From: bamboo
Sent: Thursday, August 03, 20061:30 PM
To: Will Curry
Subject: Hydrovane Installation

Hi Will,

You will be pleased to hear that the hydrovane has been installed successfully on to my Beneteau 411. My cousin and I fitted it yesterday. I decided to place the hydrovane in the central position with the “A” brackets spaced either side of the stern access to the bathing platform. It doesn’t obstruct access too much and it gives a nice secure feeling when standing on the platform between the “A” bracket arms. Even when healed and doing 8kts in force 6! It means that I can attend to the hydrovane whilst underway without the risk of falling off the stern.

My cousin used to own and run a boat yard in Tortola, British Virgin Isles, so his experience and help in fitting the hydrovane was invaluable. I thought it would be difficult but it only took a day to install the three brackets and “A” frames. I have used teak blocks on the outdside bedded down with sealant adhesive and thick ply inside also bedded down with sealant adhesive. The assembly is now very rigid. All the critical dimensions have been satisfied.

Today we took the yacht out for sea trials. The wind was north westerly force 6 up the Bristol Channel. We had the third reef in the genoa and the first reef in the mainsail and the sea was moderately rough. Even so we were doing between 7 – 8kts close hauled and on a reach. The hydrovane worked perfectly first time even when the wind came round on the stern quarter.

What I need to do now is to refine the settings on the vane axis and the ratio control and with a little bit of practice I should be able to achieve a nice straight wake in all conditions. Although I think I will wait for a less windy day to play around with the hydrovane and build confidence in manipulating the settings.

I can only say that I have been very impressed with the quality of the equipment and the integrity of the design.

Many thanks for a superb piece of equipment will which greatly improve my enjoyment while sailing and give a much greater degree of redundancy and safety.

I look forward to seeing you all again at the Southampton Boat Show this year.

Best Wishes to all at Hydrovane

Malcolm Jordan

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