What Kind or Brand of Self-Steering Is this ?

[Surveyor]

I assume it is a self steer. This is on a Bristol Channel Cutter that is for sale. The design is interesting and I would like to know more about it. Also, is it worth a flip?

In the 2nd and 3rd pics you can see the red airvane. It appears to be mounted on the backstay.

[DeepFrz]

I don't know the name of it but it looks like one that is made in Australia and gets high marks from the Australians.

There was a picture of it on a different self steering thread just a few weeks ago.

P.S. it might be a Fleming?

[Sailmonkey]

I also don't know what it is, but I do know that boat has circled the planet, so it can't be all bad.

[pressuredrop]

saye's rig or some variation there of

http://www.selfsteer.com/products/sayes/index.php

[Jim Cate]

Not a Fleming for sure... Flemings are servo pendulum units and this is a trim tab on the main rudder... might well be home built.

Cheers,

Jim

[Jim Cate]

Not a Sayes Rig either... the Sayes uses a vertical oar to drive the main rudder, not a trim tab

Jim

[Surveyor]

I'm no expert but it looks like a very simple, light weight and strong rig.

[rustypirate]

The trim-tab systems were popular until the servo-pendulum systems got the bugs worked out. The down-side of this system is that at high speed the trim tab may not be able to push the rudder like it is supposed to. That is one of the benefits of the servo-pendulum design, the faster the boat moves through the water, the more power is applied to the steering oar.

[Ocean Girl]

Wow New world! Does Lee still own the boat? I know that boat from way back! It looks gone but there used to be a figurehead on that boat (?). If you see Lee tell him the figurehead says Hi. Dont know the about the Self steering gear, I was thinking fleming too.
Erika

[Jim Cate]

dG'Day again,

Hey CF participants: look again at the picture of the rudder and associated parts' The appendage is a trim tab on extensions out from the trailing edge of the main rudder. These extensions give the trim tab some extra leverage to compensate for the completely unbalanced rudder. Fleming vanes are servo pendulum mechanisms, and have a pivioting oar which is not connected directly to the rudder, but is connected , usually by bits of string, to the tiller or wheel.

In this case the vertical rod extending upward from the trim tab is connected, possibly directly, to the air blade which again probably has a vertical axis. A picture of the upper works would help figger it all out. I still suspect a home brew rig.

And rustypirate -- trim tabs also generate more power as speed through the water increases. However, they are not as powerful (generally) as servo rigs. The trim tab vane I built for Insatiable I steered her well in everything from about 5 knots apparent to over 60 knots... I really miss having it!

Cheers,

Jim

[solosailormike]

Originally Posted by Surveyor

I assume it is a self steer. This is on a Bristol Channel Cutter that is for sale. The design is interesting and I would like to know more about it. Also, is it worth a flip?

In the 2nd and 3rd pics you can see the red airvane. It appears to be mounted on the backstay.

...
I had one just like it and it was copy of a very old design also used on larry pardey when they had no motor, it work very well.

[barnakiel]

A tab as designed by Pardey (at least the top). The bottom unit is a tab anyway. If you look up Morse´s site for channel pilots they will tell you all details.

b.

[Steve Pope]

It is a simple early trim tab set up, probably home made. easily made and can be very effective. the set back of the trim tab from the rudder makes it quite powerful. The wind vane rotates rather than flopping over as in the later designed scanmar Auto-Helm unit.

[barnakiel]

It is not an early trim tab. It is the Pardey / Samuel Morse / BCC thing.

b.

[seacap]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

It is not an early trim tab. It is the Pardey / Samuel Morse / BCC thing.

b.

BarnaKiel is correct to a point. This vane is built by Mike Anderson for the Bristol Channel Cutter. He uses all the patterns from Larry Pardey built for his Lyle Hess designed cutter.

I have one on my BCC and have been using one for 18 years. Works very well. Also, the trim tab works a treat with the smallest of tiller pilots pushing the trim tab around. Trim tab is so efficient you can steer the boat on a roaring reach with ONE finger!