Many thanks Kirk for the the detailed review. Particularly invaluable to get some insight into part
replacements. I'm going with a Norvane and will seek out the extra delrin bushings in addition to the standard spares.
I've got a
small boat with an
outboard rudder and have been tempted again and again by the possibility of installing either an off-center mounted
hydrovane ($$) or the more traditional trim tabs. Both fairly lightweight and unobtrusive. Unfortunately, months of thought and
research gave way only to long hours in front of the computer and mounting indecision. l always seemed to come back to the Norvane.
The Norvane has the deficit of being a bit less protected from strikes than the
hydrovane and the hydro doesn't introduce more lines in the
cockpit, but the Norvane is less than half the cost and appears by all accounts to equal the hydrovane in performance and quality.
Regarding trim tabs, I have always been a bit turned off by their diminished heavy
weather performance. They also obviously don't offer as much redundancy. Suppose I could still take advantage of the
outboard rudder tho and use trim tabs as a backup to the Norvane!
..Anyway, thanks again.
-Ryan
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