Windvane steering

May 31, 2006
263
- - Vancouver
Picking up the thread...I stopped in the other day and the Windpilot
caught my eye...Typically, Peter has already provided information and
I have contacted the company. Peter do you happen to know who is the
distributer in our area? I'm butting in on this message because Jim's
son has the Pacific Windpilot(sized for the Contessa)...Jim I have a
Wauquiez 32 and I wonder if your son has any comments about the
Windpilot. It certainly looks robust and simple to install. Perhaps
you can shed some additional light on this subject Peter. Just for
your information Jim I used to own a Vega and I hang out with these
folks here on the West(Wet)Coast of BC. Looking forward to the
Rendezvous at Friday Harbour. Got a date yet Chuck? Can Diana and I
crew in the race?

Brian - Simply Super
 
Oct 25, 2008
168
Albin Marin Vega Bogue Chitto, Miss
I have chosen the Monitor by scanmar. The company seems top notch, and the quality of the vane was exceptional. Although it is a little bulky, It has the added advantage of being quite a bit more robust than the other units I looked at prior to purchasing. I also singlehand, and had to remove the swim ladder to mount the vane. With the monitor I have no problem using it as a makeshift swim ladder or way back onto the boat. I also prefered the way the Monitor was mounted. 2" stainless steel tubing used to distribute the load over the whole area of the stern. I am also using the upper support tubes to aide in mounting my solar panels. The monitor cost a little more, but I have never heard of any design flaws and any problems at all for that matter. They seem bullit proof to me.

At some point the decision comes down to function/durability, $$$, and asthetics. Function and durability were my highest priorities.

To each, his own!
 
Oct 31, 2019
15
Hi, everyone.

I've been following the thread concerning wind vane steering and noted that
there seems to be a large array of products available, some reliable and
some not so reliable. For those of you in Canada and the U.S.A., there is a
Canadian company manufacturing wind vane steering.... unfortunately only in
one size. I've seen the units and they are extremely well made and from the
users that I've spoken to they are also very reliable. The Voyager Wind
Vanes are made in Guelph, Ontario. You may want to view their website at
www.voyagerwindvanes.com.

I also don't own an Albin Vega but have been involved in rebuilding one
locally. One thing I noted during my work on this vessel is that they are
almost bullet proof.... extremely well built and well appointed. My own
boat is an Aloha 34 which I sail throughout the Great Lakes area. Perhaps
when I get too old to sail the 34 I may step down to an Albin Vega. I'm
really impressed with the boat.

Best regards

Perry Basden
Windsor, Ontario
 
Oct 31, 2019
303
This Canadian windvane is very well made I agree. It is too bad that it
comes in only one size - it is comparable to the Windpilot Pacific which is
one size up from the Pacific Light that has been fitted to so many Vegas.

One note, on the Windpilot (Pacific Light) webpage is a free download of an
excellent book on windvanes - their history, design, construction, use etc.
I believe it was written by the owner of the Windpilot company. If you are
new to windvanes, or even experienced, it is a good reference and quite
interesting. Find it on:

www.windpilot.de or if you wish www.windpilot.com (either works). The book
is downloadable in five languages and is written by Peter Forthmann. It
isn't a long download with broadband -- it is only 7.5 mb.

One more note. On Saturday evening (PST) I entered my information into the
contacts page of the Windpilot site. Within two hours I had two emails in
response - neither was an auto-response. One gave me a quote of $2350 for a
Pacific Light delivered to Seattle International. Of course I will have to
deal with customs duty and maybe a customs broker, but that is to be
expected I guess. On Sunday morning I again wrote Peter with a specific
question on mounting and that afternoon I had a response to my question -
again this was a personal response. I was very impressed with this level of
initial support considering Peter is in Hamburg Germany (he must not sleep).
I have also contacted Mr. Vee but haven't heard back yet but I am sure I
will soon.

I have a Navik, but I want a vane I can more easily remove from the boat
every time I am in the slip (I would need a larger slip to accommodate any
overhang and that is $100/month more in my marina. I am leaning to the
Pacific Light. I think the Canadian vane is excellent and I had a Monitor on
my Crealock 34 (many years and several boats ago) but they are heavier (and
once a Monitor is installed it is pretty permanent). The Pacific Light seems
to have excellent reviews and only weighs 14 kg. Also it is easy to remove
with only one bolt as was reported earlier. But considering the stock market
I might just be keeping the Navik a little while longer.

Amazing how much interest there is in windvanes and also how many companies
are manufacturing them - there aren't all that many boats doing long
crossings!

Chris


From: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Of Perry Basden
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 6:25 AM
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] Re: Windvane steering

Hi, everyone.

I've been following the thread concerning wind vane steering and noted that
there seems to be a large array of products available, some reliable and
some not so reliable. For those of you in Canada and the U.S.A., there is a
Canadian company manufacturing wind vane steering.... unfortunately only in
one size. I've seen the units and they are extremely well made and from the
users that I've spoken to they are also very reliable. The Voyager Wind
Vanes are made in Guelph, Ontario. You may want to view their website at
www.voyagerwindvanes.com.

I also don't own an Albin Vega but have been involved in rebuilding one
locally. One thing I noted during my work on this vessel is that they are
almost bullet proof.... extremely well built and well appointed. My own
boat is an Aloha 34 which I sail throughout the Great Lakes area. Perhaps
when I get too old to sail the 34 I may step down to an Albin Vega. I'm
really impressed with the boat.

Best regards

Perry Basden
Windsor, Ontario
 
May 31, 2006
263
- - Vancouver
I have had a response this morning from Peter Tietz at Voyager...It is
designed for a slightly larger vessel...Cost is approx $2975 CDN...It
too looks great, small footprint, light, removable...Canadian eh?

Brian
 
May 31, 2006
263
- - Vancouver
I have had a response this morning from Peter Tietz at Voyager...It is
designed for a slightly larger vessel...Cost is approx $2975 CDN...It
too looks great, small footprint, light, removable...Canadian eh?

Brian
 
Oct 31, 2019
303
Just to follow-up. I did receive a response from Sven Hesterman (Mr. Vee)
today. So all these guys seem very responsive.

Here is a breakdown of the costs.

Mr. Vee
$1339.18 - delivered to Seattle by post (this included the vane and basic
mounting kit)

Pacific Light
$2350 - delivered to Seattle International Airport

Voyager (Canadian windvane)
$2421 (not delivered, price at factory - this does include a few spares. To
be fair the Canadian vane is larger than the other two, so it is bound to be
more expensive.)

By the way, a Monitor is over $4000 -- $4295 plus $75 for tiller
attachment. Shipping not calculated.

The only one I have used is the Monitor and it worked as promised. On my big
boat I used a Raymarine autopilot driven by the wind instrument. On my last
crossing I used a lot of power per day, but I was generating most of it with
a towed generator -- 7 amps per hour. I know on the Vega I won't get this
much power because it isn't as powerful or fast. (I am in the process of
building generator now by the way. Not sure how it will work with the
smaller Vega, but the cost is only a couple hundred dollars to build and I
can always sell it if it doesn't work out).

Chris






From: Chris Brown [mailto:svflyaway@...]
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 9:13 AM
To: 'AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com'
Subject: RE: [AlbinVega] Re: Windvane steering

This Canadian windvane is very well made I agree. It is too bad that it
comes in only one size - it is comparable to the Windpilot Pacific which is
one size up from the Pacific Light that has been fitted to so many Vegas.

One note, on the Windpilot (Pacific Light) webpage is a free download of an
excellent book on windvanes - their history, design, construction, use etc.
I believe it was written by the owner of the Windpilot company. If you are
new to windvanes, or even experienced, it is a good reference and quite
interesting. Find it on:

www.windpilot.de or if you wish www.windpilot.com (either works). The book
is downloadable in five languages and is written by Peter Forthmann. It
isn't a long download with broadband -- it is only 7.5 mb.

One more note. On Saturday evening (PST) I entered my information into the
contacts page of the Windpilot site. Within two hours I had two emails in
response - neither was an auto-response. One gave me a quote of $2350 for a
Pacific Light delivered to Seattle International. Of course I will have to
deal with customs duty and maybe a customs broker, but that is to be
expected I guess. On Sunday morning I again wrote Peter with a specific
question on mounting and that afternoon I had a response to my question -
again this was a personal response. I was very impressed with this level of
initial support considering Peter is in Hamburg Germany (he must not sleep).
I have also contacted Mr. Vee but haven't heard back yet but I am sure I
will soon.

I have a Navik, but I want a vane I can more easily remove from the boat
every time I am in the slip (I would need a larger slip to accommodate any
overhang and that is $100/month more in my marina. I am leaning to the
Pacific Light. I think the Canadian vane is excellent and I had a Monitor on
my Crealock 34 (many years and several boats ago) but they are heavier (and
once a Monitor is installed it is pretty permanent). The Pacific Light seems
to have excellent reviews and only weighs 14 kg. Also it is easy to remove
with only one bolt as was reported earlier. But considering the stock market
I might just be keeping the Navik a little while longer.

Amazing how much interest there is in windvanes and also how many companies
are manufacturing them - there aren't all that many boats doing long
crossings!

Chris


From: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Of Perry Basden
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 6:25 AM
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] Re: Windvane steering

Hi, everyone.

I've been following the thread concerning wind vane steering and noted that
there seems to be a large array of products available, some reliable and
some not so reliable. For those of you in Canada and the U.S.A., there is a
Canadian company manufacturing wind vane steering.... unfortunately only in
one size. I've seen the units and they are extremely well made and from the
users that I've spoken to they are also very reliable. The Voyager Wind
Vanes are made in Guelph, Ontario. You may want to view their website at
www.voyagerwindvanes.com.

I also don't own an Albin Vega but have been involved in rebuilding one
locally. One thing I noted during my work on this vessel is that they are
almost bullet proof.... extremely well built and well appointed. My own
boat is an Aloha 34 which I sail throughout the Great Lakes area. Perhaps
when I get too old to sail the 34 I may step down to an Albin Vega. I'm
really impressed with the boat.

Best regards

Perry Basden
Windsor, Ontario
 
Oct 30, 2019
1,459
Whichever vane one chooses, when set up right they work great. I went
out for a brisk sail yesterday for about six hours, and only hand-
steered out of, and back into, the marina. Thirty miles in all,
including half way across Juan de Fuca Straight, and a long "wing-on-
wing" downwind run home. Cold but nice!
Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'
 
Oct 30, 2019
234
Brian

The view of my son with the Pacific mounted on a Contessa 32 sailing seriously on the West Coast of Scotland is:
The windpilot is an excellent piece of equipment and has exceeded our expectations We have found it to steer the boat accurately under all wind conditions even downwind with only 5 knots of apparent wind. The manufacturer is very helpful with any queries. Highly recommended.

David
Ponteneur V3283

From: bhofler
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 4:38 AM
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [AlbinVega] Re: Windvane steeringPicking up the thread...I stopped in the other day and the Windpilot
caught my eye...Typically, Peter has already provided information and
I have contacted the company. Peter do you happen to know who is the
distributer in our area? I'm butting in on this message because Jim's
son has the Pacific Windpilot(sized for the Contessa)...Jim I have a
Wauquiez 32 and I wonder if your son has any comments about the
Windpilot. It certainly looks robust and simple to install. Perhaps
you can shed some additional light on this subject Peter. Just for
your information Jim I used to own a Vega and I hang out with these
folks here on the West(Wet)Coast of BC. Looking forward to the
Rendezvous at Friday Harbour. Got a date yet Chuck? Can Diana and I
crew in the race?

Brian - Simply Super
 
May 9, 2011
1,000
Great discussion all.

So my question is this, since I now use an outboard (Johnson 8 horse 2 stroke) as my auxillery power (wind obviously being primary), im wondering how I could get this to mount, since the outboard is center transom (albiet closer to the water line). Would it still work being extended further out? Prehaps it would have to be my own modification?

Nowell
s/v Aquila #176
 
Oct 31, 2019
303
Nowell,

Shouldn't be a problem. Much like mounting a vane on a double ender with a
stern hung rudder I would guess. For ideas, take a look at the
www.mistervee.com website in the gallery section and you will see a couple
of pictures of boats with both outboards and windvanes. If you look at
www.voyagerwindvanes.com. you can see how it is done in by the Canadian
company on a double ender such as the Vancouver 27. Or take a look at
Monitor site picture gallery to see how Scanmar does it on a double ender
with their SS tubing framework www.selfsteer.com. Any good rail bender could
easily make you a mount.

Just one more note about Mr. Vee. Previously, the question was asked about
how much work it is since it is a kit of sorts. I don't think most of the
folks on this site would have a problem considering some of the work many of
you have been doing on your Vegas. Pretty basic and shouldn't take more than
a day's work. They have part of the assembly manual on the site. Mostly
drilling, sanding, bending, etc.

They have another kit called the Walt. It is really just a bunch of parts
that one fabricates a vane from - many are just rough cut, for instance the
vane itself. It is about half the cost of a Mr. Vee but would take a lot
more work as there is so much shaping and fitting to do. For the budget
minded, or those who like to mess about with such things (such as myself) it
might be a good option. I am trying to convince myself not to go this route
since I have so many projects I can't get done what I have half-started
already. They are also coming out with a new vane and taking pre-orders for
it. I think it is to be called the "Mr. W"???

Chris

From: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Of Nowell Chandler
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2008 4:23 PM
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] Re: Windvane steering

Great discussion all.

So my question is this, since I now use an outboard (Johnson 8 horse 2
stroke) as my auxillery power (wind obviously being primary), im wondering
how I could get this to mount, since the outboard is center transom (albiet
closer to the water line). Would it still work being extended further out?
Prehaps it would have to be my own modification?

Nowell
s/v Aquila #176
 
Oct 30, 2019
1,459
Nowell,
My suggestion would be to mount the outboard motor to one side and
put the windvane at the center. Many sailboats with transom-hung
rudders have off-centered outboards and they work just fine. My own
experience with this was in a Montgomery 17 with 5 HP outboard hung
on the port side of the transom ... worked like a charm and it was
easier to reach the control stick.

Here are a couple of picture of the setup I used:

Hope this helps!
Peter.
#1331 'Sin Tacha'
 
May 9, 2011
1,000
Thanks all. I have also been kicking around the idea of making an engine well in the port section (as I saw one vega do). I don't mind extending out past the current mount, mostly I would just be concerned of trying to effect emergency repairs on a pitching sea.

Nowell
s/v Aquila #176
 
Nov 12, 2008
20
Steve-

I have been considering that idea also. The previous owner had
pulled the original and glassed up the hull. However, I am exploring
the option of a new Beta.
 
May 31, 2006
263
- - Vancouver
Just a last comment regarding windvanes..

I received replies from both Voyager and Windpilot. The Voyager cost
$3389.75 CAC delivered to my door all taxes, lines, blocks etc. The
Windpilot was $3650 USD and did not include taxes and duty. The
Voyager is a considerable saving and Peter Tietz provided examples of
boats similar to mine with the Voyager installed. The design and
quality of the Voyager is similar to the Windpilot Pacific. The
difference fo VEGAtarians is the fact that there is a Windpilot Light
which may cost less.

Cheers - Brian
 
Oct 31, 2019
303
I got this quote from Peter on the Windpilot Pacific Light - it is plenty
for the Vega looking at the other boats it is used on: $2350 - delivered to
Seattle International Airport. Freight is included, but does not include tax
or duty.

From: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Of bhofler
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 2:06 PM
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [AlbinVega] Re: Windvane steering

Just a last comment regarding windvanes..

I received replies from both Voyager and Windpilot. The Voyager cost
$3389.75 CAC delivered to my door all taxes, lines, blocks etc. The
Windpilot was $3650 USD and did not include taxes and duty. The
Voyager is a considerable saving and Peter Tietz provided examples of
boats similar to mine with the Voyager installed. The design and
quality of the Voyager is similar to the Windpilot Pacific. The
difference fo VEGAtarians is the fact that there is a Windpilot Light
which may cost less.

Cheers - Brian