Would you get rid of a self steering wind vane if you had one?

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Get rid of it. Most of the CF populous have their heads stuck in the 1970s-80’s sand... technology has moved on.

Keep it. Some of CF's respondents have no concept of the issues facing lower budget long range sailors.

Jim

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Keep it. Some of CF's respondents have no concept of the issues facing lower budget long range sailors.

Jim

You mean like back in 1978 when Orinoco Flo and I were sailing our O’Day 20 off the California coast?

Ditch the weathervane steering along with the 8 Track tape player, or sell it to a 1970’s throwback for more that it’s worth, and let them waste their time “cleaning rust off of it [rather] than actually using it.”

[El Pinguino]

I bet Jeanne Socrates wishes she still had her Hydrovane....

Keep it.....

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

I bet Jeanne Socrates wishes she still had her Hydrovane....

Keep it.....

Give it to Jeanne.

[JPA Cate]

It is possible that Ken does not have a windvane, perhaps never did.

We sailed tens of thousands of miles with one, and I would keep it. Unless you plan a cockpit enclosure for a center cockpit boat. Such a construction with interfere with the wind flow to a wind vane, and it might not steer you as reliably as ours (home made, auxiliary rudder type) did for us.

There are times we'd like to have one on this boat.

Ann

[El Pinguino]

The OP hasn't told us where he plans to sail.... if just coastal - e.g. daysailing around the Med - then maybe get rid of it. I don't use mine inshore... winds are too variable... easier to hand steer .


Ann I would be more concerned about aft cockpits with big enclosure and a bucket load of 'junk on the trunk'.......

[Jim Cate]

BTW, welcome back El Ping. Hope the cruise was good and that propagation improves so we can have a chat.

Jim

[Jim Cate]

You mean like back in 1978 when Orinoco Flo and I were sailing our O’Day 20 off the California coast?

Did a lot of offshore passages in the O'Day, did you Ken? Very commendable.

We haven't been told how the OP plans to use his boat, and as others have said, if he's just daysailing or doing short inshore passages, the vane isn't as big an advantage. But in smaller boats with limited electrical resources and limited budgets, an already installed windvane is a huge advantage if going offshore.

I think your advice is wrong.

Jim

[GILow]

One word.

Keep.

If that's not enough, two words.

Keep it.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by GILow

One word.

Keep.

If that's not enough, two words.

Keep it.

Gosh Matt, you are getting verbose in your old age!

Jim

[GILow]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

Ann I would be more concerned about aft cockpits with big enclosure and a bucket load of 'junk on the trunk'.......

I like my trunk junk.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Gosh Matt, you are getting verbose in your old age!

Jim

Practically babbling mate.

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by GILow

I like my trunk junk.

Well... you won't have to rig a riding sail when lying to your nets.......

Melbourne registered I see...

[GILow]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

Well... you won't have to rig a riding sail when lying to your nets.......

AND she heaves to with NO sails up at all. Kinda weird, to be honest, but I'm not complaining.

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

Melbourne registered I see...

Not any more, that photo was taken the week I bought her in Melbourne (Hastings jetty). She's Port Adelaide registered now (after forking out many $$$ to AMSA).

Two tons lighter at least, probably two and half tons now, it's strange to see the waterline in that photo.

[Breaking Waves]

I think the OP has to answer two questions before a useful answer to his question can be provided.

1. As already mentioned, how does he plan to use the boat? We took vane off our boat when we stopped crossing oceans, and certainty never missed it.

2. Does that vane work well in that installation? There could be a concern with that solar install and the mizzen, that the air flow to the vane will not be very clean.

As to the emergency rudder thought, bolting that rudder on at sea is not going to be fun nor safe.