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Thread: Self steering systems - Wind Vanes

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Location
    Castine, ME
    Posts
    9

    Post Self steering systems - Wind Vanes

    Hi there,
    Well my boat is high and dry, i hauled early, about a month ago, so I could start martime school. And I hope to use the association as a resource for a class. And for my ariel, here in Maine. I would like to add a simple self steering system, that uses the wind and the existing rudder. I have read about some but know not of any. Does any one have one? Or know of a good company? Please let me know, and I will writting up my findings for the class and for the news bulletin.
    Thanks
    Elie #20

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Orinda, California
    Posts
    2,311

    MONITOR WIND VANE

    A very simple and reliable windvane is Scanmar's Monitor Windvane. Had one on a 30 foot offshore cruiser. The company has a Web page at www.selfsteer.com. Good luck with your classes

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    San Antonio, TX
    Posts
    59
    I like the looks of the sailomat windvane.

    http://www.sailomat.com/home.html

    One of these would cost almost as much as I paid for #92!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Location
    Castine, ME
    Posts
    9

    Thumbs up self steering

    Thanks, I will check these links out and report my progress

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Location
    Castine, ME
    Posts
    9

    Smile

    Well I have recieved some replies. Scanmar Monitor made a rig for an Ariel and sent me detail of the stern monting. Made be we can order a bakers dozen? I also found a book by Bill Belcher that givens plan for a home made rig that runs the tiller.
    Does the Association have larger drawings of the Ariel's Lines as in page 144 of the second addition, availible?
    Thanks again

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    San Antonio, TX
    Posts
    59
    Elie,
    I have some copies of commander drawings. The Association has some that I sent them, but they seem to have misplaced them. Anyway, I'd like to see how the Monitor model was mounted on one of our diminutive transoms. The Sail-0-Mat would require an extension plate up about 7 inches from the top of the transom. That would put it up to about 36 inches above the water according to my drawings. I'd be somewhat concerned about the looks of any contraption hanging off the stern, but I'd appreciate the function.

    I'm also reading a book, Self-Steering for Sailing Craft. I picked it up on ebay for about $12. It is out of print, from the early sixties or seventies. You, studying this, should get it. It goes way into the engineering priniples, if not all the computation details that would be required to actually engineer one. It is mainly about how to do it yourself if you are not a big company trying to make a "product" for mass production.

    David

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Orinda, California
    Posts
    2,311
    We have Alberg's full scale lines drawing. It was the master for the one on page 144. In fact, I have a full scale copy hanging in my office. If you need a copy, we can have it duplicated. I think the duplication cost was around $8. And then there would be the mailing tube and postage. E-mail me your preference.

    Bill

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Location
    Castine, ME
    Posts
    9
    Here are two drawings that Scanmar sent me, for two different systems, but boy do they cost some! I aslo found a book Wind Vane Self Steering by Bill Belcher gives plans for a home made version that works just the tiller.

    Bill I would like drawings where do I send the check?
    Attached Files

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Hampton Roads Va.
    Posts
    821

    Lightbulb

    I'm planning on converting #45 to a yawl rig .
    From a distance , she will look just like my favorite Pearson Triton .
    I have had yawls in the past and found they can be ballanced with the mizzen to where she will track for hours with a bungee attached to the tiller from the coamings .
    You can also get more complicated and run the mizzen sheet to the tiller .
    The yawl rig will give more sail options , a platform for antennas , etc. that is far more accessable than the masthead .
    Have experience with several tiller devices and they all had fairly heavy battery drain .
    The windvanes will spoil the looks of the boat and add weight aft .

    That's my 2 cents worth .

    Mike

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Location
    Castine, ME
    Posts
    9
    A yawl is an interesting option. What are your spec.s, do you have parts of an old rig you are recycling? How big of a sail will you bend?
    I do have concerns about weight in the transom, and appearence, of the vane. But I am just researching for the moment.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Hampton Roads Va.
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    821
    I am recycling an old mast , 16' ,and I think the whole rig will only be about 30 lbs.
    The luff will be close to 14' and the foot between 4' & 6' . The proportions are much like the main .

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Asst. Vice Commodore, NorthEast Fleet, Commander Division (Ret.) Brightwaters, N.Y.
    Posts
    1,823

    Tiller Pilot On Sale

    Hi Y'awl

    Sailnet.com has the Raytheon ST1000 Plus Tiller Autopilot on sale for $390.00. Comes with a free remote.

    West Marine catalog lists it at $450.00 and the remote at $190.00.

    I'm too much of a traditionalist for these electronic innovations (read: too cheap).

    I agree with Steve. The cost and ugliness of a wind vane could only be justified if you plan some serious passagemaking.

    Ketch ya later.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Hampton Roads Va.
    Posts
    821
    A little secret when dealing with West Marine , see if you can qualify for a 'Port Supply' card , it may take some BSing but it is worth it .
    It will give very deep discounts on stuff from West marine . I got 40% off a $600 battery charger/inverter .Doesn't help much on electronics like radios , GPS , etc. ( not much markup ) . Helps a lot on paint , brushes , varnish and other maintenance supplies .

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    San Rafael, CA
    Posts
    3,621

    scale drawings

    you know what you can do to get "scale" drawings is to take them down to a copy center and have them blow it up to 1/2" per foot. A little difficult with the overall dimension but close enuf, it's no grand piano. I have them on the walls all over the kitchen

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Location
    Castine, ME
    Posts
    9

    research paper

    well here are my conclusions based on the limited reseach I conducted. Thank you for all the replies. Please tell me what you think
    Elie

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