Whats the best windvane?

[Fi2010]

Attend a boat show where the windvanes are on display. Nothing beats one on one communication with the manufacturer. You can find out if the equipment is actually crap or is of fine quality. Additionally, determine if the company reps are clueless or knowledgeable.

The details in this thread should make it easy for anyone to ask the suppliers plenty of good questions.

[Doek]

I've sailed thousands of miles single-handed with a Cape Horn and then a Monitor wind vane system. For Intracoastal and inshore work I easily installed davits on the Cape Horn. Not so easy with the huge Monitor. I also had a protected simple Simrad auto-pilot in my lazarette for motoring in no wind on the cape Horn. Impossible with my Monitor. When I hit some thing with the Cape Horn paddle, it simply released with Bungees and I used my boat hook to quickly reattach it. The monitor, bends a tube and it is very dangerous to try to replace it at sea. Cape Horns steer using the rudder quadrant no lines in cockpit. My Cape Horn was custom sized to reach above my canvas enclosure and always sees clean airflow. Not possible with my Monitor. Even with the extra tall vane, it is fiddly on the wind as it sees turbulated wind coming around the enclosure. Monitor has a million very tiny loose parts when doing a rebuild or service. Real pain in the butt, and I can't even imagine trying to do it at sea. Cape Horn, robust and simple. Everything is stainless or plastic. Monitor is very expensive compared to the Cape Horn. I installed the Cape Horn and Davis for the price of the Monitor alone. Both companies were good to work with.
I would definitely choose the Cape Horn if doing it again.

[SVTatia]

Originally Posted by CarinaPDX

I keep forgetting to mention another old manufacturer of quality wind vanes: Sailomat. They are built on the same principles as other servo-pendulum gear, and have been kept updated through the years. SAILOMAT . ...

Greg

I just received this from Sailomat after requesting a quote:

"Dear customer,
Model SAILOMAT 800 as well as previous models are currently completely sold out. Spare parts still available.
All SAILOMAT deliveries are temporarily suspended as we restructure the company.
Happy sailing
Stellan"

So this must be a tough niche business.

1. Hydrovane
2. Cape Horn
3. Monitor (+ others from Scanmar)
4. Windpilot
5. Aries
6. Holland
7. Windy
8. Neptune
9. Mr Vee
10. Voyager

11. Sailomat
12. Ratcliffe
13. Fleming
14. Norvane
15. Navik
16. Sayes Rig
Did I miss any?

The first 10 are still in business.

[Fi2010]

Partly why it's a "tough niche business" are the changes in boat design. Specifically, the popular transom garage where sailors can store equipment. You either have to remove the windvane or offset it on the port or starboard side of the boat. Assuming you want to open the door.

Removing a heavy windvane to open any door or gain access to a swim platform is too much trouble. Offsetting means the windvane can only function on one tack. Not practical.

So far, Scanmar is the only company to invent a work around this problem with their swing gate system. Pull one pin and the whole system swings to the side, out of the way.

[SVTatia]

Originally Posted by Fi2010

Partly why it's a "tough niche business" are the changes in boat design. Specifically, the popular transom garage where sailors can store equipment. You either have to remove the windvane or offset it on the port or starboard side of the boat. Assuming you want to open the door.

Partly is correct.

Mainly due to the advances in electronic autopilots and energy management.
Although I vehemently disagree, the truth is that for some, windvanes are plan B, like a sextant, to be used when all else fails. The energy budget has increased so much that it makes a windvane kind of a nuisance.

However, having been there and done that, I will not leave home without one.

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by SVTatia

Partly is correct.

Mainly due to the advances in electronic autopilots and energy management.
Although I vehemently disagree, the truth is that for some, windvanes are plan B, like a sextant, to be used when all else fails. The energy budget has increased so much that it makes a windvane kind of a nuisance.

However, having been there and done that, I will not leave home without one.

Inevitably, "An inch of prevention, is worth a pound of cure"
Good choices, wisdom, and a decent bottle of vice, ahhhh‼️
SV Cloud Duster

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by SVTatia

I just received this from Sailomat after requesting a quote:

"Dear customer,
Model SAILOMAT 800 as well as previous models are currently completely sold out. Spare parts still available.
All SAILOMAT deliveries are temporarily suspended as we restructure the company.
Happy sailing
Stellan"

So this must be a tough niche business.

1. Hydrovane
2. Cape Horn
3. Monitor (+ others from Scanmar)
4. Windpilot
5. Aries
6. Holland
7. Windy
8. Neptune
9. Mr Vee
10. Voyager

11. Sailomat
12. Ratcliffe
13. Fleming
14. Norvane
15. Navik
16. Sayes Rig
Did I miss any?

The first 10 are still in business.

QME?

[Fi2010]

The electronic advancements you’re referring to doesn’t exist on many cruising boats. Auto pilots require energy. Auto pilots can have issues steering in heavy seas.

We meet thousands of cruisers every year at the boat shows whom would disagree with the “plan B” assertion. Many sailors consider their windvane a member of the family. You’d be surprised how many name their windvane. Kind of cute.

[Jim Cate]

Partly why it's a "tough niche business" are the changes in boat design. Specifically, the popular transom garage where sailors can store equipment. You either have to remove the windvane or offset it on the port or starboard side of the boat. Assuming you want to open the door.

Dinghy garages (I think that's what you are referring to) are pretty rare in normal sized cruising boats, and in the larger boats where the garage is practical, wind vanes are reaching or exceeding their practical boat size limit.

Sugar scoop sterns do complicate wind vane installation, and they exist on reasonably small boats these days... one of the reasons we don't have one (and I miss it!). This fact likely adds sales to the a/p vendors!

Jim

[Fi2010]

Jim,

Some of your points are accurate.

Our company representatives who attend many boat shows are most familiar with the Monitor and Hydrovane. Sales of windvanes are strong with these companies on a huge range of boats. The manufacturers have photos and blue prints showing a crazy amount of layouts to make a windvane perform as promised.

A lot of customers visit their booths giving praise about their experiences using the windvanes. Can't ignore first hand experiences crossing oceans. Great that it's positive!

Boat size with the windvane up to 57 feet before it becomes an issue? Maybe slightly larger? If you're only coastal cruising or have a large crew then a windvane may not be necessary.

[SVTatia]

Originally Posted by Fi2010

The electronic advancements you’re referring to doesn’t exist on many cruising boats. Auto pilots require energy. Auto pilots can have issues steering in heavy seas.

We meet thousands of cruisers every year at the boat shows whom would disagree with the “plan B” assertion. Many sailors consider their windvane a member of the family. You’d be surprised how many name their windvane. Kind of cute.

Agreed, agreed.
The WV is definitely a member of the crew. However, It would be interesting do get some stats by looking at transom of boats participating in crossing rallies (the time when many cruisers are on the same spot) and find out how many have windvanes installed. Whats your guess for the ratio or AP to WV?

Some boats have backups to the backups and my feeling is that with the high costs of windvanes, you can have AP redundancy without hurting the budget. But like you said, an AP has limitations...

As I mentioned, I will not go long distance sailing without a windvane, no matter what.

[Fi2010]

That’s a good question about how many AP to WV. Likely the percentage of WV on boats is low compared to AP. Shorter distance rallies like the Baja Ha-Ha will likely have few WVs compared to Ocean crossing rallies. There’s probably a bump up in WV use with sailors choosing to sail outside of rallies. Especially for those who plan to travel the world. Smaller crews, like 1 or 2 people, WV use should be high. Larger crews, not as important to have a WV; since there’s plenty of hands to drive the boat. Doesn't hurt to have the additional AP system you mentioned.

[KP44]

Originally Posted by SVTatia

Agreed, agreed.
The WV is definitely a member of the crew. However, It would be interesting do get some stats by looking at transom of boats participating in crossing rallies (the time when many cruisers are on the same spot) and find out how many have windvanes installed. Whats your guess for the ratio or AP to WV?

Some boats have backups to the backups and my feeling is that with the high costs of windvanes, you can have AP redundancy without hurting the budget. But like you said, an AP has limitations...

As I mentioned, I will not go long distance sailing without a windvane, no matter what.

Just had a "help!" plea from someone on a passage. His autopilot has failed. All I can think to say is, "Get a Monitor." and that is not helpful so I said nothing. The sailor will probably install one before his next long passage. Someone answered, "Check the ground." and another said, "Steer."

Autopilots are great for most sailing but a windvane is unrivaled for ocean sailing.

[Don C L]

I wonder how many folks would say they have never had an AP fail at an inopportune moment?

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Don C L

I wonder how many folks would say they have never had an AP fail at an inopportune moment?

Certainly not me... but then I had two serious failures in my windvane on our previous boat!

Jim