Center cockpit needs wind vane

[Keysbuoyboy]

Hey everyone just wanted to see if you'd have any ideas on a wind vane for a 32' O'DAY center cockpit with a ketch rig. An auxiliary rudder seems to be the goto for this configuration.
Thanks for any help you can give 😁

[roverhi]

Happy with my WindPilot Pacific Plus. If the boat sails, the vane steers. Only negative is slow speed tight quarter maneuvering which not be a big issue with a fin keel boat.WINDPILOT - Products: Pacific Plus

[Ded reckoner]

Do you have an autopilot by Raymarine or B&G? If so, there are modes to sail by offset to either by the true wind or the apparent wind. These systems offer a virtual windvane solution.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Ded reckoner

Do you have an autopilot by Raymarine or B&G? If so, there are modes to sail by offset to either by the true wind or the apparent wind. These systems offer a virtual windvane solution.

A virtual windvane! Somehow, this seems to miss out on the real strong points of a windvane: simple to build and repair if ever needed, no electricity drain, no reliance on complicated electronics or dodgy connectors.

For the OP: Besides the Wind Pilot mentioned above, the Autohelm auxiliary rudder vane, sold by Scanmar, is a somewhat less expensive alternative.

And either one would work well on your boat.

Jim

[El Pinguino]

Trim tab on Aux rudder is a good 'stringless' solution.

A discussion here http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...-115345-2.html

Photos of mine at post#25

[hpeer]

I have a John Belcher designed aux rudder vane on the small boat. Works well and I can drive it with a tiller pilot.

https://www.amazon.ca/Wind-Vane-Self.../dp/0877421587

The big boat is a center cockpit and was designed so that the rudder stock comes up through the aft deck with a permanently affixed tiller. The tiller is driven by a Monitor vane.

I've seen a couple of 44'ish steel French boats with the same arrangement.

[captmikem]

Originally Posted by roverhi

Happy with my WindPilot Pacific Plus. If the boat sails, the vane steers. Only negative is slow speed tight quarter maneuvering which not be a big issue with a fin keel boat.WINDPILOT - Products: Pacific Plus

I had a Pacific Plus on a Halberg Rassy center cockpit and it was a GREAT vane, nice thing is you can balance the boat with its own rudder, then engage the vane and does not work hard at all.

A very good wind vane.

M

[witzgall]

The "Virtual" wind vane (AP with wind mode) can steer in very light winds, something a wind vane cannot do.

Chris

[roland stockham]

Agree that some form of aux rudder is the way to go. I have the same size and configuration but a transom hung rudder so attached a stub tiller directly to the rudder which give emergency steering as well.

[UNCIVILIZED]

Might this be an option for you? CapeHorn - Integrated Self-Steering System - Sailboats

[Mango51]

I have a pacific plus 2. I took of my 51 ketch. For sale. It missing the rudder section.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by witzgall

The "Virtual" wind vane (AP with wind mode) can steer in very light winds, something a wind vane cannot do.

Chris

Can it do so when the batteries are dead?

Jim

[roland stockham]

Wind steering in light airs is never that good because the relative wind is constantly shifting. I think having the ability to steer to real not apparent wind via AP may help but not tried it. Windvanes are for when the wind picks up, unlike any electric AP the faster you go and the stronger the wind the more power you get from the vane. In 25kn a windvane is loving it whereas may AP's are struggling or drawing heavy amps.

[barnakiel]

I think your boat does not lend itself (easily) to windvanes.

Try Windpilot Pacific Plus, Hydrovane, etc., see what fits.

Cheers,
b.

[roverhi]

Originally Posted by witzgall

The "Virtual" wind vane (AP with wind mode) can steer in very light winds, something a wind vane cannot do.

Chris

My Windpilot Pacific Plus can steer the boat in winds too light to deflect the wind vane even one that's 4' tall and made out of very light corrugated plastic. If you are talking winds that light, doubt that any wind sensing self steering, electric or mechanical would work well. If you are patient enough not to turn the engine on in those conditions, a compass controlled A/P is necessary. Nice thing about an aux rudder mechanical self steering is you can hook cheap tiller pilot to the vane and get a super low draw auto pilot.

As far as a mechanical vane steering getting better as wind and boat speed increases, that is most applicable to Pendulum Servo vanes that provide steering through the boats rudder. Pendulum Servo units that actually turns the rudder do get stronger as boat speed increases. Had an Aries that wouldn't steer the boat below 4kts boat speed but would handle the heavy helm better and better as wind/boat speed increased. On the WPPP aux rudder vane, assume others of the type, it's not necessarily the case. Not that they steer worse as boat speed/wind increase but that they aren't as reliant as a Pendulum Servo vane on water speed past the vane to generate turning force to the auxiliary rudder.