Whats the best windvane?

[SVTatia]

Originally Posted by CarinaPDX

All commercial windvanes "work" to some degree, and there is no scale or standard test to compare them. Hence anecdotal evidence may be misleading but is all you have.

If you want a vane that can handle steering boats with higher steering forces relative to wind speed then amplification of the wind force via a servo pendulum is desirable. Hydrovane drives its own auxiliary rudder direct from the wind power and does not use the force of passing water to amplify it. While it works well, it just isn't as powerful as a servo-pendulum. It "works" but whether it works as well in as broad a range of conditions is doubtful. A 40ft steel boat should be near the extreme of performance for the Hydrovane, so I suspect it has a smaller range of performance.

I don't mean to sound negative about them. I bought, and still have and use, a Hydrovane from the original English inventor. But it converts the steering in a reverse direction to the standard unit, and it has a tiller arm and cross-link to a trim tab on the trailing edge of the rudder. It is not a servo-pendulum but it does use the force of the passing water to amplify the wind force. It has been very reliable and effective. Sadly the new Canadian owners did not decide to manufacture the reverse conversion, or the smaller model of Hydrovane for which there is now no source of parts.

For my money the Windpilot is hard to beat. I preferred the all-stainless (but very light) Fleming made in Australia but that seems to have ceased production, or at least is under a different name. Both had the very desirable feature that the pendulum could be quickly and easily swung out of the water for entering harbor. Most servo-pendulums, like the Monitor, have to be locked to straight ahead as the pendulum is not easy enough to remove/replace daily. The Hydrovane also has to lock its rudder. Leaving in the water may not be a big deal but all things being equal I would prefer it out of the water when not in use. Another company, Voyager, makes a vane in Canada similar to the Windpilot which might be worth checking out (I can't tell if it swivels up as well). There are several others made to similar designs. For a heavy 40ft boat I would consider the servo-pendulum/auxiliary rudder combined systems, such as Windpilot offers.

Greg

Agree 100% with the above, very weel put.
The ability to lift the ruder out of the water is important not only for entering/exiting harbours but also in heavy weather if one wants to use a drogue such as the JSD.

Like I mentioned above, the Cape Horn is atttractive for its price and simplicity once installed, but the WIndpilot is my first choice if I find one used.

[SVTatia]

Originally Posted by Boatyarddog

Greetings,
I've got a Pacific Windvane, servo-pendulum wind pilot for sale in the PNW.
In new shape with hub for Wheel steering.
PM me for cost. Details if interested.
Half the cost of new. You'll pay for shipping.
Won't be installing on my Vessel.
SV Cloud Duster

Sent you a PM.

[CarinaPDX]

Whichever AP you get do yourself a favor: wherever stainless fasteners meet aluminum parts you should disassemble and coat with lanolin grease (LanoCote) before reassembly. Otherwise in a few short years they may not come apart.

Greg

[KP44]

I would research at Scanmar International:

https://www.scanmarinternational.com/

And the unfailing workhorse of several decades has been the Monitor.

[CarinaPDX]

No question that the Monitor does a good job. Other than leaving the pendulum in the water, and thus slightly reducing steering response when not in use, it should steer as well as any vane. However please take note that older (and not that much older) Monitors were not made with the greatest corrosion resistance - whether materials or techniques I am not sure, but I have known used ones to fall apart so caveat emptor. Basically the tubing is polished on the outside, and fittings are welded to it and apparently passivated, but internally in way of the welds corrosion can develop unseen. I knew a couple that bought a used one which appeared to be in good condition; a few hundred miles later it broke and a welder told them that there wasn't enough metal thickness left to weld to. It is my understanding that new units are built better, and in any event even old ones last decades - just check inside carefully before buying used, and rinse out with fresh water often. The point I would make is that the large structure is unnecessary as newer designs demonstrate.

Greg

[Ramona]

Originally Posted by CarinaPDX

No question that the Monitor does a good job. Other than leaving the pendulum in the water, and thus slightly reducing steering response when not in use, it should steer as well as any vane. However please take note that older (and not that much older) Monitors were not made with the greatest corrosion resistance - whether materials or techniques I am not sure, but I have known used ones to fall apart so caveat emptor. Basically the tubing is polished on the outside, and fittings are welded to it and apparently passivated, but internally in way of the welds corrosion can develop unseen. I knew a couple that bought a used one which appeared to be in good condition; a few hundred miles later it broke and a welder told them that there wasn't enough metal thickness left to weld to. It is my understanding that new units are built better, and in any event even old ones last decades - just check inside carefully before buying used, and rinse out with fresh water often. The point I would make is that the large structure is unnecessary as newer designs demonstrate.

Greg

All the Monitors I have seen have lift up oar blades. My Aries has a lift up blade as well but I made the mod.
During the recent Golden Globe race there were problems with Monitors having failed welds. The welds are all Tig welded and pretty. I think they spent more time making the units look attractive where as they should have added more metal.

[KP44]

Originally Posted by CarinaPDX

No question that the Monitor does a good job. Other than leaving the pendulum in the water, and thus slightly reducing steering response when not in use, it should steer as well as any vane. However please take note that older (and not that much older) Monitors were not made with the greatest corrosion resistance - whether materials or techniques I am not sure, but I have known used ones to fall apart so caveat emptor. Basically the tubing is polished on the outside, and fittings are welded to it and apparently passivated, but internally in way of the welds corrosion can develop unseen. I knew a couple that bought a used one which appeared to be in good condition; a few hundred miles later it broke and a welder told them that there wasn't enough metal thickness left to weld to. It is my understanding that new units are built better, and in any event even old ones last decades - just check inside carefully before buying used, and rinse out with fresh water often. The point I would make is that the large structure is unnecessary as newer designs demonstrate.

Greg

The first Monitors were 304 ss. For the past 25 years they are all 316 stainless and no worries about corrosion.

No other windvane has a reputation like the Monitor for steering in all conditions and tirelessly crossing oceans without a breakdown. Simple, strong, and reliable.

Talk to sailors who have used a Monitor.

[KP44]

In case no one knows this, the paddle on the Monitor swings up out of the water when it is not in use. So it does not interfere with the ship's rudder unless you want it to.

[CarinaPDX]

Yes I had forgotten that the Monitor swings up. It is slightly less convenient than a Windpilot but in the same ballpark. As I said earlier I think it steers as well as any other servo-pendulum - they are all pretty much the same in that regard. There are differences in design, especially in how they translate the horizontal/inclined axis of the wind paddle to the vertical axis of the pendulum, and some provide more damping than others, and materials vary, but at the end of the day any servo-pendulum should do the same job on any cruising boat. The earliest wind vanes tended to be overbuilt: take a look at the original Aries design (although also know that the early Aries suffered from copious corrosion over the years). There is no need for that much structure and modern designs are much more compact and better engineered for the loads, such as Flemings and Windpilots. The modern Aries is much better designed than the original, and is really a completely new product. Which makes things a bit confusing, as the used old designs, whether a 304 Monitor or an old cast Aries, go by the same name but aren't the same. Buyer beware with the older systems - and by older I mean the many vanes that were bought in the heyday of cruising boats (1975-1985).

Greg

[roverhi]

Originally Posted by KP44

The first Monitors were 304 ss. For the past 25 years they are all 316 stainless and no worries about corrosion.

No other windvane has a reputation like the Monitor for steering in all conditions and tirelessly crossing oceans without a breakdown. Simple, strong, and reliable.

Talk to sailors who have used a Monitor.

With stainless there is always the worry with crevice corrosion. Not much with a self steering wind vane but anywhere water can be trapped corrosion can occur. 304 has gotten a bad rap for corrosion. Yes it does develop more surface corrosion but that's mainly a cosmetic issue.

For my money, the Aries has the reputation for faithful service without breaking down. We had an early Aries that did have issues with the plastic bearings swelling and binding the shaft. Fixed the problem permanently by whittling away a bit of plastic with a pen knife after it had steered us to the Marquesas. Made two other trips to SoPac after that. FWIW, the Monitor is/was a rip off of the Aries design but built in SS.

Any aluminum or SS Vane for that matter should be completely disassembled and rebuilt using Lanolin or other corrosion inhibitor. That will make it way easier to take apart if there is a need at a later date.

[bgler]

Hi we have a Hydrovane that we would be prepared to sell from our Adams 45. It was mounted but I think the previous owner didn't did more short stuff so didn't tend to use it anymore. I have summed and ahhhd about putting it back on but since we are mostly in the med for now, if someone gives me a sensible price - half of a new one I suppose - I guess I would sell it. We are currently in Tunisia but pm me if you are interested.It is in good condition but I think it will want a new vane cover soon as the sun degrades them quite quickly.
Bgler

[rick bertram]

I don’t use one however the vessel’s I follow online do. One in particular seemed to work very well in big seas was the Cape Horn.

[Fi2010]

Originally Posted by Michael Cobbe

Long distance sailing the windvane I saw most was a Hydrovane and we had one. It can be offset but as you have davits I doubt you can fit one

If you offset a windvane, then you can only sail on one tack. This makes no sense. The Moniter windvane, by Scanmar, invented a swing gate for their windvane. It avoids having to offset a windvane. Scanmar has several styles of winvanes custom built for your boat. https://www.scanmarinternational.com/products

However, both companies are owned by great families. Both are attending the Seattle Boat Show Jan. 24th - Feb 1.

Hydrovane - Concourse 2204
Scanmar -- Concourse 2401

[Fi2010]

Originally Posted by oceanshoretiga

I have long had an Aries, the original model which I purchased in about 1982l. Aries is one of the original and still among the best vanes systems for accurate steering (except light down wind) and robustness.

My Aries is on a 13ton steel Herreshoff and I love it.

Aries and parts are now made in the Netherlands.

I understand the the next Golden Globe Race will require one of three windvane alternative. Aries is one of those but, off the top of my head, not sure what the other two are to be (I THINK Hydrovane and Windpilot). Cape Horn is hard to fit when a transome rudder and would require some serious work on a steel.

One of my favourite pastimes at sea is to lounge in the cockpit, under cover, in heavy weather and watch the Aries steering. That said, any windvane will give you that sense of pure motion.,

cheers, Jim

Unfortunately, as with many races and magazine publications, politics are involved. Manufacturers or suppliers usually have to pay to have their equipment or company promoted. Many of us small manufacturers can't afford to pay the fees.

[refuge]

I have a Scanmar windvane I’m looking to sell. It’s currently installed on a 50’ Gulfstar. PM me for pics if interested.