Aries Wind Vane Shaft too Long

[sully75]

Hello out there. I was finally ready to install my aries vane today but hit a major snafu. It appears I have the long shaft version of an English Aries. The rudder doesn't start till well below the waterline.

Any ideas what to do? It's not such a simple matter as shortening the tube because it has the kick up rudder. I think I've heard that ultimately the kick up rudder assembly wears out and needs to be removed. I do need to be able to remove the rudder though. There will be an outboard back there too and I'm not sure if they will clear each other.

Help!

[sully75]

Now reading the manual, it's saying the minimum height for the centerline if the tubes is 32". Mine are 22" off the waterline. I don't know where I'm going to get 10" from. Also says this should fit most yachts. Pearson triton without a whole lot of freeboard.

[sully75]

I can block up te stern supports another 2". I know these have been installed on tritons before. I'm not totally sure that my rudder is actually the long one.

[model 10]

Cut as much as you can from the ends of the shafts. You will need to drill new holes for the pin. You can shorten the splice collar also, or remount the whole mess or both.
I have never heard of a "long" version. If you had a tilt up, it would be shorter I think because of no kick up hinge. I like the kick up hinge added to any model, nice feature.

[Terra Nova]

Looks like that particular vane is a poor choice for your boat. I'd replace it with one that fits.

[Bregts]

I had the same problem but with the latest version of the Aries. I shortened the shaft so the top of the pendulum is just at the waterline. The pendulum was raised about 25cm and is at its maximum hight now. Works just perfect.

[gjordan]

I recently bought an Aries that came with 2 rudder paddles. They are somewhere around 10 inches different in length. This is my third Aries, and I think the shorter of the two is proper, but I dont know what model takes the longer shaft. I will be to my storeroom after the weekend, and measure them. ________Grant.

[gjordan]

I just went back and looked over your photos, and I am not clear in what you mean by the kick up version. I have heard the term, but never seen one. Your breakaway appears like a normal Aries. I have seen photos of Aries with what looks like a big hinge where the normal breakaway is, but your photos dont seem to indicate that. One thing to note, is to make sure your breakaway can be removed, and when you remount it, use lots of antisieze. My second Aries came to me used, and the breakaway sleeve was corroded onto both ends of the mechanism so tight that I had to hacksaw a groove in it, and use a chisel to split it off of the shafts. After that lesson, I removed it every year and recoated with lanolin. I think there are better antisiezes on the market now. I always carries 2 extra breakaway sleeves, but never needed them. They are a great windvane. _____Grant.

[gordwedman]

Originally Posted by sully75

I can block up te stern supports another 2". I know these have been installed on tritons before. I'm not totally sure that my rudder is actually the long one.

You might look into the quick release hinge from Aries Denmark
www.selfsteer.dk
That would remove quite a few inches and it makes it very easy to remove the servo pendulum.

[henryk]

Can you convert the slide in shaft to the kick up rudder?

[sully75]

Originally Posted by gjordan

I recently bought an Aries that came with 2 rudder paddles. They are somewhere around 10 inches different in length. This is my third Aries, and I think the shorter of the two is proper, but I dont know what model takes the longer shaft. I will be to my storeroom after the weekend, and measure them. ________Grant.

Grant, that would be great. Please let me know.

[sully75]

I do have the kick up (lift up) oar. It might not be apparent from the pictures.

I'm going to have to switch the mounting around. There's a bent tube mounting style that mounts on the transom versus the aft deck. If I do that, I can just push the vane up as high as I need it.

I just need to find someone who can bend this thick wall aluminum tubing. My friend says a muffler shop can do it. I hope so.



This shows the bent vane mounting style.

[Terra Nova]

The muffler shop will most likely fracture that heavy wall aluminum tubing.

[sully75]

Any suggestions about where to bend it? There is a custom muffler shop around here that does all kinds of decorative stuff.

[Terra Nova]

The muffler shop is equipped to bend thin-walled steel tubing, which is very ductile. Trying to bend heavy-walled aluminum tubing, to the same radius, will fracture it.

If they use heat to minimize fracturing, the temper and strength will be lost.