I'd like to ask those members of the list who own windvanes to give me their opinions and experience on their particular brand.
I am in the process of deciding between a: Windpilot, Flemming, Monitor or Sail-o-mat.
With prices ranging from over $2,000 to $5000, it's a hard decision to make.
Your thoughts would be most appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Mike
LaVida
CD33
umci@localnet.com
windvane selection
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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john churchill
Re: windvane selection
i just got done installing an older, but unused aries on my cd 26. it is heavy (73 lb) and i have not had a chance to use it yet, but am leaving for a week tomorrow and hope to post something about it upon my return. i bought it cause i am a cheapskate ($800). talking with the "experts", the monitor is the current benchmark. they are sold used fairly frequently thru the "latitude 38" classified ads for $1500, but they go quick. my own feeling is that it is a piece of gear that ought to last nearly forever without wearing out, so why buy new if you can find a used one.I'd like to ask those members of the list who own windvanes to give me their opinions and experience on their particular brand.
I am in the process of deciding between a: Windpilot, Flemming, Monitor or Sail-o-mat.
With prices ranging from over $2,000 to $5000, it's a hard decision to make.
Your thoughts would be most appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Mike
LaVida
CD33
john churchill
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Joe Brown
Re: windvane selection
I had a Monitor vane on a Hinckley 36 yawl I owned years ago and it worked flawlessly for about five years. It never needed maintenance and was easy to setup. On one 200 mile cruise from San Diego to Guadalupe Island I didn't touch the tiller once. The vane cost about $1,400 installed, but that was about 20 years ago. I'd recommend the Monitor to anyone.
joebrown@mint.net
joebrown@mint.net
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Captain Mike
Cut the chains to the helm
Mike:
I could not imagine again having a vessel without self-steering. Windvanes cut the chains to the tiller which allows relief to the crew. Watches take on a new meaning of tweaking the sails rather than the arduous and monotonous task of steering. I installed a Navik on my CD 22D and it work wonderfully during the transit through the Great Lakes. I used the Navik universely except of course when steaming. The monitor is similiar to the Navik and is designed for larger vessels 30' and over. The Navik maybe too small for your vessel unless it is balanced extremetly well. Cape Dory had a tendency to step the mast too aft contributing to excessive weather helm somewhat of a "safety" feature. Using a Navik on an unbalanced vessel of 33' maybe inadequate. The problem with most self-steering windvanes is the inability to turn the vessel off the wind because of the excessive weather helm that prevents the jib from constantly luffing. I have become a better sailor since using Navik. On my CD22D, the rig was so unbalanced initially, that it would not turn of the wind during a gust with full rudder. Their was allows a moment of hesitation before the vessel would turn. I have discussed this before on this message board and frequently suggestions are the sails set wrong. It is not the sails but incorrect balance between lateral resistance and center of effort. After moving the center of effort forward by reposition the mast the helm balanced. Making the vessel handle better with greater accuracy and eazily within the range of motion for the Navik. The Navik is a wonderful piece of engineering. It is light, strong and simple. I believe the Monitor or Navik is the best system on the market for cost,ease of installation, cost of repair and availability of parts.
Many happy repairs.............Capt. Mike
mattngly@concentric.net
I could not imagine again having a vessel without self-steering. Windvanes cut the chains to the tiller which allows relief to the crew. Watches take on a new meaning of tweaking the sails rather than the arduous and monotonous task of steering. I installed a Navik on my CD 22D and it work wonderfully during the transit through the Great Lakes. I used the Navik universely except of course when steaming. The monitor is similiar to the Navik and is designed for larger vessels 30' and over. The Navik maybe too small for your vessel unless it is balanced extremetly well. Cape Dory had a tendency to step the mast too aft contributing to excessive weather helm somewhat of a "safety" feature. Using a Navik on an unbalanced vessel of 33' maybe inadequate. The problem with most self-steering windvanes is the inability to turn the vessel off the wind because of the excessive weather helm that prevents the jib from constantly luffing. I have become a better sailor since using Navik. On my CD22D, the rig was so unbalanced initially, that it would not turn of the wind during a gust with full rudder. Their was allows a moment of hesitation before the vessel would turn. I have discussed this before on this message board and frequently suggestions are the sails set wrong. It is not the sails but incorrect balance between lateral resistance and center of effort. After moving the center of effort forward by reposition the mast the helm balanced. Making the vessel handle better with greater accuracy and eazily within the range of motion for the Navik. The Navik is a wonderful piece of engineering. It is light, strong and simple. I believe the Monitor or Navik is the best system on the market for cost,ease of installation, cost of repair and availability of parts.
Many happy repairs.............Capt. Mike
mike ritenour wrote: I'd like to ask those members of the list who own windvanes to give me their opinions and experience on their particular brand.
I am in the process of deciding between a: Windpilot, Flemming, Monitor or Sail-o-mat.
With prices ranging from over $2,000 to $5000, it's a hard decision to make.
Your thoughts would be most appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Mike
LaVida
CD33
mattngly@concentric.net
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Captain Mike
No need for a windvane
Dear Sailors:
I was crew On 'Dr. Markham's ketch' on a night sail between Praslin and Mahe, Sychelles, Indian Ocean. On the islands, the ketch was always referred to by this name. I never did know the vessel's proper name. Dr. Markham,a retired excentric English physician, resided with his wife on Praslin. The vessel was built on Praslin over ten years under his careful inspection, using local builders and native timber. The SE trades were blowing 15 knots, we enjoyed a customary sevety-five degree temperature and a sea of less than 3'. A single port reach of 25 nautical miles to Mahe and directly into the harbor. The night was beautiful and Dr. Markham, after the arduous day of making ready collapsed leaving me control of the con. I believe that Dr. Markhams ketch to be a William Garden design but I do not know for sure. The ketch had a stern cabin and the wheel was mounted on the cabin trunk midship. I was not long on the helm before I notice the steering slot to be quit narrow. I lashed the helm midship and began trimming the sails. We were under jib,forestay sail,main and mizzen. I was in heaven. I have never seen a vessel track straight through the water without a helsman or self-steering. I was able to trim sails so perfectly that to alter course windward or leeward all I need to do is trim the mezzen sail in or out. I maintained this course for the remaining three hours to fetch the harbor on a single tack. I only decided to wake Dr. Markham only after clearing the lighthouse. A big mistake,he nearly panicked after arriving on deck with the lighthouse silhoutted in the moon light. It was a magical sail. I only wished I would have had the oppurtunity to set the mizzen staysail. The ketch would have maintain maximum hull speed. Keep your stick on the ice........Capt Mike
mattngly@concentric.net
I was crew On 'Dr. Markham's ketch' on a night sail between Praslin and Mahe, Sychelles, Indian Ocean. On the islands, the ketch was always referred to by this name. I never did know the vessel's proper name. Dr. Markham,a retired excentric English physician, resided with his wife on Praslin. The vessel was built on Praslin over ten years under his careful inspection, using local builders and native timber. The SE trades were blowing 15 knots, we enjoyed a customary sevety-five degree temperature and a sea of less than 3'. A single port reach of 25 nautical miles to Mahe and directly into the harbor. The night was beautiful and Dr. Markham, after the arduous day of making ready collapsed leaving me control of the con. I believe that Dr. Markhams ketch to be a William Garden design but I do not know for sure. The ketch had a stern cabin and the wheel was mounted on the cabin trunk midship. I was not long on the helm before I notice the steering slot to be quit narrow. I lashed the helm midship and began trimming the sails. We were under jib,forestay sail,main and mizzen. I was in heaven. I have never seen a vessel track straight through the water without a helsman or self-steering. I was able to trim sails so perfectly that to alter course windward or leeward all I need to do is trim the mezzen sail in or out. I maintained this course for the remaining three hours to fetch the harbor on a single tack. I only decided to wake Dr. Markham only after clearing the lighthouse. A big mistake,he nearly panicked after arriving on deck with the lighthouse silhoutted in the moon light. It was a magical sail. I only wished I would have had the oppurtunity to set the mizzen staysail. The ketch would have maintain maximum hull speed. Keep your stick on the ice........Capt Mike
mike ritenour wrote: I'd like to ask those members of the list who own windvanes to give me their opinions and experience on their particular brand.
I am in the process of deciding between a: Windpilot, Flemming, Monitor or Sail-o-mat.
With prices ranging from over $2,000 to $5000, it's a hard decision to make.
Your thoughts would be most appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Mike
LaVida
CD33
mattngly@concentric.net
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Tim
Re: windvane selection
I installed a Monitor on my CD36 last summer and used it all summer on a Great Lakes cruise. After spending 15 or 20 minutes tinkering the first time, I was able to set it up in just a few minutes. It worked flawlessly up to 5 or 6 hours a day on long passages (yup, there can be on those lakes). I highly recommend it.
timsmale@hotmail.com
timsmale@hotmail.com
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Richard Gelfand