True Stories
Page 2 of 41
Moody 40
“Goes great.”
From: Bernie Trim
Sent: December 16, 2023
To: Will Curry
Subject: Awesome
Here’s a few pics of the unit.
Goes great.
Install was ok.
The instructions were great
Needed to make a second hardwood wedge for top bracket and there was a decent epoxy pad made for inside .
Can i change the angle of the course adjuster so the line runs more direct ?
Looks like a quick adjust but I thought I would ask first , just loosen the 13mm nut and twist ?
I’ve used it in Moreton Bay with 15-20kn
Great
Around 6 kn wind and it struggles.
Departing on the 20th for South Pacific 12 month adventure
Regards
Bernie
Hunter 356
“The Vane has been an excellent companion in all weather conditions.”
From: Damien Tremolet
Sent: December 8, 2023
To: Richard Minielly
Subject: Question on keyway pin
Hi Richard and all,
I hope you and the team are well.
We made our way safely and pleasantly to West Indies, currently in St Vincent. The Vane has been an excellent companion in all weather conditions. Sometimes challenging to tune but we learnt and improved over time !
We found recently an issue with the key way pin (on the shaft meant to ease the insertion of the rudder) photo attached. There are signs of corrosion and now it does not fit correctly (too loose in the hole). We found this out when removing temporarily the rudder.
What is your advice ?
Kind regards,
Damien
From: Richard Minielly
Sent: December 8, 2023
To: Damien Tremolet
Subject: Question on keyway pin
Hi Damien,
Great to hear from you, and I’m happy to hear that your Hydrovane was a valuable companion across the Atlantic! There is definitely a learning curve to sailing with a windvane, but once dialled in the process is generally quite rewarding. Do you mind if we post your email to our True Stories page? No worries if you prefer to remain private.
That’s very interesting that the pin fell out. We haven’t seen that before, although some corrosion in that area is quite normal. The pins are originally glued in place, and it’s likely that yours had an issue with the bond that allowed it to come out and for water to penetrate in and speed up the corrosion process. It can be glued back in place with a strong epoxy, which should also fill any gaps from the lost material.
If you’d like, we’re happy to provide a new keyway pin. However, as it would be the same spec and subject to high shipping costs to St. Vincent, I would recommend re-using the existing pin with a thick epoxy adhesive instead. If you have any technical questions on the process, I’m happy to help.
Best Regards,
Richard Minielly
ContactHallberg Rassy 42E Ketch - Video
“Too rough for the hammock?”
“Even with conditions like this the hydrovane is completely reliable and does it’s job. No more handsteering necessary. So what to do with our time? To rough for the hammock?”
John Kretschmer Sailing - Kaufman 47 - Video
“1000 miles sailing a serious ocean in the Southern Atlantic! I experienced my first Storm Force 10 with +4m waves and lightning, which was every bit as real and terrifying as John’s books!”
Repost @ejcrosse @johnkretschmersailing
“As billed, truly epic “heavy weather” training passage from Rio de Janeiro to Punta Del Est in Uruguay with #johnkretschmersailing on the beautiful Quetzal.
1000 miles sailing a serious ocean in the Southern Atlantic! I experienced my first Storm Force 10 with +4m waves and lightning, which was every bit as real and terrifying as John’s books!
We’ve just arrived safely in Punta Del Est and will be heading to Argentina in two days time.
What was my biggest takeaway from this experience…? I need a bigger boat!” ⛵️
On our way from Lagos down to Las Palmas we had awesome weather, Sharon took the helm and played on the waves, we then tried the Hydrovane self steering which as you’ll hear from the video I was quite impressed with……. 👍🙂
Kirsten Neuschager - WINNER Golden Globe Race 2022
“[The Hydrovane] saw Kirsten and Minnehaha all the way through the Golden Globe Race (non stop, solo, around the world) and over the finish line!”
From @kirstenggr
Thinking back on the sailing, and missing it! Thanks to @hydrovane for having serviced Minnehaha’s hydrovane, which did about 45 000 nm before having any major overhaul – possibly more than any hydrovane has ever done before without a significant service. It saw Kirsten and Minnehaha all the way through the GGR and over the finish line! The unit is as good as new again, and it was smooth sailing all the way down to Madeira! Also, a big thanks to Eddie Arsenault, for having built such a solid mounting bracket for the hydrovane! Without Eddie, Minnehaha would just not be the strong boat that she is today!
Minnehaha – Cape George 36
Callisto 385
“The Hydrovane is like having a third crewmember onboard!”
@cutterbove_sailing_ Tony adjusting our Hydrovane and setting our course.
The Hydrovane is like having a third crewmember onboard! It’s an independent self-steering system, can be used as an emergency rudder (take note, anybody planning to pass through the Iberian orca territory!), and beats the autopilot hands down in many ways… it doesn’t use electricity, and it doesn’t freak out and kick you off in stronger winds or bigger seas.
We are very happy to have ours onboard.
Van De Stadt 36 - Video
“Win No. 1: We put a Hydrovane on our boat before we left.”
From @sailingsolsticetide
Sailing to Mexico – great read here:
https://currents.bluewatercruising.org/articles/rookie-mistakes-and-the-things-we-did-right/
“Win No. 1: We put a Hydrovane on our boat before we left. This was possibly the best money we have ever spent on our boat. The unit is not inexpensive but it drove for us nearly the entire way down the west coast and on all our big crossings. If you are considering a self-steering vane – do it. We love our Hydrovane but of course there are many options – anything that lets you let go of the wheel (maybe get into a bit of shade) is a bonus – especially when it is not costing you precious power!!”
⛵️VAN DE STADT 36
📸 Hydrovane hard at work as the sun sets
Hylas 46
“Lucy – the Hydrovane (self-steering gear) – is a superstar!”
“Lucy – the Hydrovane (self-steering gear) – is a superstar! She steered almost all the way from Kinsale (Ireland) across the Bay of Biscay to A Coruna in Spain, and kept on course in light winds, strong winds, flat seas and very lumpy seas! We’re so pleased to have her on board!”
Bavaria Vision 46 - VIDEO
“Bavaria Vision 46, Blur, close hauled on port tack with the Hydrovane on the ‘uphill’ side steering a perfectly straight course.”
“Bavaria Vision 46, Blur, close hauled on port tack with the Hydrovane on the ‘uphill’ side steering a perfectly straight course.
This was in 18kts of wind with one reef in the main and half a reef in the genoa.
You can see the angle of heel is not excessive and so there was plenty of the vane’s rudder in the water.
We had a speed through the water of between 6.7 and 7.1 kts.
This was on the far-right setting which moves the rudder least. In other words steers just like a good helmsman…. hence the straight track and good boat speed.
We found it pointed the boat up in the gusts just like a human would and came back on course as the gust eased.”
Steel 30
“The Hydrovane performed wonderfully in conditions that my electronic pilot could not have controlled.”
“After a 120 mile cruise in 20 to 25 knot winds on the stern I couldn’t be more pleased with the pilot! The Hydrovane performed wonderfully in conditions that my electronic pilot could not have controlled. I installed the course correction system rope right next to the cabin entrance so I practically don’t even have to go out on deck to change course!”
⛵️ Steel 30, July 2023
Barbican 33 - Video
“It gives us peace of mind while sailing and we can no longer do without it.”
“This week we sailed from Lemvig Denmark to Vlieland Netherlands. 270nm and a tough journey and without the Hydrovane it really wouldn’t have been possible for us. It gives us peace of mind while sailing and we can no longer do without it.”
⛵️ Barbican 33
Compromis 999
“130°, 10 knots apparent and the Hydrovane works just fine”
From: Till Poepperling
To: Will Curry
Date: 24 November 2023
130°, 10 knots apparent and the Hydrovane works just fine
[Video below attached]
From: Till Pöpperling
Sent: November 22, 2023
To: Richard Minielly
Subject: Re: Congratulations on your new Hydrovane!
Hi Richard,
We tested the Hydrovane today and we’re very excited! It’s such a joy to be able to sail without the noise of an autopilot!
In particular, we were impressed with the intuitiveness of the operation and the sensitivity to fine tuning the course.
Also, we engaged the Hydrovane on a 140° apparent and it was able to steer even in very light winds. Very impressive too!
In the next days, we’ll have some longer downwind sails, we’re looking forward to it!
Cheers,
Till
Elan Impression 434
“So good to be able to sail wind-on-wing knowing the Hydrovane would help prevent an accidental gybe. And to be able to leave it “on” for days with zero power drain.”
From: Ben Steele
To: Will Curry
Date: 21 November 2023
I am very impressed with my Hydrovane – it’s an excellent piece of kit, solid and robust. It took some work to install but I received great support from Will and the team throughout. It’s first outing was a six day passage, mostly downwind. So good to be able to sail wind-on-wing knowing the Hydrovane would help prevent an accidental gybe. And to be able to leave it “on” for days with zero power drain.
Oyster Lightwave 48
“My Hydrovane has been absolutely magic, without it I wouldn’t have made it, since my autopilot broke somewhere in the Atlantic.”
From: Jørn Haga
Date: November 20, 2023
To: Richard Minielly
Subject: Primer for black rudder
Hi Richard,
I got a replacement rudder last February, delivered to Las Palmas, to my boat “Toyster”. I’m now in Trinidad, after the solo crossing and traveling the Brazilian coast from Rio.
My Hydrovane has been absolutely magic, without it I wouldn’t have made it, since my autopilot broke somewhere in the Atlantic.
My question is, what kind of anti fouling-primer do you recommend for the rudder?
Best regards
Jorn H
From: Richard Minielly
Date: November 20, 2023
To: Jørn Haga
Subject: Primer for black rudder
Hi Jorn,
Great to hear from you and congratulations on the crossing! Glad to hear your Hydrovane steered the way.
Do you mind if we post your email to our ‘True Stories’ page? (https://hydrovane.com/true-stories/) We really appreciate any feedback from customers. No worries if you prefer to stay private.
For painting the rudder, we recommend a hard (non-ablative) bottom paint. To prepare the rudder surface, you will need to roughly sand the nylon to create a rough surface on which the paint can bond. Technically, a plastic-specific primer should also be used to help the paint adhere. In practice, most of our customers skip this step as the surface area is so small that they can repaint if needed. Generally, a good surface preparation is sufficient.
Happy to answer any questions.
Richard Minielly
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