self steering windvanes

[storm petrel]

Thanks Steve for your detailed evaluation of the South Atlantic device. I can see why these systems are cheaper now and may keep saving.

Cheers,
Mark

[Phillip]

Steve,

Good info, do you have a link to the SA site?

Regarding the size of posts, we have no limit and no-one has been pulled up to date over long posts.
As long as it's relevant, it's OK, ADMIN will probably pull you up with a PM if you get carried away on non-related subjects to often!

[storm petrel]

Phillip,

A google search will bring up South Atlantic wind vane self steering. I had a message from a member of the site who has just fitted one to his Tasman 26 and praised the after sales service and the quality of the device. He is going to get back to me about how it performs after he has given it some sea trials.

Mark

[yard_sailor]

Hi,
Hydrovane, Sailomat, Cape Horn and now Sea-Feather, use some kind of link rod into rotational motion of the pendulum rudder. The SA 470, SA 500 and SA 600 have course adjustment, the SA 301 and the SA 440 no.
For me the South Atlantic, its a great windvane and worked perfectly on my Bavaria 36
The windvane is a better skipper than me, very sensitive. I left Scotland in Oct and sailed to Canaries, Cap Verde, Caribbean, Panama, Galapogos and across the Pacific , Australia, South Africa then Canaries... I started useing my windvane in the Atlantic. It takes a bit of getting used to like all vanes. But now it is easy and steers me when ever I want. As a single handed sailor I would not want to be at sea without it. This trip would not have been possable without my S/Atlantic.The most important thing on my boat.

[storm petrel]

Thanks for the review of the Soith Atlantic yard-sailor, I will have a closer look at them.

Cheers,
Mark

[Tales]

There is a free download book called 'Self Steering Under Sail' on the Windpilot website.

http://windpilot.com/

It was written a few years ago and doesn't have the newest generation Fleming but after reading it I am much better equipped to decide on what features are important to me.

The smallest South Atlantic unit looks very much like the smallest Windpilot (other than the bevel gears) which is twice the price. Windpilot is half the priced of a Fleming.

I notice there is a discount for buying two South Atlantic units.

Please send me a PM if you think you might be interested.

Cheers,

Tom