Hydrovane happy.

[daletournier]

You don't see windvanes that often on modern boats. Ive had a Hydrovane for 7 years but other than long passages I generally used my autopilot. My smaller autopilot didnt suck that much juice.
My new boat is bigger, faster and heavier. On my first overnighter a week ago I was blown away by how much power my big raymarine autopilot used. I'd already fitted the hydrovane but it wasnt dealing as well with the new boat as I would like.
Spoke to Will at Hydrovane and he suggested to modify the hydrovane rudder a little which I did yesterday.
Set of for a 40nm trip today with 15-25k at approximately 160°-170°, what a joy the hydrovane was, its a form of magic that dosent screw up.
Best of all I've figured my raymarine is drawing between 4-6 amp, that's 96-120 over a 24 hr period! This was a concern to me regarding my plans this year, the Hydrovane saves me some serious amps.

Just thought I'd share, I like good products.


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[double u]

let us know the modifications you made to the rudder please!

[daletournier]

Originally Posted by double u

let us know the modifications you made to the rudder please!

From the leading edge of rudder to front of hole where shaft goes in , the distance was 71mm. The new rudders are 56mm. Using a hand saw and then a electric planer I took the difference off and shaped it.

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[double u]

interesting! less area, less balanced - & it still worked better...hmmm

[daletournier]

Yes, working as we speak. Also ive added the new extendable vane.

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[daletournier]

Extended vane.

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[Jim Cate]

When I built our aux rudder vane years ago, I found that getting the rudder balance was critical and non intuitive. I did all the appropriate calculations for the NACA foil that I used... and they were WAY off what actually worked. Embarrassing...

I'll never forget the day when I finally got it right and the damn thing actually worked... I sat and watched it for hours, moving back and forth, correcting the course successfully. I was stoked...

Glad that yours is doing well, Dale!

Jim

[daletournier]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

When I built our aux rudder vane years ago, I found that getting the rudder balance was critical and non intuitive. I did all the appropriate calculations for the NACA foil that I used... and they were WAY off what actually worked. Embarrassing...

I'll never forget the day when I finally got it right and the damn thing actually worked... I sat and watched it for hours, moving back and forth, correcting the course successfully. I was stoked...

Glad that yours is doing well, Dale!

Jim

Hi Jim, I forgot just how cool these things are. I like tech electricity stuff but I've got to admit there is some sort of magic to the simplicity of the Hydrovane in action, I also watch it regularly. I trust it more than the autopilot. Still playing with the boat, theres been a decent swell running with 20-30k following wind, the only time the hydrovane struggles is when I hand to much headship up at we start to surf of track, if I just depower abit I don't lose any speed and the Hydrovane handles the steering with ease.
Getting the hydrovane working so well early on in my trip is a big relief both from a autopilot electricity draw and reliability perspective.
Its just cool.

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[daletournier]

Have and headsail replace ,have and headship......bloody predictive text, I sent the word " gonorrhea" accidentally in a text not long back grrrrrrr!

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[robert sailor]

Dale, had they modified this model and yours from from a previous batch???

[daletournier]

Hi Robert, my rudder was purchased in 2011, this is the model that is 71mm from the hole to the leading edge, they have since changed to the 56mm to leading edge rudder, don't know when.

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[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by daletournier

Hi Robert, my rudder was purchased in 2011, this is the model that is 71mm from the hole to the leading edge, they have since changed to the 56mm to leading edge rudder, don't know when.

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Dale, was there any change to t he profile of the blade at the same time?

Jim

[daletournier]

Hi Jim, I don't think so.

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[lamadriver]

I want to second what a great piece of gear the Hydrovane is . I reckon its steered 8-10Kmiles in the last 2 years.

I had some mounting challenges with a solar gantry and etc, but used the stubby vane with success.

One thing I recently encounterd though was I had a new sun shade that goes up between the arch and dodger and it caused airflow disruption forward of the beam. Station wagon effect.

Will @ hydrovane has always been super available and very easy to deal with.

I recently purchased a Watt and Sea hydrogenertor from them and it is another fantastic piece of kit.

[44'cruisingcat]

[QUOTE=daletournier;2366484]Have and headsail replace ,have and headship......bloody predictive text, I sent the word " gonorrhea" accidentally in a text not long back grrrrrrr!

Sent from my vivo Y35 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app[/dQUOTE]

LOL! Try writing Yagoona, (a Sydney suburb) and see what it comes up with!