From: Dennis and/or Virginia
Sent: November-05-09 11:02 AM
To: Will Curry
Subject: Hydrovane Installation

Hello Will,

Thought you might be interested in my solution for the installation of our Hydrovane on our 1982 Amel Maramu with a retractable swim platform.

I was seeking a relatively simple disassembly process to remove the Hydrovane in order to deploy or retract the swim platform. The “clamping” nature of the H brackets at top and bottom would require careful vertical realignment upon each removal/reinstallation exercise. Using the E bracket at the top mounting allows the establishment of a vertical registration anchoring point. However, as you may notice in photo # 3, I didn’t have quite enough clearance from the slope of the transom, thus I had to shave 3/4″ off the end of the casting. Having made this modification, I can now remove the Hydrovane (using a outboard motor hoist mounted on the stern pulpit) by removing the rudder and releasing three bolts. This is facilitated by hinged and removable slats in the swim platform. The additional hole cut into the platform slats provides flush retraction of the platform against the transom, allowing the reinstallation of the Hydrovane. Removing the Hydrovane, deploying or retracting the swim platform and reinstalling the Hydrovane takes fewer than 10 minutes.

We have employed the Hydrovane in several crossings to the Santa Barbara Channel Islands in a variety of wind and seas and are quite pleased with the ease of use.

Sincerely,

Dennis Johns
s.v. Libertad