Hydrovane Wind Steering System Install
Wednesday - September 15, 2004•Views: 6464••
We recently installed a Hydrovane wind steering system on Terra Firma. We chose the Hydrovane for the following reasons; it is a solidly built unit, it is simple, there are no lines running into the cockpit and it has an independent rudder.
The installation was painless. There was one custom pad made for the upper bracket, everything else was off the shelf. We were able to mount it very close to centerline and will still have the use of our swim ladder.
Our first sail went very well. We had light winds ~10kts. Setting it for close hauled to a beam reach was pretty easy. It only took a few minutes to get a feel for how much sensitivity was needed.
We were able to set it pretty easily for a broad reach as well and were confident enough to have the Hydrovane (Casey Jones) hold course while we set the asymmetrical. It was a good idea in theory, but as the boat picked up speed with the asymm set. We think the apparent wind went to zip and Casey steered us onto a dead run causing the asymm to collapse. This is probably the case with all wind steering systems. Again, we had little wind.
So far we are impressed. The coolest part is Casey doesn't eat, sleep or use a single microamp!
Carrie and Pat Kinnison
Terra Firma IP380-31
San Diego
The installation was painless. There was one custom pad made for the upper bracket, everything else was off the shelf. We were able to mount it very close to centerline and will still have the use of our swim ladder.
Our first sail went very well. We had light winds ~10kts. Setting it for close hauled to a beam reach was pretty easy. It only took a few minutes to get a feel for how much sensitivity was needed.
We were able to set it pretty easily for a broad reach as well and were confident enough to have the Hydrovane (Casey Jones) hold course while we set the asymmetrical. It was a good idea in theory, but as the boat picked up speed with the asymm set. We think the apparent wind went to zip and Casey steered us onto a dead run causing the asymm to collapse. This is probably the case with all wind steering systems. Again, we had little wind.
So far we are impressed. The coolest part is Casey doesn't eat, sleep or use a single microamp!
Carrie and Pat Kinnison
Terra Firma IP380-31
San Diego
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