Windvane Steering

Monitor Wind Vane Self Steering
Attention is rarely needed to steer our Saugeen Witch. Instead, we use a purely mechanical device that tirelessly steers night and day using only the wind and our motion through the water.
Our device is a Monitor Windvane by Scanmar
www.selfsteer.c...
It works great through most points of sail and conditions down to about 5 knots of wind.
This video was taken on passage from Morocco to the Canary Islands in 2011.
Sailing stories at www.fgood.org/s...

[@MrJsoqeta]

This is by far the BEST explanation ever I found on UTUBE regarding how the wind vane self steering mechanism works..... Many thanks Now i truly understand how it works....

[@robine1000]

Totally agree with Joe Soqeta!!! Best explanation. Thanks for sharing.

[@coldisle]

This was very nicely done explanation for normal people! Thanks very much and great job.

[@MusicWorld-zy6dl]

Great explanation of this type of steering. This is the first time I really understood this. Many thanks and keep up the great work. Happy sailing!

[@CarpetEraser]

thanks for allowing us to do our term project in mechanical engineering!

[@sailexchange]

Finally watched this video Ken and Finally got a monitor for our Ericson 37, BTW this is Clayton and Stacey, Hope your doing well!. "Party On!"

[@paulwood4142]

Ah well done! now I understand it. its around 3mins when you explain the paddle in the water and the air seed car analogy and that what pushes the control lines to the rudder, thats the part I was missing, Thanks!

[@aktrapper6126]

Clearest explanation I've heard.....thank you.

[@XRinger]

Nice clear explanation. Five Stars..

[@youngypaul]

Nice. I've got one on my Hans Christian 38. I look forward to using it. I've also got an autopilot. Beauty of the Monitor... = Nil Electricity.

[@ekfinn]

Dude, outstanding explanation of windvane function. I'm looking at a Monitor, or shamelessly copying one by welding up one of my own. My only concern is having clearance for an upright vane with a yawl rig. Mizzen boom might make clearance issues problematic, unless I lower the unit on the transom.

[@witchSailor]

+ekfinn when you're using mizzen then you're heading upwind. Given this, I've found it simplest to take down monitor vane, raise monitor paddle, and set mizzen sail to steer boat.

[@josuehernandezmago]

Cool vid. Thanks

[@CASADOME]

very nice

[@edhuckle]

Hi Witch Sailor. Hey, I just bought a used Monitor but it didn't have the steering wheel attachment. I plan to make my own. Any chance you can tell me the diameter of the drum where the ropes curl around? Thanks, Ed

[@peaceoutplace9760]

Hi edhuckle. My boat has tiller and not wheel steering so no drum. Sorry I cannot help you there. Good luck!

[@witchSailor]

+edhuckle drum about 10 inch diameter. You could do without it though. All it really does that is necessary is provide friction so wind vane does not rotate when you don't want it to. Good luck!

[@TopTributeBands-N-Stuff]

Funny if you forget how to use the tiller going into port. Never happen, but funny.