Wind vane explanations by Don McIntyre, GGR2018 founder

[@SCCFORUM]

At last, someone who has explained how a wind vane works for thick people like me👏😀 Cheers, Paul.

[@peterosborn6056]

I agree wholeheartedly!

[@joeblow1942]

Best explanation I've seen by far of both systems. Thank you! Looks like I need an auxiliary rudder system.

[@harmseberhardharmseberhard9908]

Perhaps better think twice about what system you really need to have. The auxilliary rudder system uses the weak power of the wind not only to move the auxilliary rudder itself but also the mentioned gearbox with a lot of friction. So in weak appearent winds it won't work well, especially in condions with weak following winds. And even more so with big following seas, where the power of the waves will more push the auxilliary rudder, and via the rudder the windvane than the other way. Whereas a servopendulum rudder system uses the same weak force of the wind only to turn the angle of the servo rudder, and the force of the waterflow on the servo rudder produces the necessary force to turn the main rudder of the boat. This servo rudder force is quite big. At a speed of only 5 knots about 300 pounds of thrust for an Aries. At 6 or seven knots accordingly even more. And this force turns the main rudder, which is much bigger than any auxilliary rudder, so it will correct the heading of the boat more promptly than any auxilliary rudder system. So a servopendulum system will work better in weak following winds due to less friction and the bigger force of streaming water (higher density) compared to the weaker force of airflow (lower density). And with higher wind speed and higher boat speed it's efficency will further increase. And the emergency rudder argument is also quite doubtable. A force, that destroys the main rudder (a tree in the water or an orca) will certainly destroy the much more lightly built auxilliary rudder as well. Especially if it has, like the Hydrovane, sheerpins to avoid seroius damage when hitting an obstacle in the water. So an emergency rudder should always be purpously built, big and strong enough to steer the boat in rough conditions and separatly stowed. There was once a study of Jimmy Cornell about the user satisfaction and the actual using time of windvane selfsteering systems of the participants of the Transatlantic Rallye for Cruisers. The difference between servopendulum rudder and auxilliary rudder systems was quite significant. This said after some tenthousands of miles of offshore sailing with an Aries and without ever touching the tiller outside the harbour. And planning to now buying a Windpilot Pacific light for my Allegro 27.

[@bozidar.dimovski]

i have no idea about anything nautical but this was an excellent explanation, makes me want to buy a hydravane because of the mechanics of it. The only place i can install it would be on the roof of the house as an piece of kinetic sculptural artwork and watch it when there is enough wind. Magic Happens!

[@espedale]

Excellent description. The best one by far; even better than the hydrovane company’s in-house videos!! We just purchased a boat in the Sea of Cortez with a Hydrovane system and we were freaking out about not knowing how to use it. Your video made us not only less nervous but also excited to give it a go!! Thank you!

[@sandyt4343]

The most understandable explanation for something that has always puzzled me as to the disadvantages or benefits of either. Now I completely understand how they work but it has convinced me that I should buy a hydrovane rather than building one in my shop. Time well saved I think.

[@benkanobe7500]

I have only raced as "Crew" on sloops of all sizes and done very little bay, near shore, or open ocean (well, San Diego to Catalina and back) sailing. I have seen these devices and wondered how they worked as the KZbins I watch they seem to work outstanding with a Captain of even just a little experience. I have had no clue HOW they work. This was *Perfect* explanation as for a non-technical person I understood it the first time through this KZbin. Thank you, Thank you! You would make a great Sailing Professor! I just subscribed.

[@MusicWorld-zy6dl]

Thanks a lot for your amazing explanations making a fairly complex topic so easy to understand. You really do know how to make things clear.

[@yvonnewhitehouse]

Well I have to say that was an amazing explanation and I now understand what I thought was a too complex idea to understand. Thank you Don love it!

[@Beba-qv3db]

Sir, you explain that perfectly. Best part started at 12 minut. Thank you.

[@MrDavewoolley]

As a simple dingy sailor looking to progress to cruising this was invaluable Don. Thanks. 👍

[@leov4187]

I m looking at the CAPHORN wind vane , different design and has very positive reviews.

[@solemgameinsights]

Fantastic explanation! This actually explains how it works in useful terms, other videos just discuss mechanics and other nonsense that is irrelevant. Thank you!

[@southernpaths2986]

Add me to the legions who finally are able to get our minds around this mysterious black magic that windvanes have always been to us… best video by FAR in explaining this in a way even I can understand.

[@romeowhiskey1146]

Excellent demonstration of BOTH types!

[@iainhunneybell]

B marvellous explanation Don. Thank,you so much. Could not be clearer 🙂

[@davidmalone9022]

Yep, outstanding explanation. I've been on a boat with a Hydrovane; however, we motored so often and had seven aboard, so watches were easy to maintain with just the autopilot, so I never got a chance to really play with the vane to learn how it worked. Thanks. That makes complete sense.

[@tonybarrios5045]

You are successful because now i understand the vane's basic principles!

[@Aeroswine1776]

May you fare well, Nabil. Thanks Don, for such a thorough yet succinct and thorough explanation.

[@eagleviewhd]

Great explanation. I definitely like the Hydrovane System! It seems so much simpler and easier to adjust!

[@ronpirie]

Fantastic explanation. Very clear and logical. Thanks for your time

[@carlsails58]

Thank you for taking time to expain the operation, Don.

[@aprilyam1766]

Thanks, very clear explanation! I like you were using your hands to help us imagine the situation.

[@pinkponyofprey1965]

Perfect explanation! No further questions, your honor haha! :D I saw some of these used in articles in National Geographic Magazine when I was a kid and I've wondered how these possibly could work??? I can sleep better now, thank you very much!

[@harryweyer2174]

I’m so glad I have found your channel,wow as a future single hander I need this info,subbing just on the strength of this vid and your tutorial,thank you Sir from oz and have a safe Xmas.

[@tonywalker2372]

Great video with the info being presented in easy to understand terms, thankyou.

[@iveywin]

Servo pendulum or aux rudder. Thanks for mentioning the brand names such as Hydrovane, Aries, Wind Pilot and Monitor Got it! Excellent summary!!

[@lloydbartholomew3650]

Thnks for a very comprehensive explanation. Keep up the great works,

[@svStargate]

This is just the video I was looking for. Wind vanes for dummies!

[@007nadineL]

Oh thank you. Perfect explanation that I could understand. The money moment for me was when you pretended yr arms were the vane. .

[@rimasmeleshyus9486]

Wow ,super informative, good to understand how it works .Many thanks

[@waughthogwaugh3078]

And another self steering system is where the wind vane deflects a trim tab on the trailing edge of the rudder.

[@tommydickens4617]

Very well explained, thank you! A lot of respect to the people that designed these - geniuses!

[@ralph9987]

Wow great explain. I would love you to do a comparison between the two systems and include a practical session underway under different headings.

[@JamieBowenSailingPlymouthUK]

Good explanation Don. I've always though a servo pendulum would be more responsive as you're using the power of the water (much denser and higher forces) to amplify wind movements and move the real rudder - which has been designed to turn the boat adequately, but, as you say, more complex and can't be used as an emergency rudder. Windvanes generally have a toughest job going downwind in conditions like the GGR have had this last week don't they? The effective wind is less (less force on the wind paddle). So, when doing 8kts through the water with 18 kts of true wind you only have 10 kts of effective wind to move the wind paddle, but you have large forces required to change course at 8 kts through the water!

[@MrCh1lll]

Wow very comprehensible explanation thank you very much Don 🙏 I have a Aries installed on the 43f Ketch I have boat to sail around the world ☺️ still haven't sailed it yet but hopefully soon 💪⛵🤩⛵😍🌍🐼❤️

[@ParaAnchors]

Wind vanes are an excellent extra pair of hands to steer your boat. The Scanmar Monitor and Hydrovane wind vanes are built heavy-duty and owners of both companies provide great customer service.

[@nickbenfell4327]

Great stuff. A clear explanation of the two systems.

[@lk4114]

Thak you, the best explanation so far

[@wmason1961]

Thank you. I have wondered about this for quite some time. Again, Thank you.

[@jtf2413]

Best video I've seen that explains how these work

[@robinvalayden2196]

Thanks,,a real instructor ,,,make it so clear and easy,,

[@davidvanniekerk3813]

Baie dankie/ Merci beaucoup/ Seht Danke. You explained it very good. The flip-flop-Windvane is most likely the cheaper one of the two types. Thanx a mil.

[@CaliRico2001]

Excellent explanation, thank you

[@TxHornyToad]

I had a Windpilot pacific plus on my Swan 38. It did a good job in moderate winds but got overpowered in stronger winds if not on the wind. (A Swan 38 will sail itself on the wind) I often used a small electronic tiller unit to drive the Windpilot in light winds. I had an Aries wind vane on my Carter 30. Very strong but often hard to balance the boat due to the fin keel/IOR hull design.

[@erkanpartal2560]

Thank you so much, what an explanation. Just perfect.

[@jo7765]

A very simple and elegant design but has no servo rudder like the monitor, not to say I am not considering the unit. Con is that when the boat falls off the wave in large seas as happened to us twice during our Pacific crossing with bare poles doing hull speed there is little to no yaw correction to prevent broaching risks. The monitor did a damn good job to keep us on track with 10-meter waves and plus 60 kts which blew for 12 hours en route into Tahiti. The sheer power of the boat being pushed sideways is corrected by the servo rudder instantly.

[@MrBeracah]

Very clearly well explained. Thankyou

[@GodzillaGoesGaga]

Great explanation. Helped me understand what's going on. Thanks.

[@tihodimitrov6427]

thank you for the helpful explanation and video!

[@sailingBlueSky]

A very good explanation, thanks

[@huntsail3727]

Interesting explanation, thanks!

[@WallySchmidt-hn8xj]

Excellent explanation.

[@sandstoney]

What a great explanation,I now understand it fully Thank You .I wonder what part Suzie will need when she gets to Hobart ,

[@symphonyfarm2009]

Man I have learned so much following along this race!

[@rb30athorn]

Best exp;anation Ive ever heard. Thanks!

[@marciogoncalves8821]

Obrigado , valeu sua live sobre leme de vento 🙏☺️ muito bom 😃

[@howardbibby8983]

Great tutorial, finally understand how it works 😊

[@andrewneely1652]

Thank you, very nice and clear explanation.

[@rogerchaseviola5118]

Great race, great videos. Fantastic coverage, thank you Don. Has there been a comparison done between Monitor and other servo pendulum systems? Pros and cons? Where might we find that?

[@flyerplanet]

Very goog explanation. Tks ⛵⛵

[@grahamreeve5209]

Brilliant explanation thanks.

[@sparkeyjones6261]

Wow, you just explained it in a way that made me understand it much more thoroughly. Until recently, I figured windvanes were powered by magic. lol

[@whyh]

It seems to be the auxiliary system has less moving parts, while providing a backup steering system.

[@philipizod89]

Thanks. Very helpful ☺️

[@eddievest4096]

Nice vid. Very helpful. Thanks!

[@iwayini]

Thanks for the video. Makes great sense!

[@jeffstrotman3905]

Very well explained. Thank you.

[@benthrelkeld4929]

Great explanation! Thanks!

[@ParisNaday]

Fantastic thanks! Well explained.

[@SOLDOZER]

Aux Rudder does not have to be centered so you can still use you swim ladder. But it also does not lift out of the water when not un use.

[@cpgeorge4442]

i got 75 to 80 % understand how it works, thanks

[@obyildiz]

thanks for the clear explanations!

[@stevebolszewski]

Thanks great explanation

[@deborahdoyle6743]

Good job on windvane discussion

[@SlowBoatSailing]

Nice explanation!

[@guitarmanmark]

That was really helpful, thank you

[@FX5067]

Very good explanation except for one thing: is flip port and flop starboard or is it visa versa?

[@claverton]

How do you prevent a Jordan series drogue getting caught around and ripping off the rudder of the auxiliary rudder system when deployed? Given that you wouldn't go into the Southern Ocean without a Jordan series drogue, surely a servo pendulum type windvane where you can raise the windvane's rudder out of the way of the Jordan series drogue's bridles prior to deployment of the drogue would be a far better and safer choice

[@joshmccarthy7943]

Great video mate explain well always set the vain to the wind Direction neural then it will keep your corse I fly planes same with wind drift and correcting dead reckoning

[@gpk7683]

Finally, I understand. Thanks

[@operator0]

SO, what are the advantages and disadvantages of each system. Obviously, the rudder type can be used as an emergency rudder, but what else?

[@d3891]

Great Explanation!

[@MachTuck]

Good explanation thanks. So, just saying, if the wind vane is set up to steer 270 degrees with abeam reach and eventually the wind changes, now, assuming nobody touches the helm, would the vessel position itself to the new wind direction and get out of course?

[@edwardfinn4141]

Mach Tuck yes if the wind changes , the boats direction- compass course, will change to maintain the same apparent wind angle.....

[@MachTuck]

@@edwardfinn4141 Thank you, thats a great invention!

[@faksen13]

Is a windpilot pacific plus, with rudder and pendelum in one machine, more sensitive and steers in lighter winds than Hydrovane or the pendelum that use the boat tiller/rudder?

[@javierrodriguez2863]

One dumb question here, with the wind vane installed do you still have to trim/adjust the sails?

[@raddude206]

Is there a size limit on boats that can use the auxiliary rudder system?

[@gusfring6795]

Thanks for this well done explanation 😀👍

[@mariquevandermerwe8516]

can i put this in my car

[@hbradar1]

EXCELLENT information

[@stuartsutherland7664]

What kind of self steering gear does "Wave Rover" use?

[@retrotrancechannel6470]

Great explanation, but I'm left with one more question: how do you "switch off" the wind vanes? I suspect pulling it out of the water is too much of a hassle. Can it be locked in a neutral position or so, if you don't want to use it? Thanks

[@donmcintyre6037]

yes you just lock the windvane verticle and the rudder tracks behind....

[@lungarotta]

Great explanation! Just what I was looking for, thanks a lot Don! May I ask you another thing? What was the problem with Kevin's Hidrovane?

[@donmcintyre6037]

nothing...he just had to get a better feel for it and he wanted to head to the mountains.!

[@HarryStucklermendotcom]

This is the best explanation ever !!!

[@JohnGTynan]

My take on this is that you generally prefer the hydrovane. However is one type more adapted to a certain type of boat eg fin keel, long keel, or is it the same advantage across the board?

[@benlindner5285]

Don was a dealer for Hydrovane and they were an exclusive sponsor of the race. Other manufactures cried foul!

[@burnsnight1]

Great video. Does it work just as well close hauled? That is up wind.

[@edwardfinn4141]

caspar works even better upwind close hauled....

[@uuugberns]

well done thank you, next time please do something with that microphone :-)

[@MachTuck]

so, in both systems, we want the vane lined up with the wind, leading edge to the wind, right?

[@serdarortac9610]

Well explained, thanks

[@jaghook]

I have a long deep straight keel,,,when on a course, my rudder is sometimes a little to either port or stabd permanently ,,,,QUESTION,,,,Does the boats rudder have to be centred or tied off a little to port or stbd,,,,,or should the boats rudder be centred at all times when using the vane.

[@edwardfinn4141]

james wyatt Just Balance the sails as best you can, then steer the boat with he rudder and lock the rudder in place. The Hydrovane will add the little bit of rudder necessary to sail the boat on course....

[@KrunchyJD]

Wouldn't the natural heel of the boat in the wind stuff that up?