what windvane is best against bad weather helm

[francis k]

I have a 30 foot 9 ton boat with a lot of weatherhelm. I wonder if an Aries is strong enough for the weatherhelm.

[RHough]

Originally Posted by francis k

I have a 30 foot 9 ton boat with a lot of weatherhelm. I wonder if an Aries is strong enough for the weatherhelm.

No windvane or autopilot is very good when trying to steer a boat with excessive weather helm.

You need to sort out the weather helm problem before thinking about windvanes.

[Richard Hillsid]

I agree, with the experience of wind wane and jib controlled self steering on Atlantic crossings, get the balance right first.

[gggGuest]

The windvane that's at the opposite end of the boat to the new long(er) bowsprit?

[francis k]

Yes. I do plan on adding a bowsprit, and new sails. But I do not expect this to cure the problem completely. If it is close enough, I will just go with it for a while before moving the mast. I know some vanes can deal with extra weatherhelm. And this Aries is available now near home for 1000.00.

[RHough]

The Aries does not steer the boat, the Aries controls the boat's rudder, the boat's rudder steers the boat.

If the boat's rudder can handle the boat's weather helm with you steering, I don't see why the boat's rudder couldn't handle the boat with the Aries steering.

If your boat requires high effort and large changes in rudder angle to hold course, any windvane will struggle.

How old is the unit? Is it Imperial or Metric?

[national]

Can you not just add more rake?

[francis k]

The inner forestay turnbuckle is bottomed out . Anyway, in 18 kts. going to windward it takes 2 reefs to settle it down to normal proportions. I doubt raking could do that much. A 9 ton full keel shouldn't need any reefing that soon. It is ridiculous. I posted about the weatherhelm recently. I probably should find a new boat.

[Richard Hillsid]

Don’t underestimate a few degrees of rake, its the solution no one to try.
Edit: you want to rake aft anyway so your turnbuckle should be loosened.

[LP]

Adding rake is going to move the CE of the sails aft and increase weatherhelm. Adding/moving sail area forward will reduce weatherhelm. Thus the comment about forestay turnbuckle being bottomed out and the suggestion of a long(er) bowsprit.

Any chance that you could shorten your forestay?

[Richard Hillsid]

Originally Posted by LP

Adding rake is going to move the CE of the sails aft and increase weatherhelm. Adding/moving sail area forward will reduce weatherhelm. Thus the comment about forestay turnbuckle being bottomed out and the suggestion of a long(er) bowsprit.

Any chance that you could shorten your forestay?

True my mistake, i read the thread 2 fast or am geting old and senile, and was on the lee helm thingy.
A Norseman’s terminal could help, or a new mainsail and boom.

[national]

Maybe your main is too full? Is you main old and knackered?!
Perhaps it's just not the onethe boat was designed for?
Reducing rake or spreader angle might help though. there are not many baots that can;t be sorted out with a bit of fetlling!

[francis k]

True, the main is older but hasn't had much use. But it may not be made for this boat. It is so long at the foot that I can't get any outhaul on the clew. I had this discussion before, but I Evidently didn't learn my lesson. If I had to reef at 15 kts. wind to relieve weatherhelm is one thing, but two reefs is way out of the ballpark. What was I thinking? I need to determine if this boat is worth keeping.

[FAST FRED]

After you balance the boat the Aries is an excellent choice.

The main reason is steering downwind , usually the hardest for a wind vane.

When the stern is kicked a bit sideways by a following wave , the Aires oar is dragged into a correcting position , even before the boat is far enough off course for the wind sensor to notice.

Its like having a GREAT helmsman on duty 24/7 ,that you don't have to feed , relieve or listen too.

Works for me! Just fix the heavy helm somehow.

FAST FRED