Cruising Sailors Forum Archive

Messages In This Thread

• Auto-pilot or wind vane?
  • RIGHT ON!!
  • Yep, if you're going to be out there...
    • We went with the Monitor on our last
      • Why do you say there is no way an AP could have handled that situation?
        • You're right, I was referring to AP's of
      • Steve - where is the 'someplace cold' you refer to
        • No, nothing so dramatic. We had left
  • Update: we got the autopilot working.
  • Windvane no ka oi
  • A windvane wouldn't help the catamaran
    • Mark, Sorry, I must say....
      • I guess we have different experiences
        • It would be fun to....
          • You seem to discount the fact that many boats simply cannot use a windvane
            • I do not....
              • I'm simply not wired for your type of logic
                • Not a bad thing...
                  • Vane mounting issues are only a minor problem
                    • Changing the subject?
                      • I don't understand your post
                        • Simple talk.....
                          • Ouch...
                            • I am not sure
                            • There is one thing you leave out....
                              • Not really custom. You pick an AP control and a drive unit.
                                • WOW
                                  • And what would your comparison be if you bought new today?
                                    • For MY BOAT......
                                      • The point was the vane is $5k, not 2.5, as you implied.
                                        • what got me started....
                                          • I said those and stand by them
                                            • OK
                              • Oh no, that wasn't the case at all
                                • I have the L&s drive
                                • Justin, did you get the Echopilot relay on your L & S
                                  • Yes, I did.
                                    • I'm thinking of getting one of those for my drive as well.
                                      • Very simple.
            • Wait, Wait, Wait...
              • Michele has raised a stink about my choice of spare crew
            • Our J/120 is another boat for Mark's case
              • For you then, you have your "Perfect Boat".
              • Justin where did you buy your NKE unit?
                • A one-off deal
                • Holey Crap Batman.....
                  • Self-steering is about the most important gear on a boat.
                    • Almost...
                      • It's not so much the average, but maximum.
                        • Justin...
    • You know at least two.
      • Your examples have nothing to do with the type of AP
        • Lots of windvanes are mounted and never used.
          • Racers turned to Offshore boats
            • I wouldn't call the J37 a racing boat
              • Battery Banks
                • 480W of solar provide 150A+ per day
                  • Yes, but I thought...
                    • Actually you are way too high on the AP amp usage.
                      • I find that the problem with this argument
                      • Differences
                        • Jerry jug test. We carried 1 jug of water
                          • We carried 2...
                            • And it sounds like you guys...
                          • Outbounds.....
                          • That's a great choice, Paul...
                    • A J-Boat example
        • If your talking about my vane
          • Actually, I forgot about yours
    • Like anything else a lot depends on the
      • I didn't mean to compare tiller pilots with windvanes
        • That is one of our backups
          • so why not remove the vane part and use it permanently?
            • Not sure what your getting at.
              • I asked because I didn't know
  • WOW - Quite a discussion...
    • I believe that depends on the race and size of boat.
  • C'mon, people - check the archives... tillerman settled this debate once and for all years ago.... (grin)
    • Jon, what's filling your cockpit foot well in that pic?
      • That's my liferaft...
    • Looks like a reflection on his lens filter?
    • Tillerman always did add excitment to a discussion. LOL
      • Ahh, yes - those were the days, eh...? (grin)
    • I should probably been clearer in my original post.
      • Nice to see you back here, Dan...
      • You misread my post
        • Please accept my apology.
        • p.s. For any still interested in the wind vane discussion.
          • One of the more illustrative breakdowns I've ever heard...
          • Dan, an interesting observation ....
            • Greg, the comments of what they actually see in the anchorage are interesting.
            • I appreciate direct talking people
              • Mark, you aren't so incompetent to also use roller furling on your cat, are you?
                • Actually no
              • As I said in....
                • I wasn't holding you responsible for his statements Greg
                  • Alpha Gear
                    • I don't think you have seriously looked at AP's
                      • Well said.
                      • Correct me if I'm wrong....
                        • I think it was someone with a windvane who made that comment
                          • It could have been...
                            • So are you saying I shouldn't plan
                              • Only to follow, never to lead.
                            • It was in a post a few few posts ago
                              • Stuff
                                • "or the boat ends up breaking them"?
                                  • Actually...
                                    • I misunderstood.
                                • leeway is relative
                                  • My eyes were opened about leeway this year
                                    • Larry..
                                      • Here's a picture
                                        • BTW - relating this to the AP/Vane thread
                        • I still don't get the silver spoon part.
                  • I think you will agree that....
                    • They may be far from our boats but they are using the same equipment
                      • That statement
                        • Inflation?
                          • Without looking in...
    • What ever happened to that guy?
      • He's still around, living ashore near Friday Harbor in the San Juans...
        • LoL!! I guess after mastering every aspect of boating and becoming the world's biggest expert on the subject ....
        • Hey- I have a friend skippering one of the whale watch boats out of Friday Harbor
    • A recent change: autopilots have gotten a LOT better at steering in the last 10 years...
      • And you can thank the Vendee Globe for that!
        • Yes, a combination of racing and the cost of technology....
  • This is better that an anchor thread and a gun thread rolled together...
    • It is a good thread!....
      • My transit was a few days earlier....
        • Was just wondering...
      • Great thread. I can't recall the last time I saw a vane steered boat.
    • What spare parts do you carry?
      • Whenever I see...
        • Luck of the draw. Nothing different with Raymarine
          • Agree about Raymarine. Good for the life of your boat
          • Past and present experiences...
            • That's why I do all I can to avoid....Raymarine!
            • That's why I quit repairing Raymarine products...