Or Free...

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by svHyLyte

Or Free...

that is not always true--many things are dirt cheap or damnear free--some of my best finds were gratis. and still are.

[Celestialsailor]

Just got my sailomat 600 going last week. Same thing...hits the rail on some points. I'll live with it. While testing it, was buzzed by Prada.

[AbaftAndBaffled]

Originally Posted by svHyLyte

Or Free...

[Richard5]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

So after a few days of killing myself in the heat of the Sea of Cortez I finally "finished" installing my new Hydrovane.

Woops, it won't clear the aft rails on some points of sail.

So now I get to have those re-fabricated which I was sort of planning on doing anyway, but uh.

By "re-fabricated" do you mean the vane or the aft rail?

I love your pluses.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by Richard5

By "re-fabricated" do you mean the vane or the aft rail?

I love your pluses.

The rails. I wouldn't want to do anything to mod that windvane; way too much engineering going on there.

I got a line on some stainless tubing, those little end fittings (elbows, t's, caps, etc), and I have an angle grinder and file. So I think I'm going to do that instead of get the entire aft end welded together. The idea of needing to removing a stanchion and that requiring removing all of the aft rails seems insane.

[Tingum]

Having a push pit made out of old galvanized fence posts is a good conversation starter!

[FightinGravity]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

So after a few days of killing myself in the heat of the Sea of Cortez I finally "finished" installing my new Hydrovane.

Woops, it won't clear the aft rails on some points of sail.

So now I get to have those re-fabricated which I was sort of planning on doing anyway, but uh.

Plus sides:

- I'll have them more the way I want.
- I can still leave La Paz and motor or sail around with the wheel pilot for a few months. No big deal.
- I've got a couple of local contacts already to choose from for the welding.
- I'll have to move the solar panels, which really isn't a plus.
- I'll finally have a proper home for the grill and outboard.

You might have covered this elsewhere BUT did you do the windvane vs hydrovane comparison? I always like to get people's take on this but usually go back to:

http://www.selfsteer.com/faqs/faq.php?ID=248

For the record, I have never used either but plan to one day...