HydroVane/Monitor Wind Vane

kappykaplan · 2025-10-28T04:53:11-0700

Calling @dLj

dLj · 2025-10-28T07:05:26-0700

GeneraiT001 said:
They sound like they would be really nice to have one or the other. But man they seem to be crazy priced for some metal and plastic/canvass!
If you were hell bent on getting one whats the smartest way to do it? Go to a boat show and hope for a good deal? Buy used?

I love my windvane! Personally, I'd never do off-shore passages without a windvane. But I'm an amp counter and work hard at keeping my power usage as low as I find comfortable for my personal needs.

Windvanes tend to be more robust than electronic autopilots. (I'm getting side tracked...)

I've had both servo-pendulum type and my current auxiliary ridder type (Hydrovane). The hydrovane is certainly an expensive kit. On my current boat I choose the hydrovane for a couple reasons. I wanted a cleaner cockpit without all the lines needed for the servo-pendulum types. I was also headed to Orca alley and wanted the auxillary rudder back-up.

I talked extensively with hydrovane about my boat and had one custom built specifically for my boat. I bought it through the Annapolis boat show at a notable discount - sure didn't make it cheap - and feel that was the best way for me to do it. The installation on my boat was non-trivial but having the entire custom made kit to install it at least made it less difficult.

dj

dLj · 2025-10-28T07:46:59-0700

GeneraiT001 said:
Yes, they do sound fantastic. I'll reach out to them and maybe work something out via the Annapolis boat show in Apr 2026.....can't hurt to try

Begin the conversation before the boat show. They will want dimensions from your boat, what kind of boat it is, all that stuff. Then finalize all the costs etc. at the boat show. Hydrovane is very good to work with...

The hydrovane is best installed off-center. I know it sounds counter intuitive, but that's how they work best. The servo-pendulum types work best centered. Both systems work well. There are other wind driven systems, but those two types are the top of the pile.

dj

p.s. besides being an amazing kit for off-shore legs - I used my Hydrovane to steer through passages between coral reefs - I wanted to see if it would work well enough - it most certainly did!

dLj · 2025-10-28T07:55:08-0700

GeneraiT001 said:
E-mail has been sent....I did not realize they were a Canadian company out of Vancouver....no wonder you can afford them with the exchange rate of the US dollar....Canada sucks in that regard

Actually, the manufacturing is in England. I think the current headquarters is in Vancouver, but they still manufacture in the UK - at least that's where mine was made...

dj

rgranger · 2025-10-28T12:37:29-0700

I have always found the idea of wind steering to be SEXY. After all, it is a wind driven boat. I've never had a windvane but I have played some with sheet to tiller self steering. I once did a 6-hour passage across the Pamlico sound using sheet to tiller steering and I made landfall exactly where I was trying to go. I was very surprised at how good it workes.

BUT sheet to tiller does not get the "clean" cockpit that @dLj talked about.

It is probably "bottom of the pile" but still fun to play with.

dLj · 2025-10-28T14:20:43-0700

rgranger said:
I have always found the idea of wind steering to be SEXY. After all, it is a wind driven boat. I've never had a windvane but I have played some with sheet to tiller self steering. I once did a 6-hour passage across the Pamlico sound using sheet to tiller steering and I made landfall exactly where I was trying to go. I was very surprised at how good it workes.

BUT sheet to tiller does not get the "clean" cockpit that @dLj talked about. It is probably "bottom of the pile" but still fun to play with.

I've not seen sheet to tiller work with a wheel. Can they? I've never used that technique.

Wind vanes are great! I'm surprised how much they have fallen out of favor. But boat designs and modern electronics have all changed. Still, even the most energy efficient modern autopilots have more consumption than I want on long passages... I agree - wind steering is SEXY.... LOL

As a note - my hydrovane steered my boat through some pretty intense storms, including running down the western edge of a rather large hurricane.... I'd add in the term - flawlessly...

GeneraiT001 said:
Quote came back....$10,000 CDN. Will think on that. Would be great to have but mans thats a lot of money for what it is made of.

How well I know... But that cost is somewhat offset by not needing to produce the electricity needed to run an autopilot. And they are very robust. When you see how the Hydrovane is built, I think you may begin to understand why they are so expensive - there is a ton of engineering in their design and manufacture....

I have both on my boat. Motoring I use the below decks autopilot, sailing I use the windvane. At times I had enough wind to run the windvane while motoring but that's not typical.

dj

Jim Legere · 2025-10-28T16:51:02-0700

Don't consider buying a wind vane without looking at the Cape Horn. It's made in Canada so the favourable exchange rate for US buyers applies. An elegant and superbly engineered piece of gear. I had one on my previous boat and it was the best piece of boat gear I ever bought. Like dLJ, I wouldn't go offshore without one.

dLj · 2025-10-28T17:15:47-0700

Jim Legere said:
Don't consider buying a wind vane without looking at the Cape Horn. It's made in Canada so the favourable exchange rate for US buyers applies. An elegant and superbly engineered piece of gear. I had one on my previous boat and it was the best piece of boat gear I ever bought. Like dLJ, I wouldn't go offshore without one.

The Cape Horn servo-pendulum is an excellent kit! I considered it. If you want a servo-pendulum, it's excellent!

dj

jssailem · 2025-10-28T18:45:29-0700

I found a monitor wind vane on Craig’s list. Great opportunity.

Phil · 2025-10-29T11:06:58-0700

I would never contemplate an offshore passage or even inter island trip in Hawaii without having a windvane. You can't go wrong with the Monitor or the HydroVane, both are excellent. I went with the Monitor over the HydroVane for a few minor reasons: 1. US built so easier to get replacement parts fast. 2. I was slightly more familiar with using the Monitor. 3. Mounting structure on my boat can be used as an emergency boarding ladder. 4. Price was slightly lower.

If you are looking for a good deal on a used one keep a close eye on Craigslist and your local marina bulletin boards.

HydroVane/Monitor Wind Vane

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

.

.