True Stories

From: Colin Bastable
Sent: October 17, 2015
To: Will Curry; John Curry
Subject: Frank (Sadler 34) Hydrovane fitting pics.

Hi all.

Back in March you asked if I had any photos showing the installation of my Hydrovane.

I have only just returned to the boat, which is in St Croix, and I took some pics. Not especially pretty but if anyone needs a reference for installing on a Sadler 34 then they are adequate.

Once you had helped me repair the twisted shaft (mid Atlantic) the Hydrovane went from “bloody” to “bloody marvellous!”

Colin Bastable
“Frank”

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FROM THE BLOG….

9. My Hydrovane did not work. It kept wanting me to head to port. But my satcom did work, so eventually I emailed the company and sent them some photos. It transpired that a boat had hit my stern (probably in Gosport Marina) and bashed the Hydrovane rudder drive out of line. So with some great tech support from Hydrovane, mid Atlantic, I hung off the stern and with some nifty spanner work set things right.

10. Before fixing the Hydrovane I had been using my Autohelm. The original one burned out in Bascay when it was deluged with water and shorted out, but I found a replacement on eBay, and fitted it in January ’15. The problem being that it required a lot of battery power, which meant running the engines, and also lengthy spells of hand steering. It is easy to lose concentration when hand steering, especially close to the wind, when a tied tiller is not so effective.

11. I can heartily recommend a (working!) Hydrovane. As soon as I had it set correctly, it worked flawlessly all the way to The Caribbean.

From: horatio sinbad
Sent: August 19, 2015
To: John Curry
Subject: H of G

Ahoy!

It has been a very active summer for me with plenty of chances to put the Hand of Good to good use including a trip north to Greenport, NY and New Bedford, MA for to events. The H of God performed very well. I thank you for your help in making it all happen.

I have enclosed a few photos of the H of G in action and battles.

Your servant, SINBAD

From: Dee & Pippa
Sent: August 16, 2015
To: John Curry
Subject: My Hydrovane

Hello John,

My wife (Pippa) and I have just finished a seven year circumnavigation in our 48 year old Elizabethan 31.

Our trusty Hydrovane did most of the steering. We think it was equal to not one, but two extra crew. Unfortunately we hit a snag on our final passage from the Azores to our home in south west Wales. A pin securing the vane to the gear box worked loose. Fortunately I spotted it and pushed it back in, before it fell out completely (6th sense perhaps). I couldn’t stop it working loose, though things improved when I put the vane in an upright position.

I have attached a couple of photos, and would value your thoughts on the subject.

[Editor’s note: We call those stainless pins/rods: Axles. There are 8 Axles in all. Each held in place by a set screw. We use Loctite to secure the set screws. For whatever reason that one has worked loose. For each Axle you can see cavities nearby for their respective ‘set screws’ that hold the Axles in place. The screws are 3/8 inch imperial (non metric). Hopefully you have a suitable Allen Key. If you have some Loctite it is best to remove the culprit set screw, coat it with Loctite as well as the cavity – then re-install it  – tight enough to hold that Axle in place.]

Best wishes

Paul de Mengel

P.S. I have attached a link to my Sailing Blog.

From: Brandt Faatz
Sent: August 10, 2015
To: Will Curry – Hydrovane; John Curry; Sarah Curry
Subject: Yes, It Works Great on the Ericson 38

Hi Curry Family,

I promised I’d let you know how my new Hydrovane performed on the passage from Neah Bay to San Francisco. We completed the passage on July 29th, and the HV performed brilliantly. The Ericson 38 is known to be tender and a bit squirrelly in a following sea. I wondered how the HV would handle that. We had some following seas and a lot of quartering seas in wind ranging from 0 to 35 kts. Sure enough, the boat yawed and rolled like a drunken sailor, particularly in the quartering seas, but the HV handled it all with ease. Only once in these conditions did the rudder stall and require hand steering to get it back on course. Performance was flawless in 8 knots of breeze wing-on-wing and broad reaching with the kite. The best fun was the night-time broad reach across a star-lit northerly gale off Cape Mendocino with bioluminescent breaking seas and the vane steering us at a 7+ knot average boat speed, surfing in the high 8’s. (Hull speed is 7.4).

The standard watch log entry followed the format: position Lat/Long, wind X from direction Y, seas Z meters, Hydrovane driving like a champ. The exception was low wind, as expected, but the vane basically worked in any wind we wanted to sail in.

Oh, and I’m glad I chose the A bracket. Sleep was at a premium, and that extra confidence didn’t hurt.

Thanks for a fantastic product and your excellent post-sales support.

Here are two short videos of the Hydrovane in action.

…and a long video: Passage from Neah Bay to San Francisco

Fair winds,

Brandt

From: De Maio, Steve
Sent: August 11, 2015
To: Sarah Curry
Subject: Re: Shaft Sleeve Part 109

Thanks Sarah,

By the way, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the Hydrovane. I have used it extensively for singlehanding and will take it with me to my next boat. Thank you — it is still the most technically elegant solution i have ever seen for a wind vane.

Sent from my iPad

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From: De Maio, Steve
Sent: August 12, 2015
To: Sarah Curry
Subject: Re: Shaft Sleeve Part 109

I’m on a Contessa 26 – and am looking around for my next boat however I WILL install it on my next one – looking in the 32 to 35′ range currently.

Yeah, sure no problem you can post it. If you would like some more “color” for the testimonial, The Hydrovane worked very well “close hauled” in a storm off the NW coast of Vancouver Island in late September 2010, I was clawing off a lee shore on one side, and islands on another – winds were reported at 55 knots, and waves in the region were at least “boat length” high and quite steep with the currents. This was an awful night and I was very afraid for myself, the boat and my equipment – I had new found respect, trust and comfort in the Hydrovane after that.

I was also VERY pleased broad reaching almost running in 30 knot winds off the coast of Washington and Oregon State on 20′ wave faces – another boat in the same conditions had their autopilot overheat and they had to hand- steer — which exhausted them. We both pulled in to Newport Oregon to rest. The Hydrovane handled the conditions easily. I was happy to “give the boat more rudder” with the settings on the Hydrovane as the boat yawed on the wave-tops.

“Don’t leave home without your Hydrovane!” I won’t!

From: Hugh Lucas
Sent: Sunday, July 12, 2015 10:04 AM
To: John Curry
Subject: Alignment of Hydrovane

John

Just to say that we realigned the whole unit as this only involved the two bracket mounts and was easy to achieve. Needless to say we over rotated which became apparent when the free swinging alignment of the rudder under way meant that the tiller was not aligned with the collar hole behind for the locking pin. Nevertheless we set up the vane to see if it would work as we assumed the rudder would find the correct alignment, even if the tiller was out. Amazingly it worked perfectly first attempt!! Several people had told me it would take a lot of tweaking and adjusting before working satisfactorily. Maybe we will need to refine for different wind strengths but on the first showing the operation is much more straightforward than I had feared.

I am reluctant now to align the rudder by adjusting the bronze attachment for the tiller and drive rods although I suppose that by holding the tiller in position you could turn the rudder and this would bring the collar on the top of the rudder shaft into alignment with the hole in the tiller for the locking pin. Everything seems to be set up according to the highlighted instructions you sent through (other than the rudder alignment) so I will turn the whole unit slightly back to ensure everything else stays as it should be.

Like most equipment things are more straightforward when playing with it rather than trying to imagine things just from the manual. It seems to be a great piece of kit and for it to work first go was, for me, just amazing!!

Kind regards

Hugh

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From: Hugh Lucas [mailto:hugh.lucas AT icloud.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2015 10:06 AM
To: Will Curry
Cc: John Curry; Sarah Curry
Subject: Re: Alignment of Hydrovane

Well, sailed over from Padstow (Cornwall) to L’Arberwrach in Brittany overnight and mostly with the Hydrovane. No vibration so the realignment fine tuning seems to have done the trick. Discovered that the third setting (least rudder movement) works best in light wind from behind. Also found that keeping the vane vertical gives the best performance, at least in the 5 – 15kt winds we experienced. It even worked when we were motoring! Some elastic to secure the locking pins when not in use stops them dangling around and you have to remember which way to pull the steering line when adjusting direction but apart from that amazingly easy and effective!! So much nicer and more efficient than using the autopilot that I would recommend one even for non long distance cruising boats.

I’ll send some pictures of the mounting when I get a chance.

Kind Regards

Hugh

From: Alex
Sent: July 26, 2015
To: Will Curry
Subject: Hydrovane and BCC performance

Hello Will,

I spent weekend solo sailing my Bristol Channel Cutter in good weather in Long Island Sound.

For the first time engaged Hydrovane. By the end of my trip I only wished that Hydrovane could read my mind, so I could completely withdraw from steering. This is the most intelligent piece of equipment and reliable mate, worth every penny I spent on it. Can not imagine sailing without it any more.

Alex.

From: Margaret’s Verizon
Sent: July 06, 2015
To: Will Curry
Subject: 2001 Hunter 460 Installation

Will,

Looking back, we could have done it ourselves. We were glad to have the assistance of an employee/friend at Norton Yacht Sales in Deltaville, Virginia. Everything went well. The weight of the unit lowered the back of our boat and required a slight modification of the rudder.

It took us about 10 minutes to get a feel for the unit. We are sure that we will continue to learn how to use it but we are comfortable after one outing.

We love it!

Margaret

P.S. We lost the rudder pin. Oops

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Hi Will,

You can absolutely use our pictures and email. The pictures are very helpful when installing the Hydrovane.

The bungee cord trick for placing the rudder on the shaft is “The Bomb”!

Margaret

[Editor’s note: use a heavy duty spring line bungee to reduce chatter while motoring… attach to Hydrovane rudder handle, and cinch up to a cleat]

From: Mike Downing
Sent: June-23-15 2
To: Valerie Williams
Subject: RE: 12 june to 21 june

Hi Valerie,

Naturally as a fan of the Hydrovane I’ve no objection to your request. Culhwch is unable to sign a release form but we hope that my authority as his guardian is acceptable?

Don’t worry you are not corresponding with a notorious ice cream thief!

Kind regards. Mike.

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From: Valerie Williams
Sent: June 22, 2015
To: Mike Downing
Cc: Sarah Curry
Subject: RE: 12 june to 21 june

Hello Mike, Lynn & Culhwch,

Thank you for the most enjoyable update. Everyone at Hydrovane loved it and we would like your permission to print an excerpt, along with a photo of your Hydrovane and Culhwch.

I am a bit worried because you didn’t mention meeting up with the postmistress to pay for those ice cream cones!!!

Happy Sailing,

Valerie

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From: Mike Downing
Sent: June-21-15
Subject: 12 june to 21 june

…

13th

Bagh Diraclett to Canna

A 04:30 start so it’s full daylight and with only 4 knots of breeze. On the way in avoiding the rocks seemed to follow a logical path. Now however, not only couldn’t I remember the way out but it all seemed completely wrong. Especially as during low water while anchored inside them, I had seen so many various different clusters of rocks. As usual though Lynns careful work with the chart plotters save us from serious trouble as we slowly crept our way out.

Once we got out past protection of the land its blowing 21 Knots. We will be running with the wind on our quarter but still a boisterous day to be crossing the Minch.

The Hydrovane does its amazing job. Lynn goes back to bed. Leaving me to enjoy the view, worry about the fishing boats that appear to have as much of a random course as sailing yachts must do to them and time to think…. how lucky I am to be doing this!

…

We have had a special request from the nice people at Hydrovane for some photos. Culhwch was happy to oblige. Please remember he is in every photo.

Mike and Lynn xx

From: Mats-Olof Jansson
Sent: June 12, 2015
To: Will Curry

Hi Will

I bought the windvane in November last year, installed it in Las Palmas and now we are in Portimao/Portugal. It’s working perfectly. It’s mounted 600 mm off center……no problem.

But…. The plastic wheel on the vane clamp has become loose and there’s a crack in it. It’s easy to glue, drill a hole and put a pin in, but if it is a guarantee – thing, that’s even better.

Best Regards.

Mats-Olof Jansson.

From: Florin Draghici
Sent: May 31, 2015
To: Valerie Williams; John Curry
Subject: Hydrovane views

Hello Valerie, hello John,

We sailed a little bit since the last time I wrote to you, and this time my e-mail doesn’t concern any vane issue (it was in La Coruña, in 2013…)

Our Hydrovane (Heidi, as the crew calls her, don’t ask why it’s a “she”, nobody knows, maybe because on Roz Avel only girls do real work while the captain uses his watercolour brushes) does a great job, I think our sail-trimming isn’t perfect, especially when downwind with important swell. We stopped for a while in Morocco, but navigations will start again next year, probably around the Atlantic Islands, Canary, Madera and Açores.

We made a video with Roz Avel guided by our Hydrovane, thought you might be interested in seeing it. We’ll try to make some better ones during our next trip, but while sailing you’re rarely behind the boat, with the camera…

Hope everything is fine with you, you’re doing a great job.

Yours,
Florin DRAGHICI

S/V ROZ AVEL
Roz Avel Sailing

From: SAILMAIL Patrick Whetter
Sent: March-23-15
To: Valerie Williams
Subject: Whetter Nautitech 47 Cat model VXA2D

Hello Valerie,

After sailing around 6000 miles now with our Hydrovane on our Nautitech 47 Catamaran, I just wanted to drop you a line to congratulate you on what a great piece of kit it really is. Rarely have I bought something in this Marine industry that simply does exactly what its meant to and performs so well. Beyond steering us flawlessly through all the conditions we have met so far, it has also been an amazing conversation starter in most ports when people say “I’ve never seen/didn’t know you could mount one of those on a Catamaran, how dos it work?” To which I reply “its absolutely brilliant and I haven’t found a condition it won’t steer the boat in yet!”

So yes, I like it and think it just brilliant!

My only query to you is about the Nylon sock that fits over the wind vane. Ours is just coming up to one year old and has sailed around 6000 miles and has pretty much come to the end of its life, due to Sun damage. ( Small use in the Med, an Atlantic crossing, Caribbean cruise and now on our way to Galapagos) When its not in use, its taken off and stowed out of the Sun so Id say its seen around 5-6 months UV exposure.

Having had my own sailmaking company for 15 years I’d like to think I have some knowledge on sailcloth.

As you are also probably aware there are many different qualities of sailcloth available, which might look similar from new, but soon show their differences. Seeing the quality of the rest of the equipment, I don’t believe you would cut corners over a few dollars worth of Red Nylon, but I’m wondering why its given up so quickly or if your supplier has changed something without telling you? There is also the fact that Red is about the worse color there is for absorbing UV and degrading! Had you ever thought of doing the socks in White?

Anyway, I hope my query is seen as “constructive” and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

[Editor’s note:  We appreciate the comments. We’ve looked extensively at other materials, but the rip-stock nylon always comes out on top because it is lightweight, flexible enough to get onto the frame, but won’t stretch out. The weight is the most important factor from a performance standpoint. Red is a safety color at sea]

Kind Regards,

Patrick Whetter
Shine of Exeter

From: Rick Ballard
Sent: May 02, 2015
To: Will Curry
Subject: Contest 36s – Hydrovane

Will

I thought I would just let you know that the Hydrovane has been fitted to my boat “Dutch Lady” and it performed perfectly during sea trials. My crew were very impressed and have named it after my wife Tania because she keeps me on the straight and narrow!

It was fitted by Dicky B Marine of Plymouth who made a very good job of it at a very reasonable price so you might want to add them to your list.

Regards

Rick Ballard

From: W.H.M. Tiddens
Sent: April 12, 2015
To: Will Curry
Subject: The promised photo

Hi Will,

It was some time ago that you asked me to send you a picture of our Hydrovane installation. We installed it in such a way that the port side of the sugar scoop remains all clear and clear of the swim ladder. That means its is maybe quite a bit off centre, but it works really well on all courses and in quite a wide range of winds.

As you can see from our guest we are now in San Christobal in the Galapagos archipelago having been helmed there by the Hydrovane! It really helped us both going through the doldrums and areas with a heck of a lot more wind.

Best regards,

Pim and Hanneke Tiddens
SV Nelly Rose

From: Mike Taylor
Sent: March 31, 2015
To: John Curry

Hi john,

Please find a few pics of the hydrovane fitted to my petite prince 125, a french built steel ketch. She is heavy at 15 tons but the hydrovane handles her beautifully. I sail in the greek islands so anchor all the time the gear is a bit noisy at anchor so I take off the rudder using a small block and tackle. I find it quite easy. I also made a cover for the gear out of a bit of old sail cloth (keeps the sahara sand out). Thank you once again for a splendid piece of equipment. I sail alone and dont know what I would do without it now. I particularly would like to thank valerie for all the effort she put in to get the gear to me (in two countries). She will know what I mean. All the very best, mike taylor

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From: mike taylor
Sent: March 30, 2015
To: John Curry
Subject: Dia of shaft

Hi john, I bought a hydrovane from you this time last year. Have fitted and used it all summer, and am over the moon with its performance. Everything I ever read about was true. Could you let me know the diameter of the X shaft as I am making a hard wood bracket to fit around it. I cant measure it myself as the yacht is in Greece and Im in England. Thanks mike taylor