COMMENTS

  1. Hydrovane Self Steering Windvane

    Golden Globe Update Day 113: [GGR Leader Jean-Luc Van Den Heede sailing the Rustler 36 Matmut] was full of praise for his Hydrovane self-steering. "In a gale it has a big advantage because it is not steering the boat's rudder, but has its own. This little rudder is far more efficient than the big rudder.". - Jean Luc Van Den Heede on ...

  2. Wind Vane Self Steering: The Ultimate Guide

    A wind vane self steering system is an invaluable piece of equipment that allows sailors to maintain course without having to constantly adjust their sails or helm. This automated system harnesses the power of the wind to steer the boat, freeing up valuable time and energy for sailors to focus on other important tasks.

  3. Wind Vane self steering systems

    This video explains, in simple terms, how wind vane self-steering systems work on yachts and sailboats. The video follows an easy flow from auxiliary rudder ...

  4. Why You Need a Wind Vane for Your Sailboat

    A sailboat wind vane is a mechanical self-steering system that requires no electricity, fuel, or manpower to operate. It's the perfect addition to bluewater cruisers and offshore sailboats. While a mechanical self-steering wind vane can't hold you on a compass course, they're more accurate than human steering over long distances.

  5. Windvane steering: why it makes sense for coastal cruising

    Self-steering gear achieves this by presenting a vane directly into the wind. When the wind acts on either side of this vane, it tips, transferring this action through the mechanism below to either a rudder or a servo pendulum which acts on the main rudder, altering the boat's course. The two main systems. Servo-pendulum

  6. How to Properly Use a Windvane

    The action of air vanes on most mechanical self-steering units is dampened by a counterweight set below the vane's pivot point. This helps keep the boat from yawing excessively, as the air vane is never truly edge-to-the-wind for more than an instant. In effect, it is the equivalent of the damping control found on most electronic autopilots.

  7. Sailing With a Windvane

    Updated: December 9, 2019. Manufactured in Sweden since 1976, Sailomat windvanes employ the servo-pendulum system (SPS) and are available in models to fit yachts from 26 to 55 feet LOA. Courtesy of Sailomat. Once found only in the ascetic realm of single-handed sailing, self-steering gear has become ubiquitous on cruising boats, even fully ...

  8. Wind Vane Steering: A Comprehensive Guide

    Short answer: Wind vane steering Wind vane steering, a mechanical self-steering system, uses a wind vane to maintain the desired course of a sailing vessel. The wind's pressure on the vane adjusts the boat's rudder, allowing it to stay on track even when unmanned or during long voyages. How Wind Vane Steering Works: Understanding the

  9. Sailboat Wind Vane: A Guide to Efficient Navigation

    A sailboat wind vane, also known as a self-steering gear, is a mechanical device that uses the apparent wind to steer a sailboat on its desired course without human input. It is usually mounted on the boat's transom and can significantly reduce the workload of sailors during long passages.

  10. Build Your Own Self-Steering Windvane

    For the short-handed sailor planning long ocean crossings, a self-steering windvane is not essential but darn close to it. For boats with stern-hung rudders, a self-steering windvane can be constructed with readily available materials and a modest level of skill. It's all about leverage. There will be an air paddle which will weathercock to the…

  11. A Guide to Equipping Your Boat with a Windvane

    The deviation of this vane by the wind when the boat goes off course activates a series of mechanical gearing or levers to achieve the desired course correction. Trim Tab Steering A trim tab windvane, less commonly seen by major manufacturers today, was the forerunner of the modern windvane system and works by affixing a small "trim tab" to ...

  12. WINDPILOT: selfsteering under sail

    The reference resource for mechanical windvane steering for yachtsmen and worldwide bluewater cruising sailors.

  13. Sarah Curry: Guide to wind vane steering

    Sarah Curry advises how best to use a wind vane steering system. The overall concept is simple: a non-electric device mounted on the boat's transom has a vane that takes a signal from the wind. Based on this input, the boat is steered - by various mechanisms - on the apparent wind-based course you set. The beauty of an apparent wind-based ...

  14. Hebridean self-steering wind vane

    The Hebridean wind vane is an innovative version of the tried and tested servo-pendulum self steering system for sailing boats steered by tiller or wheel. The Hebridean has crossed Atlantic and Pacific oceans but is also quick and easy to mount for weekend coastal sailing or jaunts across the Channel, Minch or other strait/sea. Stern freeboard.

  15. Other Kits and Plans

    Windvane Self Steering. The purpose of a wind-vane self steering device is to allow the skipper to do something other than sitting at the helm. While this is not practical for most un-ballasted small sailboats, a self steering device is an essential tool for the cruising sailor. Graham has been testing the wind vane on his Core Sound 17 Mark 3 ...

  16. Deck-level Wind Vanes

    Bow Vanes. Single sail boats, such as Lasers and Optimus dinghies often clamp wind indicators on the forward side of the mast (see Practical Sailor, January 2018, Top Notch Wind Indicators). Without a jib to interfere with windflow or to luff at every wind shift (thus serving as a wind vane), they give a real-time estimate of wind direction.

  17. Steering Wind Vane: A Guide to Efficient Sailboat Navigation

    With a reliable steering wind vane guiding your sailboat's every move, you can leave behind tedious manual steering processes and truly immerse yourself in the joy of sailing. 2. Perfect Course Keeping: Maintaining a steady course while battling fickle winds can be exasperating even for seasoned sailors. Thankfully, with a well-calibrated ...

  18. Monitor Windvane Self Steering -- How it Works

    How the Monitor Windvane Self Steering works, explained aboard Norseman 447 Rocinante w/ Morse Alpha Expeditions.We offer Coastal & Offshore Sailing Expediti...

  19. Windvane Selfsteering

    Windvane self-steering options fall into two categories, servo pendulum and auxiliary rudder. Servo pendulum solutions utilize your boat's own rudder and as the name suggests, auxiliary rudder products work with a separate, independent rudder system. We believe servo-pendulum systems like the Monitor are usually your best option. They are ...

  20. How Does A Sailboat Wind Vane Work?

    The edge of the vane faces into the wind so that when the boat veers off course the vane topples over. That force is communicated to the rotating steering, which moves the tiller. The wind vane also connects to the water flowing past it. Together, these two forces work to steer the boat. The harder the wind blows and the faster the boat moves ...

  21. Discover the Best Wind Vanes for Sailboats

    Improve sailing performance with a wind indicator for your sailboat. A sailboat's wind vane, also called a spar or masthead fly, shows in real-time the direction of the apparent wind, which you can use to trim your sails and sail most efficiently. Available in a variety of sizes, wind direction tools are a must for sailboats and sailing dinghies.

  22. Sailboat Autopilot Wind Vane: A Comprehensive Guide

    Short answer: Sailboat autopilot wind vane A sailboat autopilot wind vane is a mechanism used to steer a sailboat by using the force of the wind. It consists of a windvane connected to an autopilot, which adjusts the boat's rudder based on the wind direction. This device allows for hands-free sailing and improved efficiency in

  23. SAILOMAT

    The Ultimate in Sailboat Mechanical Self-Steering. Custom Design and Manufacturing. Worldwide sales. Factory Direct Since 1974. San Diego, California, United States. www.sailomat.com [email protected]. SAILOMAT is the world's leading professional design team and manufacturer specializing in state-of-the-art mechanical self-steering systems ...