From: Mike Meador
Sent: June 21, 2014
To: Will Curry
Subject: RE: First time Hydrovane owner – Valiant 40

Will,

Thanks again for your support. Our maiden voyage from Florida to the Chesapeake Bay on our just-purchased 1991 Valiant 40 was uneventful. The Hydrovane hadn’t been used for at least six years; I [readied] it as you suggested, installed the rudder and vane, set up a control line, and quickly figured out how to engage it once we were underway. It functioned as advertised, much to the amazement of a couple of crew who weren’t aware of wind vanes. We used it for a third of the trip; other times we were forced to motor sail with the autopilot.

I understand the loose, no-lubrication engineering design, but what about using a bit of silicone grease on the worm gear?

Thanks,

Mike

Contact