From: Ryan Robertson
Sent: March-22-10 3:01 PM
To: Will Curry
Subject: Hydrovane Product Review

By the end of March 2007, the three of us were feeling very very broke. Not only had we recently purchased our 40 ft sloop, Khulula, but we had just spent the past two months outfitting her with everything required to take her around the world. The additional cash to purchase a windvane was almost too much. Just how good is this ‘Hydrovane’ anyway? Ultra low friction, with variable torque settings and the claim that this device would steer you true even when dead down wind and apparent winds of less than 10 knots? Sounds almost too good to be true…

It is now march of 2010 and our friendly hydrovane ‘Casper’ (the invisible but super friendly ghost pilot) has steered us 99% of the 29,000+ nautical miles that has passed beneath Khulula’s hull since the summer or 2007. Mexico, Marqeuesas, Tuamotu’s, Society Islands, Cook Islands, Tonga, Minerva Reef, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Papa new guinea, Australia, Indonesia, Cocos Keeling, Rodruigez, Mauritius, Reunion, South Africa, Saint Helena, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil, Venezuela, Caribbean, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, the adventure continues…

We have circumnavigated the globe, only ever using our puny undersized electric wheel mounted autopilot when the wind completely disappeared and we needed to hold a course while motoring. If the wind was blowing, the hydrovane steered us. I cannot give this device a high enough acclaim: Cunningly engineered, robustly built and very dependable the only parts we have had to replace is a fabric vane cover (eaten away by the sun and the salt) and a nylon bushing, all provided free of charge by the good folks at Hydrovane.

Hugh, Bryson and I have said to each many times that without doubt the most valuable piece of equipment on board was Casper – best purchase EVER. I will never own an offshore boat again that does not have this device. All about us autopilots were failing and wind vanes were jamming, crews were hand steering and were exhausted, and boats stuck in ports waiting for parts. Day in and day out we would sail, no need for the engine, no need to charge the batteries, no fear of steering failure. The stronger the wind got, the straighter the course, to the point that we could not do better if we hand steered!

Save yourself the time, don’t bother with the research, trust me: Just buy a hydrovane. You will not regret it.

One thing to note though – you MUST know how to balance your boat correctly for this vane to work at its best. An unbalanced boat will make any self steering fail.

Thanks very much to Will and Hydrovane. Your product has lived up to its claims and has exceeded our wildest expectations. In addition, the post purchase product support has been absolutely excellent. To date all “spare parts” (one hydrovane cover and one nylon sleeve) have been shipped immediately after our request. Hydrovane has been an absolute pleasure to deal with.

Fair winds and following seas,

Ryan Robertson
www.oceangybe.com

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