MAYBE worth it.
It all depends on your sailing. The closer to shore, the more you need to pay attention to your course, since the windvane will alter your course to fit the direction of the apparent wind. On the other hand, if you use an autopilot, you should be paying attention to your sailtrim, since the apparent wind direction will usually vary along the way. The windvane definitely has the advantage of more power when conditions get rough, when many an autopilot gets overwhelmed. And, as you said, it uses no amps. I have used a pair of autohelm 3000's over the last sixteen years, a good bit of it up your way and in tough Northern California coastal conditions. I sail a Hunter 33. The Autohelms always did very well, even in big seas and off the wind, and, since I usually single-hand, they get lots of use. Frankly, my experience with them seems to have been way better than average, for whatever reason. I recently added a Monitor, and I love it. The boat even moves better, since once the sails are trimmed and balanced correctly, they pretty much remain so. And, of course, unintentional gybes and tacks are avoided, so you can steer closer upwind and downwind than with an autopilot. I love the feel and the silence. It is the closest thing to hand steering. Bear in mind that the Monitor is a very powerful vane, and a Hunter 33 is very easy for it to handle. I have come to use the Monitor even on very short sails. I have some good friends, now in NZ, who sailed there on their Cal 34, and they ALWAYS use their vane. Without being smug, I do think that the better the sailor, the more that sailor will use and like a windvane. And, I think a vane will also make one a better sailor. So, my bottom line is that I love both my Autohelms and the Monitor. They complement rather than replace each other, as each is optimal for different situations. The Monitor does take more attention, but it is much more enjoyable to sail with, not to mention more reliable. Finally, Scanmar, makers of several vanes including the Monitor, are in the Bay Area. They are great to work with and they have an excellent web site whose address is: selfsteer.com. I recommend it, and them, very highly. Oh, by the way, a good vane will retain lots of resale value, since they don't really wear out. And, you can save your autopilot for those annoying times when you have to motor, which we do a lot of down here in the Sea of Cortez.
