The new Hydrovane! Self Steering BIG players raise the bar!

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ความคิดเห็น • 76

  • @bigskybluewaters
    @bigskybluewaters ปีที่แล้ว +4

    The Hydrovane is an awesome crew mate. Will and Richard at hydrovane are so helpful. We initially bought the Hydrovane for a Catalina 320 and placed it off center. 2 years later we moved the vane to a blue water 40 ft boat. They were able to help us make it work on the new boat. We ordered a different shaft and the stubby vane and we were in business. This saved us a few thousand dollars from having to buy a whole new hydro vane. Anything you need help with these guys are there answering questions. They want to help make it work for you and your boat. I cannot recommend their product or them enough!

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  ปีที่แล้ว

      Yeah, those guys are legendary! Nice to hear you speaking highly of them 👍

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      How bizarre, I never had any problems with ours!
      Mind you, yes the weigh absolute ton and of course they can get in the way of an awful lot things.
      Spare auto pilot? I though about this for our boat but after relating to my experience fixing then we’re just going to carry the spares and change then before they wear out.
      I have not heard of any type 1 linear drive failing to date, the problem is of course the the supply voltage failure. That being said, despite me really rating the Hydrovane I don’t think we will have one on our new build.

  • @PetegNZ
    @PetegNZ ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Super nice having a windvane for the fact that they're silent too, much better for the crew off watch than hearing a hydraulic ram going all the time.

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      This is so true! Although we did notice extra water noise as the cockpit was so close to the rudder. That became a very soothing sound after our first passage with it!

  • @WilliamBell-t8k
    @WilliamBell-t8k 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    The Hydrovane is a testament to the skill, knowledge and engineering innovation of Derek Daniels in Nottinghamshire. An example of high class British engineering.....Bill

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Yeah. They are a fab group of folk. Even though they are a Canadian company now it’s cool to visit the engineering side of it all here in the UK, it’s still as it always was! 👍

  • @DirkJacobsz
    @DirkJacobsz ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Loved my Hydrovane - took us across Oceans - Raymarine died going across the Mozambique channel - Hydrovane worked..we have a new boat need to get another Hydrovane.

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  ปีที่แล้ว

      So many great stories when a Hydrovane is involved! What’s the new boat?

  • @goodq
    @goodq ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Amazing. As always. Icing on the video is seeing a sister ship to my boat 😎 4:00

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks. Stacks more to be seen from the boatshow so stay tuned. Nice boat! So much space down below and still shifts in light winds 🙌🏼 where do you cruise her?

  • @SailingAquamarine
    @SailingAquamarine ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Having sailed with a few of these, I know they are the ultimate autopilot. Years and years of real world experience has evolved it to be ultra capable and reliable (for instance the slop in the system tuned in to give hysteresis and a smoother course) I just wish I could afford one!

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  ปีที่แล้ว

      Hey! Cheers for commenting! Your right, they are superb and the years of constant tinkering has kept them at the top! They are expensive though, although it is with noting that the brackets are very expensive, if you are handy you can save a lot by making your own brackets!

  • @SVImpavidus
    @SVImpavidus ปีที่แล้ว +2

    No doubt, they are the best and can be fitted off centre, which is a great advantage on a modern boat. Sail Safe Guys, Ant & Cid.

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  ปีที่แล้ว

      Hey guys, good to hear from you! I rate them as the best that I have used but I think the main selling point for me is that they generally appear to be the most reliable of all self steering options!
      The off centre fitment is very handy however do know your boat before you fit one! In our last boat I used to sail in around 5kn of wind with the spinnaker up. When going downwind the apparent wind was so low we found that the offset vane would drag the boat off course, It was a real pain to get it set to minimise wandering.. Many a fail here! As soon as we got around 5kn apparent it all worked fine!

  • @grahamselby3246
    @grahamselby3246 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Hard to imagine the Hydrovane needing to be improved. We sailed across the Atlantic in 1978 using one and it worked to perfection. I'm possibly planning another trans Atlantic at the ripe old age of 72 and will definitely be looking to purchasing a Hydrovane if the boat doesn't come with one. Very interesting about using a tiller pilot. I'll be looking into that as well.

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi Graham, yeah.. they really have improved it over the years, mainly to become the most durable self steering option there is! The performance is slightly improved but like you say… it just worked anyway!
      The tiller pilot is a fab addition if you need a spare or to save on valuable amps!
      Let us know how you get on with your next crossing!!!👍⛵️💨

    • @davidwarnes5158
      @davidwarnes5158 ปีที่แล้ว

      I think they have had to adapt them for the style of hulls newer boats have , as the hydrovane of old needed the boat trimmed and balanced nearly sailing themselves, not that easy on todays planing Hull shapes, so they are stronger to take the forces put on them for a less trimmed boat, ?

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  ปีที่แล้ว

      @@davidwarnes5158 hi David, that could well be be a possibility.
      The original rudder was very small, then there was a bigger one which was around for years. Basically bigger gives you more power and that is what they wanted as boats were getting bigger but materials could not cope.
      It took them a while to find the solution as they needed to perfect it before building the more recent one but I think it was to cope with the increased displacement of modern boats more than anything.

    • @davidwarnes5158
      @davidwarnes5158 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@SailHub don't they have less displacement as they sit on and not down into the water ? And older boats tended to be heavy and push the water ?
      Most modern boats don't have a skeg .

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  ปีที่แล้ว

      @davidwarnes5158 if your looking at racer cruisers and Med boats etc that’s absolutely correct! However I believe the main issue for Hydrovane is that they need to be strong enough for blue water cruisers.
      Back in the day a big boat was 40’ and the average cruiser was around 35’. These days the Hydrovane has to cope with boats way above 50’ and even big catamarans! The largest I fitted one to was a 65’ steel boat, it’s these bigger boats that the vane needs to withstand.
      The lighter boats don’t really cause any issues as in comparison to a bluewater boat they have less displacement, and lesser rudder forces.
      Regarding the skeg, most modern boats don’t have them, they use a spade which provides greater lift and rudder response, more performance due to less drag etc but at the sacrifice of strength. As for use with the Hydrovane, it makes little to no difference as the ships rudder is fixed during use, it may end up trimmed 3° or so which has no effect on the Hydrovane unless the rudder is extremely close where an offset installation would probably be the best option regardless of rudder type.
      Hope this clears things up a bit.
      Cheers,
      Chris

  • @javacup912
    @javacup912 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Always loved to have a Hydrovane on my boat (plumb transom, on 33' boat) but the price is holding me back. If I could find a used one and piece meal the installation, maybe I'd buy it. Though not plan for long ocean crossing, rudder faillures can happen any time, and it's nice to have a way to get to shore.

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      For sure, they are a great addition!

  • @WillN2Go1
    @WillN2Go1 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Keep in mind James Frederick, (who's seen at the beginning of this video) Sailing Triteia has a full keel to the rudder on his Alberg 30, yet his rudder was damaged mid ocean. Later Hydrovane did him a solid. He had a cheap vane that broke two days out of California.
    I've got a Hydrovane on my Hunter 456. Consider it essential gear for ocean crossing. (My redundancy is a solid Whitlock steering system, a RayMarine autopilot that has never had a problem. the Hydrovane and a stick autopilot to use on it. Blade rudder, so I don't consider any of this gear to be overkill.)

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Sounds like your set up is bombproof!! 👍

  • @jo7765
    @jo7765 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Simple durable design is very appealing but as the boat falls sideways off a wave in big seas ( as happened to us twice during our Pacific crossing with bare poles doing hull speed ) there is no servo rudder to correct the yaw of the vessel and keep it on track and reduce broaching risks.

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  ปีที่แล้ว

      Interesting stuff, I never had this issue with ours unless the sails were not set optimally. In general, falling off a wave is a big part of sailing and I have not heard of many people struggling with it to be honest.
      Anyhow, Im not here to sell Hydrovane's, just here to lett people know what's happening in the world and your comment is actually really important for these people!
      Thanks again for sharing your experiences and thoughts!

    • @jo7765
      @jo7765 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Depends on the size of the wave i guess : )

    • @SOLDOZER
      @SOLDOZER 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Dudes in the GGR are using them without complaints. Im pretty sure they are seeing seas bigger than you will in your life.

  • @sailingprincessarguella6072
    @sailingprincessarguella6072 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Very useful video guys

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  ปีที่แล้ว

      Cheers guys! Hope to see you again soon! Get well soon! 👍⛵️💨

  • @ianfirth-clark5975
    @ianfirth-clark5975 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    It would be interesting to know what size boats they can go up to as I believe generally before they were limited.

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      H Ian, You would have to give Will a shout about that. Although for reference, the largest boat that I had fitted personal too was a 65 steel monohull with an extended transom. It was massive and the vane self was a custom length that flew above the solar arch! They loved the vane and had no issues with it at all! The biggest cat I have seen one was a 46'er.
      I imagine the larger rudder introduction probably helped with sizing up a lot although the boats mentioned above are probably near the limit.
      Cheer, Chris

    • @ianfirth-clark5975
      @ianfirth-clark5975 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@SailHub bigger than I thought but then generally boats are way bigger on average these days.

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  ปีที่แล้ว

      @ianfirth-clark5975 boats are getting massive! We’re looking at building a new boat. Is and it’s crazy that the average boat is 40’ now, yet everyone we meet wants a minimum of 45’!
      However, I do think when it comes to putting your money on the table, 40’ appears to be a round number that people appear comfortable handling sensibly.

    • @ianfirth-clark5975
      @ianfirth-clark5975 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@SailHub as a child I grew up squashed in the forepeak with my sister in a 17’ silloehette 🤣

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@ianfirth-clark5975 fantastic! That sounds epic! And a bit tough too… We shared our 33’ with a full boat builders set up, including tig welding gear, gas bottles, power tools camera gear, 2 mountain bikes and bike packing gear. The boat…. Was low and slow! 😂

  • @SOLDOZER
    @SOLDOZER 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    If you mount it off center, wont it be mostly out of the water on certain tacks making it mostly not effective?

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      This is true, but it’s amazing how little rudder you need when it’s hanging off the back of the boat. The newer models have longer rudders to counteract offset mounting. It works really really well. I’m my testing I found it only to be a problem when almost drifting, this is due to the off centre drag, but to be fair… most people don’t bother trying to sail in 4kn true.

    • @RSchrE
      @RSchrE หลายเดือนก่อน

      When a boat heels, there is quite a bit of wind, and in the case of our boat, the water then rises at the stern, as the boat gradually sinks into her own trough.

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  หลายเดือนก่อน

      Relying on displacement theory for the rudder submersion makes perfect sense. That being said, on wide transom boats were likely to see a Hydrovane rudder rather far out of the water if it is mounted off centre. As mentioned before this isn’t really an issue for most as the leverage of having it so far aft compensates.
      That being said, if I were to recommend a fitment for a wide transom boat like to go as close to centre as possible. This is to make sure you have good rudder authority in confused and boisterous sea states.

  • @brevardfencecompany
    @brevardfencecompany ปีที่แล้ว +1

    on my dream list

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yeah, they are wonderful. We put one in our last boat, not sure if we can afford it again but if we could we would! 👍

  • @reversingentropy
    @reversingentropy 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    No way mate. We are removing ours and keeping a full spare autopilot in case anything goes wrong with the main one. People don't realize how heavy these things are hanging at the back of the boat, they interfere with the dinghy davits and solar arches, and worst of all they only work in very narrow wind conditions and sea state, and forget about trying to use a Spinnaker or code zero. We live in Portugal right in the middle of orca territory. Rather have a transom mount for an emergency rudder. Stay safe out there. Cheers

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Hey, yeah. They are heavy all right!
      Mind you, they don’t suffer electrical failure which is generally the only thing that lets modern autopilots down. The likes of Raymarines type 1 linear drive is exceptionally reliable these days (so long as the clutch gets serviced? I’ve not heard of one go wrong since the days of the plastic planetary gearing!
      I never had any trouble with the Hydrovane with a spinny or a code up, mind you, if your boat is relatively light and responds well to gusts it could be the quick change to the apparent wind that’s causing the problem. That’s why we can’t really put on on our new build boat.

    • @reversingentropy
      @reversingentropy 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @SailHub you are absolutely correct. I am following your channel very closely love what you're doing to the van. I'm looking forward to seeing your progress in the new boat.

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @reversingentropy nice! Thanks for that, great to have you onboard!!
      Made you in the next one!! 👍⛵️

  • @McGyverPilot
    @McGyverPilot 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Theres been an influx of sales on these ever since the spike in hungry rudder-chewing Orcas. What a coincidence! 😅

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Yeah, funny that!

  • @joeblaney684
    @joeblaney684 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    How about multi hull version

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Believe it or not! The Hydrovane works really well on a cat! They are usually fitted on the inner side of the hull and the cane is extended upwards above any coach roof and solar! The units are remarkably adaptable!

    • @MrJhchrist
      @MrJhchrist ปีที่แล้ว

      @@SailHubYeah yeah, how about a proa version then!?

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @MrJhchrist your nut’s! I love it.
      You could probably use an offset stubby vane on the transom, the drive unit should be mounted just above the transom (or coach roof on cars etc) for optimum performance, so the whole system is around 1.1m above the transom. Don’t take my word for it though, give Will a shout - He’s the man!
      It would make for an interesting boat for sure!

    • @MrJhchrist
      @MrJhchrist ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@SailHub A proa doesn't really have a transom though because they "shunt" instead of tack or gybe. The shunt swaps what was the transom for what was the bow. It'd be like on a normal boat if every time you tacked the windvane teleported to the bow, mounted backwards too so the rudder is plowing backwards through the water. It is an admittedly niche problem though, and anyone who has already figured out normal rudders on a proa can probably figure out self steering too even if it's not off the shelf :)

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  ปีที่แล้ว

      @@MrJhchrist wow! I didn’t know that! Thanks for that. That’s crazy talk…. Like you say. It sounds like a real run project. I would live to be involved with something like that. It’s bonkers, although I’m not really sure why you would choose to design a boat like that? What are the advantages?

  • @NigelLoller
    @NigelLoller ปีที่แล้ว

    Still only has the fraction of the power of a decent servo system

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  ปีที่แล้ว

      Yup, your right there! I guess the plot thickens. I think the servo excelled in heavy air but the Hydrovane still works well. What are your thoughts on a servo system in light airs?

    • @NigelLoller
      @NigelLoller ปีที่แล้ว

      @SailHub The Hydrovane can only get it's power from the air ,which is why the air vane is massive , having said that , in light winds with the big vane it ought to be fairly similar , as the opposing hydrodynamic forces on the steering rudder are not very great ..The servo systems can generate massive forces through the tiller , or wheel ..in excess of 100 kilos at 7 knots on ones that I have built , and the air vane only has to move a 25 gram load to the servo !!!
      One of the biggest advantages on a servo system , however , is the automatic yaw control that a servo system gives . In other words . in a following sea when the back of the yacht is getting side swiped by big waves , a servo oar will get ''left behind'' and therefore try to correct the yaw , without any input whatsoever being required from the vane ..( this is something that a Hydrovane simply cannot do) but is a big part of keeping a yacht on track

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  ปีที่แล้ว

      @NigelLoller hey Nigel, your entirely right with how both systems work. My prepping of a good amount of boats for the ARC have resulted in these findings;
      -The Hydrovane appears to work best in light airs, mainly due to the fact boat speed is so slow.
      -The servo systems excel in heavy weather and with heavier boats.
      - Hydrovane’s generally seem more reliable over time.
      It’s maybe horses for courses, depending on your boat or where you are going? What are your thoughts?

    • @NigelLoller
      @NigelLoller ปีที่แล้ว

      I think that the sales and marketing team at Hydrovane do a good job !!! @@SailHub

    • @SOLDOZER
      @SOLDOZER 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      My argument is the servo system provides no redundancy. Isnt that half the reason to have a vane? Neither are perfect though. You just have to pick what you're comfortable with. Id pick Hydrovane for the redundancy and it does not take up room in the cockpit.

  • @OleSeaHoundSailingAdventures
    @OleSeaHoundSailingAdventures 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Bigger???
    Make em smaller!!!!!
    We little boat owners below 19ft. also have needs 😢

    • @SailHub
      @SailHub  4 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      For sure mate, you guys can get away with the floating rudder they do! That’s a massive weight saving!

  • @7476318
    @7476318 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Colin Farrell goes sailing