Windvane and Swim Platform

[wingontherock]

I was wondering if anyone that uses a windvane also has davits and/or a swim platform... I am looking for ideas before I have to choose between removing the windvane in favor of davits and a swim platform... any ideas and pics would be of great service...

regards to all,
"wingontherock"

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, wingontherock.

You've certainly posed a stern challenge.

[Starbuck]

Gord, that's very punny.

[Boracay]

I'm also looking at putting in a wind vane and a swim platform.

One of the wind vane manufacturers had a few pictures showing the wind vane legs going through a gap in the swim platform. Looked quite serviceable.

I've made my davits removable on the basis that if I'm using a wind vane then I'm not going to want a dinghy hanging off the back.

[GordMay]

Most manufacturers have photo galleries.
For instance, check out the Hydrovane website photo galleries Self Steering Hydrovane Selfsteer
specifically:
Arches and Davits ➥ Self Steering Hydrovane Selfsteer
Scoops & Platforms ➥ Self Steering Hydrovane Selfsteer

[Marinheiro]

Monitor & Fleming web sites also show a selection of installations

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Boracay

I'm also looking at putting in a wind vane and a swim platform.

Chris,

Are you sure you need a wind vane? Some would say they are pretty old technology, don't work in all conditions and screw up the swim platform.

A new auto pilot will give years of long cruising without the need for a backup.

(touch wood, and all that!)

Mark

[Boracay]

Hi Mark
I've been assuming that an auto pilot on Boracay would be difficult because:-
1) She's steel so compass problems.
2) The steering is cable, so I'd have to change to hydraulic.
3) Big boat with big unbalanced rudder, so none of the cheaper systems will work.
4) No emergency rudder, so am thinking of getting a wind vane with it's own rudder.

I do recognise that none of the above may apply to a lighter, well made fibreglass boat.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Chris,
...
A new auto pilot will give years of long cruising without the need for a backup.

(touch wood, and all that!)

Mark

Why do you think that a backup for an autopilot is not needed? Or were you joking? Autopilots fail often. What type do you have that you have such faith in it? Long passage, Mom & Pop crew, plus dead auto makes for a tough trip.

Paul L

[Bash]

Just checked with my neighbor, next slip over, who has davits and a windvane. He pointed out that on passages the dink is on the deck, not in the davits. And he only uses the vane on passages.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Paul L

Why do you think that a backup for an autopilot is not needed? Or were you joking? Autopilots fail often.

Hi Paul

Our auto pilot backup is Nicolle and me.

I don't believe modern autopilots break down often. My experience is that very very few have any problems whatsoever.

Certainly not enough to plunge one into the swim platform distroying it.

I do understand Chris' point for his particular boat.

One thing we have found cruising on a budget is that we can not afford, or have the space for, all the spares we could conceivable need.

Yes, one boat I know had to hand steer for 5 days near the Marquesas, but when fixed they didn't go buy a spare.

The guy who bought a spare alternator for the pacific trip put it in the cupboard next to the Fluxgate compass - he sure as hell didn't think that spare provided any value!

A boat here stuck one though his swim platform on a lovely Bavaria so now you can't use the swim platform nor can they get on and off via the stern. Does he need the spare? Nope, but sure as hell he needed a spare generator!

We can't carry all spares - I'm not saying carry none - but a new Raymarine 6000 series electric will not let you down. If it does then hand steer to the next port and buy another easily as they are ubiquitous or can be Fedex'd





Mark
PS Hand steering for a few days is probably what we all NEED!

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

...We can't carry all spares - I'm not saying carry none - but a new Raymarine 6000 series electric will not let you down. If it does then hand steer to the next port and buy another easily as they are ubiquitous or can be Fedex'd
....

Mark,
You certainly can't carry spares for everything. It is all a trade-off. Since fatigue is in my mind the (or main) cause of so many accidents, reliable self-steering is way up on my list. I have a below decks Raymarine also. It is on its first linear driver, 2nd compass and third computer (7 years approx). My boat is an easily steered, light and fast boat. If I didn't have so much tied up in spares, I might just go to a different vendor.

Paul L

[jim_thomsen]

We decided to add a Monitor windvane before our Atlantic crossing...more as a non-electrical backup but found we really like the way the Monitor works.

We had/still have a swim platform:

Home Page

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by Boracay

Hi Mark
I've been assuming that an auto pilot on Boracay would be difficult because:-
1) She's steel so compass problems.
2) The steering is cable, so I'd have to change to hydraulic.
3) Big boat with big unbalanced rudder, so none of the cheaper systems will work.
4) No emergency rudder, so am thinking of getting a wind vane with it's own rudder.

I do recognise that none of the above may apply to a lighter, well made fibreglass boat.

1. Compass may be an issue, but it is doable.
2. You do not need hydraulic steering to use an autopilot. In fact it is easier with mechanical steering.
3. Yep, you need a strong system.
4. The emergency rudders create using most windvanes are generally marginal at best. Perhaps with the exception of the hydrovane.

Paul L

[Bash]

For me it was more important to have a spare rudder than a spare autopilot. We carry the oversize Scanmar SOS rudder, but no backup autopilot for our Raymarine 7000 series. It's not just that I share Mark's faith in these units, but on most points of sail we're able to balance the helm well enough with sail trim that we can lock the wheel for long periods.