Self steering

Gents i came across this site

it is fantastic

http://www.mindspring.com/~waltmur/Self-Steering/

there is a huge amount of information available

have any of our BD.net guys built one of these and do you have photos available

what is your take on this?? it reaslly seems a great windvane

 

Manie, he would have to be a Pommie to design such a complicated design for such a simple purpose.

I bought a little Herreshoff once in Fiji that needed a self steering system and made one very easily from an old Ice cream container for the lead counterweight and the rest was just plywood and a bit of framing.

I could draw it for you if you want to send me a private message.

 

here is a great windvane too

 

he he smart stuff for stranded mariners waratah hey

i can smell bucks a mile away

i will have to stick to homemade

i have written to landlubber and maybe his drawings are easier

 

A bungee cord to windward and revving your jib sheet to the leeward side of the tiller is about as easy as it gets.

 

I really like the Monitor windvane, as in Wynands picture. After a lot of research I had shortlisted 3 brands, Monitor (from Scanmar), Aries, and Cape Horn. They are all three servo-pendulum principle. Monitor gave the best support and service, so the choice was easily made. The windvane will be mounted when 'Waratah' is in the water and we know the exact loaded waterline. This is very important for a good working setup later.

 

Sorry for replying to such an old thread, I didn't know we had an electrical sub sub forum.

Is this the best self steerings there are ? Then I'm disgusted. Even Par's method sounds better than the contraptions I could find.

Compass module - simple controller - motor

How difficult can this be

I have on order some compass modules, intended for a LCD compass display. When I do get them I may invest in using some of them for auto steering.

 

It shouldn't be complicated but the autopilots tend to fail.. constantinously.. so PAR's method with a tiller and windvane with a wheel..
Any idea why yawls were so popular?

 

Hi Teddy,

I'm sure an autopilot can be made very accurate and very reliable.

 

I know.. but there are two things in every cruising book. Autopilot lets you down and some mf sells you bad diesel..

 

And on top of that autopilots use a lot of power as well.

 

Auto pilots on a huge vessel are too slow to react, and on a small craft, when they fail the rudder goes free or in one case, the rudder went hard to stb and the boat nearly flipped before the Crew got the helm.

That self steering stuff in those first few post's is way over my head.