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.

 

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