The Hydrovane. Any tips?

[Chris Patterson]

Got Hydrovane troubles, people. This is a wonderful piece of equipment by the way. It appears to function flawlessly. Somewhat..

At low speeds, ie: departing or approaching the marina, it goes stupid. Either locked in the straight position, or left to freely swing back and forth, the boat is un maneuverable. You would think the boat had no rudder at all, seriously. Offshore she sails like a dream. Does everything you hoped it would, what a sweetypie of a 'self steerer'. But at slow speeds it's like a drunken pig.

So anybody got any ideas on this? I've thought it to death, and am out of ideas.

Seeing as how I installed this thing, it would be REAL nice if I could get it off the dock..

Oh....and another thing. It makes almost no difference if you try to steer the boat by the vane or not. It is utterly unresponsive.

 

[Kermit]

But at slow speeds it's like a drunken pig.

Well, dig a pit, light the fire and chill the beer! It's barbecue time! But seriously, what is a hydrovane?

 

[justsomeguy]

Well, dig a pit, light the fire and chill the beer! It's barbecue time! But seriously, what is a hydrovane?

I think it's something that shouldn't be used in close quarters.

https://www.facebook.com/hydrovaneselfsteering

P.S.- What's "Facebook"?

 

[Chris Patterson]

A Hydrovane is a self steering wind vane on the back of the boat, sometimes called an auxiliary rudder.

 

[Jackdaw]

Got Hydrovane troubles, people. This is a wonderful piece of equipment by the way. It appears to function flawlessly. Somewhat..

At low speeds, ie: departing or approaching the marina, it goes stupid. Either locked in the straight position, or left to freely swing back and forth, the boat is un maneuverable. You would think the boat had no rudder at all, seriously. Offshore she sails like a dream. Does everything you hoped it would, what a sweetypie of a 'self steerer'. But at slow speeds it's like a drunken pig.

So anybody got any ideas on this? I've thought it to death, and am out of ideas.

Seeing as how I installed this thing, it would be REAL nice if I could get it off the dock..

Oh....and another thing. It makes almost no difference if you try to steer the boat by the vane or not. It is utterly unresponsive.

The Hydrovane is a brilliant piece of kit, but this is a well known limitation of the system. Most people I know with them have issues in marinas etc, and will often resort to steering BOTH rudders (hydro and main) at the same time to make tight turns.

It's really for true blue water cruisers. If you are just jumping from port to port each night, you're not going to be super happy with it.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

Doesn't the rudder come out of the water when not in use?

is it in the water as you approach a marina? why?

 

[Jackdaw]

Doesn't the rudder come out of the water when not in use?

why?

No. But think about it's use. How would use propose to 'kick this up';
- without killing yourself
- without the chance of it doing it itself some cold windy night while you sleep

Its fixed.

This is serious ocean kit, not the rudder on a daysailor!

 

[Bill Roosa]

so manually bend the air vain to get it to do what you want while you use the rudder.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

That is pretty stout... especially for a 29 footer

fwiw, the aries windvane do have the lift up option. I just thought they all would.


http://www.mactramarine.co.uk/marine-equipment-aries-windvane-gear-measuring.htm

http://www.ariesvane.com/products.html

 

[Jackdaw]

That is pretty stout... especially for a 29 footer

fwiw, the aries windvane do have the lift up option. I just thought they all would.

Yes, but that is a TOTALLY different design. The Aries unit uses a small servo rudder to apply pressure to steering lines that actually turn the main rudder via the tiller or wheel. You are right , that little servo rudder can lift.

The Hydrovane rudder is actually a 2nd rudder, designed to steer the boat on its own. no way that lifts.

 

[Chris Patterson]

Aw, as usual I wasn't very very clear on this. This vane is on a 36' Cheoy Lee, and will be used on long offshore passages. It wants to go to the Med next year, and will cruise down island for awhile before then. It's hard to describe what a wonderful steering unit this is outside, but it sure does not like motoring it. I expressed these concerns at the offset, and had smoke blowed up my holding tank about it.

Another thing. Even with Jon at the helm proper, and myself trying to steer with the vane simultaneously, there is still little steerage at low speeds. I had to dismount the rudder last time while coming into the marina, as the boat adamantly refused to enter the slip with it. With two old salts like us on board, it was sort of embarrassing...

 

[woodster]

can you make the thing freewheel and just steer with the boats rudder what you have described sounds like a conflict of functions...i know nothing about the product but i do understand working against ones self

 

[Jackdaw]

Aw, as usual I wasn't very very clear on this. This vane is on a 36' Cheoy Lee, and will be used on long offshore passages. It wants to go to the Med next year, and will cruise down island for awhile before then. It's hard to describe what a wonderful steering unit this is outside, but it sure does not like motoring it. I expressed these concerns at the offset, and had smoke blowed up my holding tank about it.

Another thing. Even with Jon at the helm proper, and myself trying to steer with the vane simultaneously, there is still little steerage at low speeds. I had to dismount the rudder last time while coming into the marina, as the boat adamantly refused to enter the slip with it. With two old salts like us on board, it was sort of embarrassing...

Ah, that boat/plan makes more sense. The part about it still not turning well when BOTH rudders are applied does not! It should turn like crazy. Any chance you were pulling the wrong line?? ;^)