The hydrovane is both a mechanical self steering windvane for offshore sailboats and an emergency rudder and. The number one self steering wind vane, the aries a self steering wind vane for offshore sailboats and worldwide bluewater sailors. This book shows how to choose, buy, build, install, maintain, repair, and use a windvane selfsteerer. Mar 16, 2004 a windvane self steering system is the most reliable means of steering your small vessel on long ocean passagesand it doesnt use one amp of your precious electrical power. Wind vane steering attachments are available for most autopilots, but in light air they are no better than wind driven selfsteering gear. Share windvane selfsteering by bill belcher 1982, hardcover currently sold out. My diy servopendulum windvane self steering gear on my islander excalibur 26. Shipped from uk, please allow 10 to 21 business days for arrival. Unfollow wind vane steering to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Belcher and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The hebridean selfsteering wind vane is a new design concept, good for diy sailors. Some methods are based on balancing sail forces but most use a sheet to. A comparison of windvanes and autopilots for a voyaging.
Windvane self steering systems use change in the direction of apparent wind to steer the boat. Wind vane steering attachments are available for most autopilots, but in light air they are no better than wind driven self steering gear. A windvane self steering system is the most reliable means of steering your small vessel on long ocean passagesand it doesnt use one amp of your precious electrical power. Windvane selfsteering options fall into two categories, servo pendulum and auxiliary rudder. A comparison of windvanes and autopilots for a voyaging sailboat. When the wind drops below that, we resort to our autopilot. I have also read in sailing books and could never figure it quite out. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Blondie hasler, a pioneer in selfsteering development, endorses the book, saying, for the reader who wants concise and clear instructions on how to plan and build his own vanesteering gear, this is just about the best book ive yet seen, and i would gladly go to sea with any of the gears he recommends.
This means that the only time that an electronic self steering system is necessary, is when the winds are light. Find great deals on ebay for self steering windvane and wind vane self steering. Downwind sailing in light airwhen apparent wind may be only a whisperis one of the biggest challenges for a windvane steering system. Wind vane selfsteerers do require five knots or more of wind across the deck to work properly. Photo gallery voyager self steering sailing wind vanes. Mar 09, 2018 hi, ive been trolling the internet for some descent plans not fagpacket sketches or a simple kit for a windvane self steering. Sarah curry advises how best to use a wind vane steering system sarah and husband will sailed from the us to australia on hydroquest with a hydrovane wind vane steering system. An overview of sailboat selfsteeringmechanical versus electronic steeringa brief history of windvane selfsteeringcaptain joshua slocum early experiments marinmarie trimtab steering blondie hasler and the ostar marcel gianoli nick franklin stellan knoos hans bernwall and. If it isnt, then you can forget about sailing down wind with one. Windvane selfsteering by bill belcher 1982, hardcover 1 product rating. Another version of wind vane self steering on sail boats is known as the vertical axis vane and usually, because of the inferior power it has to its servo pendulum cousins it makes use of a trim tab hung off the rudder to control the course of the boat. Apr 30, 2011 self steering without a windvane a comprehensive manual of natural and sheettotiller steering systems for sailboats by lee woas.
How they work sheettotiller steering trimtab gears vertical vane trim tabs horizontal vane trim tabs servopendulums vertical vane servopendulum horizontal vane servopendulum pendulum trim tab pendulum trimtab tiller arm notes on rudder design mechanicalelectronic combinations chapter 3. Our aim with this book is to investigate the functioning and the pros and cons of the various systems, and to help. Feb 24, 2004 here is the definitive manual for choosing, purchasing, installing, maintaining, repairing, using, and even building a windvane self steerer, that amazing device that relieves longdistance sailors from the the helm while using not one amp of precious electrical power. Dec 08, 2011 i had a fleming wind vane and as soon as the wind started blowing, it did not work unless we completely underpowered the boat im my eyes it was not because of the windvane but because the boat was really hard to balance, not having to use a lot of power to steer please tell me if im compeltely wrong. The history of the sailomat selfsteering device, from the original sailomat 3040. Strong stainless steel 316 construction high quality materials ball bearings for minimal friction.
Servo pendulum neptune yacht windvane self steering. However, for anyone who sails alone or cruises short handed over long distances the benefits can be immeasurable. Windy has proven itself responsive in light wind on all points of sail, and equally effective when steering through high winds and heavy seas. This book, i hope, will cut through the tangle of conflicting opinions and contradictory hearsay surrounding the subject of self steering. Mar 01, 2004 a windvane self steering system is the most reliable means of steering your small vessel on long ocean passagesand it doesnt use one amp of your precious electrical power. When youre cruising shorthanded, you cant always be at. The lower the friction in the system is, the less apparent wind force is needed to start working. Windy is a strong, efficient, and reliable shipmate. A comprehensive manual of natural and sheettotiller steering systems for sailboats author lee woas book condition used good quantity available 1 binding hardcover isbn 10 0915160528 isbn 9780915160525 publisher seven seas press place of publication u.
Another version of wind vane self steering on sail boats is known as the vertical axis vane and usually, because of the inferior steering force output compared to servo pendulum devices it makes use of a trim tab hung off the rudder to control the course of the boat. Wind vane self steering the unified corribee website. Selfsteering without a windvane 1982 edition open library. Hi there sailor, welcome to the new website of aries vane gear. Apr 11, 2017 my diy servopendulum windvane self steering gear on my islander excalibur 26. Once the vane was fixed to the desired angle off the wind using a round base plate with notches spaced at 5degree intervals, any course change rotated the large vane like a weathercock. A reasonable wind vane self steering unit will steer in winds as low as force 2 when the vessel is likely to start motoring anyway. His talks and workshops became an instant success, not only because he knows this subject better than anyone else in the world, bus also because he always speaks generically about both wind operated self steering gears and electronic autopilots.
Wind vane selfsteering systems must be as frictionless as possible between the sensing vane and the actuating servo rudder. A wind vane was never going to be in the budget, and as i also needed a project for my gcse technology course, i decided to attempt to design and make a selfsteering windvane. Vic s is absolutely right, there are some older and imo completely erroneous books but djikstras is sound on theory,practise and example. How vane gears work a clear discussion of how to match vane design with boat invaluable. Hi, ive been trolling the internet for some descent plans not fagpacket sketches or a simple kit for a windvane self steering. Trim tab design procedure the procedure for designing your trim tab requires the following steps which will be explained in the text below.
The vane spins at right angles to the ground and can lock to the trim tab in. We need to know the length of you boat so we know we are sending you the right plans. Windvane selfsteering by bill belcher 1982, hardcover. How to plan and make your own by bill belcher and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles. Buy a cheap copy of selfsteering without a windvane book by lee woas. A self steering wind vane for offshore sailboats and worldwide bluewater sailors. Blondie hasler, a pioneer in self steering development, endorses the book, saying, for the reader who wants concise and clear instructions on how to plan and build his own vane steering gear, this is just about the best book ive yet seen, and i would gladly go to sea with any of the gears he recommends. The windvane self steering handbook is the definitive guide to every aspect of sailing and working with the longdistance sailors best friend. Bill belchers windvane selfsteering is a good read and contains numerous drawings for diy fabrication. Holland windvane self steering a unique concept for the diy enthusiast. Windys self steering gear will make your sailing experience more enjoyable. This is why you get just one windvane size with the system, where some brands offer a light weight bigger blade for light airs.
A wind vane was never going to be in the budget, and as i also needed a project for my gcse technology course, i decided to attempt to design and make a self steering windvane. Apr 24, 2014 wind vane self steerers do require five knots or more of wind across the deck to work properly. Here is the definitive manual for choosing, purchasing, installing, maintaining, repairing, using, and even building a windvane self steerer, that amazing device that relieves longdistance sailors from the the helm while using not one amp of precious electrical power. Here is the definitive manual for choosing, purchasing, installing, maintaining, repairing, using, and even building a windvane selfsteerer, that amazing device that relieves longdistance sailors from the the helm while using not one amp of precious electrical power. Save self steering windvane to get email alerts and updates on your ebay feed.
Wind vane aries vane gear the number one self steering. Please select the length of your boat from the list below. Find great deals on ebay for wind vane and wind vane steering. My boat is only 26 ft long and has a transomhung rudder so i believe a trimtab solution would provide what i need. Compact and lightweight, the wind vane combines simple design with robust construction in a fold flat solution that can easily be stored in a boat locker. Some customers can make the most of a great day march 22nd 2020 even in a tumultuous world. The sensor vane is the brains of the selfsteering system, but it needs apparent wind to work. Twentyfive years of wind vane steering ocean navigator. The market for nautical books has also been very fertile. Aries is your best crewmember for sailing around the world. Pictures show the vane gear, fitted to a hartley fijian 37. The holland windvane is a windvane self steering device that excels in performance and is characterized by. The hebridean self steering wind vane is a new design concept, good for diy sailors. Suddenly, the chore of handsteering was a thing of the past.
One of the 2020 batch customers taking his system for the first spin. Ive spent some of my time counting the number of boats equipped with what used to be the long distance boats badge of honoura wind vane. Buy a cheap copy of self steering without a windvane book by lee woas. Wind vane self steering by belcher, bill and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Servo pendulum solutions utilize your boats own rudder and as the name suggests, auxiliary rudder products work with a separate, independent rudder system. How they work sheettotiller steering trimtab gears verticalvane trim tabs horizontalvane trim tabs servopendulums verticalvane servopendulum horizontalvane servopendulum pendulum trim tab pendulum trimtab tiller arm notes on rudder design mechanicalelectronic combinations chapter 3. Wind screaming batteries flat autopilot down rudder failed weather helm yes, with a neptune. This in turn twisted the tab to one side of the main rudder, driving the rudder in the opposite direction, thus bringing the vessel back on course. Under these conditions an electronic unit, considerably smaller than normal will suffice. If it saves you the disappointment of a self steering failure and the exhaustion of hours at the helm in cold, dark and stormy seas, it will have achieved its aim. The windvane selfsteering handbook is the definitive guide to every aspect of sailing. Apr 25, 2017 how to make a wind vane self steering gear. Hebridean wind vane self steering trial sept 2016 duration. Buy the windvane selfsteering handbook book online at low.
The windvane selfsteering handbook is the definitive guide to every aspect of sailing and working with the longdistance sailors best friend. The windvane selfsteering handbook by bill morris 2004. Veteran sailor bill morris points out the mechanical and navigational advantages of vane steering systems. Sitting in the canaries watching all the yachts turn up to make the transatlantic crossing has been instructive in one sense. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every. Long tricks at the helm are exhausting, concentration wanes, essentials such as eating, trimming sails, navigating, sleeping etc are neglected. Windy self steering strong and reliable self steering. Describes a variety of means to get a sailboat to steer itself on a consistent heading relative to the wind. The windvane selfsteering handbook by bill morris, hardcover. The hebridean offers diy sailors the opportunity to build an affordable wind vane in wood and stainless. We believe servopendulum systems like the monitor are usually your best option. Selfsteering gear project gutenberg selfpublishing.