home made self-steering vane ?

wolfenzee · 14-08-2008, 17:17

I have a 30' sloop and would like to biuld a self steering gear rather than get an production model gear (which I can't really afford anyway). The way my boat is presently rigged it is pretty well balanced and the trailing edge of the rudder would also allow for a trim tab, see: boat-links.com/Atkinco/Sail/CaptainCicero.html
does anyone have any ideas on a "homebuilt" type of self steering gear.
-David

henryk · 14-08-2008, 18:26

I know of two guys who built their windvanes ,and they spend around $100 bucks on parts . There are books about building windvanes.
If my boat wouldn't be that heavy, I would built one myself

wolfenzee · 15-08-2008, 12:48

I found a link to an easily/inexpensively built and proven design for a self steering gear. http://www.mindspring.com/~waltmur/Self-Steering/. I'll give it a try and let you know how it works. it's called the 20-20 because it should take the average sailor 20 hour to build it, cost $20 and weigh 20lbs. I have alot more teak and mahogany laying around than plywood and I have a tendency to over build so it might weigh a bit more). If anyone has any other ideas for home made self sterring gears I am still open to suggestion.

henryk · 15-08-2008, 13:12

Go for it. Give us an update on the progress

Wotname · 16-08-2008, 02:24

I am building a windvane steering for my 31ft Van DeStadt.Try and get hold of a copy of "Wind-Vane Self Steering" by Bill Belcher.
IMO, it's the bible of windvane steering.

**GordMay** · 16-08-2008, 04:24

“The Windvane Self-Steering Handbook” * (Theory, principles and practice)
by Bill Morris
International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press (March 1, 2004)
ISBN-10: 0071434690
ISBN-13: 978-0071434690
Buy:
McGraw-Hill: The Windvane Self-Steering Handbook : Book

Or:

Amazon.com: The Windvane Self-Steering Handbook: Bill Morris: Books

Windvane Self-Steering Handbook | ISBN: 0071434690

The Windvane Self-Steering Handbook at Book Digger

* Originally published as “Yacht Wind Vane Steering”
International Marine(1982)
ISBN: 0877421587

Some free on-line resources:

Self Steering Designs ~ by Walt Murray
Goto:
http://www.mindspring.com/~waltmur/Self-Steering/

Self-Steering Under Sail: Autopilot and Wind Steering ~ Peter Christian Forthmann
Goto:
http://www.windpilot.de/Grafiken/pdf/bookeng.pdf

See also:
Self-Steering for Sailing Craft ~ by John S Letcher, Jr.
International Marine Publishing Co (November 28, 1974)
ISBN-10: 0877420424
ISBN-13: 978-0877420422

14-08-2008, 17:17	#1
wolfenzee Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Port Townsend, WA (NW corner of Puget Sound) Boat: 30' William Atkin design "Captian Cicero"' - S/V ROVER Posts: 59	home made self-steering vane ? I have a 30' sloop and would like to biuld a self steering gear rather than get an production model gear (which I can't really afford anyway). The way my boat is presently rigged it is pretty well balanced and the trailing edge of the rudder would also allow for a trim tab, see: boat-links.com/Atkinco/Sail/CaptainCicero.html does anyone have any ideas on a "homebuilt" type of self steering gear. -David

15-08-2008, 12:48	#3
wolfenzee Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Port Townsend, WA (NW corner of Puget Sound) Boat: 30' William Atkin design "Captian Cicero"' - S/V ROVER Posts: 59	found one I found a link to an easily/inexpensively built and proven design for a self steering gear. http://www.mindspring.com/~waltmur/Self-Steering/. I'll give it a try and let you know how it works. it's called the 20-20 because it should take the average sailor 20 hour to build it, cost $20 and weigh 20lbs. I have alot more teak and mahogany laying around than plywood and I have a tendency to over build so it might weigh a bit more). If anyone has any other ideas for home made self sterring gears I am still open to suggestion.

16-08-2008, 02:24	#5
Wotname Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Boat: Van DeStat Super Dogger 31' Posts: 758	I am building a windvane steering for my 31ft Van DeStadt.Try and get hold of a copy of "Wind-Vane Self Steering" by Bill Belcher. IMO, it's the bible of windvane steering. __________________ All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangereous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. T.E. Lawrence

16-08-2008, 04:24	#6
GordMay Administrator Site Administrator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W Boat: C.L.O.D. (Cruiser Living On Dirt) Posts: 9,455 Images: 232	“The Windvane Self-Steering Handbook” * (Theory, principles and practice) by Bill Morris International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press (March 1, 2004) ISBN-10: 0071434690 ISBN-13: 978-0071434690 Buy: McGraw-Hill: The Windvane Self-Steering Handbook : Book Or: Amazon.com: The Windvane Self-Steering Handbook: Bill Morris: Books Windvane Self-Steering Handbook \| ISBN: 0071434690 The Windvane Self-Steering Handbook at Book Digger * Originally published as “Yacht Wind Vane Steering” International Marine(1982) ISBN: 0877421587 Some free on-line resources: Self Steering Designs ~ by Walt Murray Goto: http://www.mindspring.com/~waltmur/Self-Steering/ Self-Steering Under Sail: Autopilot and Wind Steering ~ Peter Christian Forthmann Goto: http://www.windpilot.de/Grafiken/pdf/bookeng.pdf See also: Self-Steering for Sailing Craft ~ by John S Letcher, Jr. International Marine Publishing Co (November 28, 1974) ISBN-10: 0877420424 ISBN-13: 978-0877420422 __________________ Gord May ~~_/)_~~ (Gord & Maggie - "Southbound") "If you didn't have time/$ to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"

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14-08-2008, 18:26	#2
henryk Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kelowna , British Columbia Boat: Tayana 42 CC Posts: 134	I know of two guys who built their windvanes ,and they spend around $100 bucks on parts . There are books about building windvanes. If my boat wouldn't be that heavy, I would built one myself

15-08-2008, 13:12	#4
henryk Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kelowna , British Columbia Boat: Tayana 42 CC Posts: 134	Go for it. Give us an update on the progress

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