True Stories

From: Terry Low
Sent: August 16, 2018
To: Will Curry
Subject: Tiller pilot

Hello Will, I have been a proud owner of a Hydrovane on my Najad 390 for years now and I have also been a strong advocate for your magnificent product which I love.

However, the wind doesn’t blow all the time and my ancient Autohelm 6000 has packed up. I don’t really want to spend thousands replacing it when I believe I can use a tiller pilot in conjunction with the Hydrovane to steer the boat under power.

Can you recommend which model I should buy to steer my boat which is 9.5 Tonnes displacement but more like 11 tonnes with all the gear on board!

I’m hoping a basic and small integrated model will suffice.

[Editor’s Note: Adding the tillerpilot to the Hydrovane works surprisingly well.  Because it is driving the semi balance Hydrovane rudder it does not matter what the pilot is rated for.  We used the Raymarine 1000 on our last boat which worked well.  For center cockpits some prefer one that has remote adjustment capabilities.  You can view photos of what others have done here – https://hydrovane.com/galleries/tiller-pilot-addition/

Soon we hope to have tiller extensions available that are setup for tillerpilots.  You need to have a minimum of 15 inches fore/aft from the shaft pivot to tillerpilot attachment.]

Many thanks
Terry Low

From: Andrew Cooper
Sent: August 16, 2018
To: Will Curry; Sarah Curry; Gloria Anderson
Cc: John Curry
Subject: Re: Najad 391 – Hydrovane

Dear Will, Sarah and Gloria

I’m back briefly from our first leg, 750 miles to A Coruña, and the Hydrovane was a great success, throughout a range of light following winds to some solid 25 knot winds close hauled. Your device is an extremely accomplished piece of engineering!

I had prepared a grid of basic instructions compiled from your operation manual which we all read once, but hardly needed again: we found setup and adjustment entirely intuitive and also a great reason to concentrate better on balancing sails. Being new both to ocean sailing and to self steering gear it was very reassuring to see the vane coping with everything, and it steered us virtually the whole way.

A highlight was when we were joined by Minke whales, whilst Bert the Hydrovane held course, allowing us all to watch. (It is called Bert after my father’s middle name, which doesn’t get much other use.)

Another highlight is that just with solar panels and a fairly primitive wind generator we are electricity positive, and it’s great to supplant the very old Autohelm with brand new heavy engineering that doesn’t consume amps.

Here are a few photos of the installation, and my beginner’s guide. Please use any for your gallery. In the rush of departing we could have done better photographically and I will send smarter ones from blue waters.

We leave Lisbon for the Canaries next week and then the ARC in November for St. Vincent via Cap Verde.

Many thanks for your help and advice so far.

Best regards

Andrew

Check out: https://www.skeletoncrewsailing.com/

From: Skeleton Crew Sailing
Sent: July 31, 2018
To: gloria@hydrovane.com
Subject: Re: Hydrovane SKELETON CREW

Hey guys,

Taylor here. Our team is all over the states now. Raising funds for our documentary doing speaking events and what not.

Winter time set in hard down in the Roaring Forties… I must say, the Hydrovane held up above any expectations. In the heat of my last 4 days before pulling into Valdivia, Chile I was in 65ft seas and 50 gusting 60 kts of wind. Beyond impressed with the ease of installation and performance of your product, I’ll be recommending it to every person I meet on the water.

One man I met in Valdivia said he’s already in talks with y’all about installing one on his own boat down there.

Anyways, as I said before, we’re all over the states now. If y’all have any events or such you’d like us to speak at and tell everyone first hand how well the Hydrovane holds up, please give me a call or email anytime.

Until then, Hold Fast.
Taylor

Skeleton Crew Sailing
https://www.patreon.com/skeletoncrewsailing

From: Jan Reichel
Sent: August 2, 2018
To: Will Curry
Cc: John Curry ; Sarah Curry
Subject: Moody 38 – Hydrovane model VXA2D Pictures

Hi Will,

I’d just to inform you, we managed to install the Hydrovane last weekend and used it while sailing from Gibraltar to Morocco without any problems. Just with very light wind from the back we had to adjust it sometimes. I’m really happy so far and will use it hopefully most of the time during sailing to South Africa via Brazil the next month.

Thank you again for your support!

Best Regards
Jan

From: Ian Miller
Date: August 2, 2018
To: Will Curry
Subject: RE: XC-38 – Hydrovane model VXA2D L(shaft length)/H/E Photos and spares

Hello Will,

I just wanted to report back to you about our FAB-YOU-LUS Hydrovane.

She is everything I had hoped for… and more. Working perfectly in light or heavy air on all points of sail. …despite the massive offset on our stern.

I am attaching some photos and sending a short video in another email.

All best wishes

Ian

From: Dave Sitarski
Sent: June 30, 2018
To: HydroVane Will Curry
Subject: Stuck Pin

Hello Will,

I have the HydroVane installed on my 2002 Beneteau First 47.7. Installed last year in Alameda CA.

We just sailed from Portland Oregon back to Alameda. Came thru a gale on day 3. HydroVane performed great.

I was going to move the rudder, only to find the pin stuck. Tried giving it a nudge with a light plastic hammer. Moved just a bit. By using a screw driver in the loop end it did move around but still not wanting to come out.

It installed as usual with no problems. I installed in Astoria Oregon just before heading out to sea.
Is it possible the pin bent? Hard to tell.

Any suggestions so I do not damage any thing.

[Editor’s Reponse: If the rudder pin is stuck it could be that a bit of metal or debris is jammed inside the pin hole or the pin is bent.  If bent, you may have to try and hammer the pin tip straight or cut off the end that might be damaged.  Hopefully you can get it sorted without too much force.  We now have new super duplex locking pins that are over 200% stronger than the old 316 type.  We recommend using those for both the shaft and rudder pin.]

Thanks

Dave

From: Sallie Beauchamp
Sent: July 26, 2018
To: Gloria Anderson
Subject: my vane

Hello all,Attaching some install pics. Feel free to use along with this story.

Good news is we are in Burnt Store Marina, off the hard and in water for shake down sails and small projects. Sallie has named the HydroVane “Thing” as in “Adams Family TV show.

Coming south in Charlotte Harbor from boat yard to marina we were hit with massive thunder storm for over an hour with 40 mph steady winds….gusts much higher…horizontal rain and zero visibility. Surrounded by shoals and being blown backwards towards big mean concrete bridge even with engine wide open. If nose got turned I had to fall off to get enough boat speed to get rudder authority to try to get back into the wind.

Rapidly running out of room for this I luckily thought of my new Hydrovane, put it in manual mode, and used it along with the wheel. The boat immediately responded and quickly turned against the storm.

Even under these conditions I noted the load on the HydroVane rudder was extremely light. Finally got to a place where I could anchor as an escape technique and road out storm. Our new Mantus Anchor stopped the boat immediately in high winds.

So my first use of the Hydrovane was to survive….Thank you “Thing”

From: Anders Rhodin
Sent: July 8, 2018
To: Will Curry
Subject: Our Hydrovane is now operational

Hi Will,
We haven’t named it yet, but it might be “Bob”.
It’s on our new Outbound 46, Horizon. We’ve tested in now for a couple of days and it works great. So easy to deploy and “just works”.

I have one question about a humming noise that comes and goes. Think it’s the rudder vibrating. Seems to be mostly when the vane are standing tall. Anything we can do to avoid or minimize these vibrations?

[Editor’s Note: Working on a solution – involves squaring off the trailing edge of the Rudder]

I also noticed that there’s play in the shaft. I can move the shaft approximately 1 mm sideways both at the top and bottom. Is that normal?

[Editor’s Note: Yes, that is normal]

Thanks and regards,
/Anders

From: Steve Neal
Sent: July 2, 2018
To: Will Curry
Subject: Re: Hydrovane Mounted on HR 43

Hi Will,

Firstly, I have to say I’m very impressed with our new Hydrovane. We made our first voyage with it this week, from Tunisia to Spain. The trip took three days and we had conditions ranging from very light winds to a F6 downwind run with 2 meter following seas. The Hydrovane (Doris) performed brilliantly throughout the journey and kept us on course the whole time. We’re very happy we made the decision to install her. You can see her in action on our Facebook page.

The only problem that has persisted has been the vibration we noticed while motoring, as mentioned in our last email. I’ve attached a video clip with sound so that you can hear the noise we’re getting, both outside and inside the boat as it resonates through the hull. We notice the noise much more at speed, anything below 5 kts and it’s very infrequent. Anything above 6 kts and it becomes much more frequent and much louder.

[Editor’s Note: Currently working on a solution to this. We also sometimes hear it on our current boat, Jeanneau 43, only at faster speeds. We never experienced it on our Beneteau First 405. Solution involves squaring off the rudder’s trailing edge.]

…

Best regards, Steve.

From: Michael Mullin
Sent:  June 19, 2018
To: Sarah Curry
Subject: Re: Back in service

She (we call our faithful helper “Ananda”) got us to Ensenada , see the palms, again this time running three days of steady 30 knots. Didn’t need help, either. Post repair post strong gale foto.

Wish our diesel motor was as reliable, are (again!) dealing w major trouble.

Keep well, hydrovane rules!

From: Steve Hawen
Sent: June 15, 2018
To: will@hydrovane.com
Subject: Saltwhistle

Hi Will , first sail today with the new addition! I have to say that all the money spent on my Saltwhistle your Hydrovane is by a million miles the best value. I am sure you have heard this a million times but so easy to fit and use . Love it already. Thanks team.

Stéve

From: Thom Bland
Sent: June 16, 2018
To: Will Curry
Subject: Re: Hydrovane Photos

Hello you two,

Just wanted to let you know that I don’t need a new stay tube. Seems I cut it correctly after all—-will wonders never cease?

We just did our first sea trial and were very impressed—beer and sandwiches without a whisper of fuss. Hector, our windvane, steered perfectly throughout lunch. Gotta love him

The unit does NOT adjust easily when we try to put the actual vane into irons. Is that just a matter of washing and lubing him or is that a common problem?

[Editor’s Note: for a stiff course adjustment gear on any older unit, yes, try washing with fresh water and soap. No lubricant! If that doesn’t work, try reaming out the two Worm Bearings just slightly – see Operation & Troubleshooting Guide]

Thanks again for all of your excellent help and advice

All the best
Thom
SV Dumela

From: Nigel Fox
Sent: June 17, 2018
To: Will Curry
Subject: Re: The bin

Hi Will,
Will send more photos when the water gets that much more tropical blue and desirable at some secluded anchorage around Oct, November time.

So far I have done just over 750nm and the hydrovane has been fantastic, just about to do another 400nm hop up to Brisbane from Newcastle with a good blow from astern the whole way. By the time I get to Townsville I should have a couple of thousand NM under the Hydrovane so will do you one then at the moment shes been working well in 31knots this coming hop should be all 20-25knots wind the whole way so some good time should be had. 😉

Hope all is well with you & the family. When ever you visited Newcastle? Plenty of people here remember your visit so seeing my Hydrovane has brought out many a comment from long term residents of the marine here.

[Editor’s note: we (Sarah and Will) made landfall in Coffs Harbour, Australia in 2014.. and enjoyed the Newcastle Yacht Club for a few nights as we hopped down the NSW coast to Sydney. Great spot!]

Cheers
Nige

From: Seth Sherman [sent via Iridium]
Sent: May 23, 2018
To: will@hydrovane.com
Subject: Serendipity HV & W&S

Hey Will-

Two things today:

1. I had an intermittent issue with my autopilot coming into Ecuador and I was unsure if I should take off for Polynesia, 3500 miles away. But preferentially using my Hydrovane, it was a non-issue and depart I did. Getting better at and gaining confidence with my Hydrovane, I hardly ever use my autopilot with the sails up. (Feel free to use this to market your wonderful product).

2. I was getting an unusual color pattern last night: 2 red flashes at intervals between 1-20 minutes, but NOT every 5 seconds, which according to the manual, would have indicated faulty wiring. The unit seems to otherwise be working well. When the batteries are not fully charged, I’m getting about 5A @ 5k (but never 10A). The converter was never hot to the touch. Now that the batteries are fully charged (14.10V), I’m getting the expected one short green q 5 seconds. Anything I should be concerned about? The wiring looks correct to me.

Thanks and best regards,

Seth

From: Jose Maria Vazqez Perez
Sent: May 21, 2018
To: Will Curry
Cc: John Curry
Subject: Re: Instalation hydrovane

Hi Will

I tested the Hydrovane …. was wonderful, low wind but perfect.

Sincerely I believe that it has been a great investment

Many thank best regards
Citando