Wind Vane self steering systems - An easy, animated introduction on how they work 

Unlike autopilots, wind vanes do not "steer our vessel back onto course." Nor do they even steer the boat back onto a heading. Rather, they help the boat maintain a constant bearing relative to the apparent wind. As the apparent wind changes, so does the boat's heading. The bearing relative to the apparent wind is set by the pilot or autopilot on the wind vane. In order to maintain a constant heading, wind vanes must be manually or automatically adjusted by the pilot or an autopilot. Course control is only achieved, either by the pilot or the autopilot, by monitoring position relative to course and making small correction back to course. Wind vanes have two primary benefits: 1) They reduce the pilot's workload, including prolong time away from the helm to adjust sails, cook, and rest. 2) They act as backups for the sailboat's autopilots. Without them, an autopilot failure requires a pilot manning the helm at all times. As with any sailboat steering system, it's best to set and trim sails such that large changes in either wind velocity or wind direction have minimal effect on helm load. This way, wind vanes will best be able to maintain a constant relative wind.

I commented 9 months ago, and after watching this video again, am going to repeat what I said below: excellent video, and you really put a lot of work into them! I'm enjoying the new ones as well. You deserve to have a lot more subscribers.

This is the first explanation of wind vane systems and how they work that I’ve been able to comprehend, so thank you very much!

I met Bill Belcher at his home in New Zealand many years ago, his book on how to make your own is all anyone needs!

The way you describe and show through animation on your videos are world class.

I will admit, I knew nothing about this until this video. I have learned something for sure. Personally from this video I prefer the first one.

Thank you very much for explaining how these contraptions work! Beautifully simple vid and so useful!

Прекрасная графика и кинематика. Текст великолепен : гугл транслейт отлично справился🎉🎉 мой горизонт знаний расширился

I dont have a boat yet. but thanks for making this video for future knowledge when time comes i sail. God speed

I have been a casual daysailor my whole life and never understood how these operated. Thanks.

Thank you. You're the first to make me understand the principle of windvane steering.

I've owned a few boats including several sailboats such as a Vagabond 47 and other sailboats in the range of 30 feet and that was in 1980 and now I'm 70 years old. But never did I truly understand the wind vane. While I was able to use it in the 30-footer, I never fully understood how it worked. This video is really great because I've searched for a similar video and never found one that would explain it in such a clear manner. Congratulations on a beautifully done explanation!

Thank you for this explanation. Very easy to understand the way you present it.

Excellent video help me to understand how work this system, thank you

Well done , so simply described , the first time I have understood how they work

What a good video, it gives a wery calm and excellent full explanation of what You need to know about this issue with vind steering. Thanks for that

It's like a magician just showed me how the trick is done.

Wow now i get it perfectly. Im planning my liveaboard life 10 yrs in advance and learning all i can .thank you for the help

Finally someone expIains graphically how the vanes work. I was starting to think I was stupid or something seriously...!!! Thanks for the great job.

Amazing job with the animation. I finally understand how these suckers work. Thanks!

This is an excellent instructional video; clear and to the point. Outstanding! Thank you.

Very informative, many thanks now I understand. Greetings from the tropical paradise island 🏝of Kauai

Your videos give me hope

Excellent video as well as pros and cons. Thanks much. Jim Rodgers

Thank you, very informative.

Brilliant graphics and easy to follow instructions

You're a wealth of knowledge...thanks for making these videos...

Very clear explanation. Like the slower pace of explaining things.

O melhor que vi até agora

This is truly a complete instruction that is well thought out. It not only navigate through the mechanics of the systems and the sensitive issue of product copyright with ease, it also offer, importantly, an often neglected advice on having sail balance as a caveat before any systems can be put to effective use. Bravo! Very well done! Thank you.

Thank you for your work. 🎉

Clear and instructive. Exemplary delivery of the basic concepts. Thank you.

Fantastic expaination! I have always wondered how these systems work, never having owned a boat myself. Curiosity fully satisfied! Thank you very much:)

Excellent. Explain very clearly. Thanks from France.

Excellent video! I always wondered how these things work.

Thank you! Exactly what I needed to know. 😁 This is such a useful and well made video. 👏

Absolutely Brilliant... well done for such a great demonstration of how these systems work

Superb. Great work

Thanks guys for these brilliant explantion and animation. As many before, I always wondered how this gadget works.

Your diagrams (animations?) are wonderful! It is so nice to learn about sailing by watching as opposed to reading. I’m not new to boating but I am new to sailing so these videos are a fantastic way to get started before going out to take lessons.

Brilliant explanation. Thank you.

Best explanation and visuals. Great job. Thanks

As I am recently discovering my desire to learn how to sail, I’m soaking in as much knowledge about every thing I can to expedite my learning curve. Hopefully to the extent of even on my first sail , having a comfortable level of confidence. Thanks for sharing this knowledge

Great job! It's difficult to work out exactly how they function without seeing the entire system.

Well done. Good animation and easy to follow.

Excelente explicación. Saludos

Excellent!! Thanks!!! I'll try to build one!

Excellent explanation of the workings of wind vanes, now I see how they work. Thank you for such clear and easily understandable information! Greetings from the Emerald Isle. Ramey.

A well balanced boat will sail with the rudder tied off when cruising so start with that

Nice job on those CAD!

Yet another fantastic and informative video. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge with us. Please keep up the good work 👍🏴‍☠️👍

Very good video, thank you. This made the operation very understandable.

The auxiliary ruder vane system, has been installed on 65 footers with success, it is not just suitable for mid range to smaller boats. If requested I will put the URL in a reply.

Perfectly explained! Thanks

this system is on my to do list. you made it simple and pretty much understandable for beginners. Definitely, i've to study it more but for now, it serves the purpose.

This really helps! Thank you!

great video and spoken explanation. well done and informative

Another amazing video! This answers many questions for me. Thank you so much for your effort. Happy to subscribe to your channel!

This was so very well done and really helpful. Thank you!

Finally a great explanation of these systems :) Thank You!

Great video

Brilliant video. Thanks for sharing 👏👏 Warren s/y Legend👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧⛵️⚓️🇸🇪

Thank you for this very instructive video

These, especially the auxiliary type, are not only superior to auto-pilots in that they draw no power, but are also much more reliable, especially in heavy seas. Since the auxiliary doesn't use the rudder and steering mechanism, it means less overall stress on those systems, which increases their longevity. If you're going any kind of distance, I'd highly recommend spending cash on one of these. It's a worthwhile investment. Also, great video helping understand how it help make boat go. I'm an idiot so just trusted to mechanical wizardry.

Thanks!

your videos are fantastic to learn and understand

brilliant! many thanks!

Very nicely explained. Am planning to build a sail boat, so this will be helpful. Cannot afford a ready-made one.

Super videos. Very helpful. Thank you very much.

Dankie/ merci Searching 4 coconuts. My English is not so wel, but I do understand now. Thx.

Finally I understand! Thank you!

What an excellent video. You put so much work into all of them. (Your logo on the counterweight is a nice touch too ;) )

Nice animation.

that was helpful. Thank you so much!

Awesome videos 👏👏👏

Great job using graphics to explain something that's difficult to understand for most non sailors.

Muito bom 😃😃

Thanks for the walkthrough, I've been thinking of adding a windsteer system to my 30' Newport once it's done, mine has a advantage of still having it's original thru deck tiller mount as well as the original wheel mount, I've been thinking how to mount the wind vane on top of the arch I'm building and running a detachable connector to the tiller mount.

Wow! The graphics in this are awesome. Is this Dimensions? The knowledge of sailing is brilliant but the skill in video design has floored me. Amazing! First time watcher. New subscriber 👍🏻

Thank you again.. So Helpful

thanks a lot

That was helpful! Thanks :)

Very good

I'm new to sailing,and watch your tutorials over and over, it's all sinking in beautifully!(excuse the pun!), waiting patiently for the next releases!

Peg gears (wood dowels), levers and captive chord are a simple low tech solutions.

Thanks for the instructive video! Which system would you recommend for an old Yamaha 33 and ocean crossing?

Thankyou!

Your channel is a revelation, great information and useful insight. I've really found it to be a great source of practical information. With regards wind vanes I'm a hydrovane auxiliary rudder fan specifically, but for me any ARS vane is preferable to a servo pendulum type vane, although the likes of Monitor and Aries are great vanes the two big disadvantages of SPS vanes are the critical centerline mounting and control lines, and most importantly from a safety point of view they offer no secondary steerage alternative. I know of at least one instance where two simple 10mm bolts (port and stbd steering cable pulley mounting bolts) failes rendering the CPT and backup autopilot, helm and Aries all useless. This is a very well equipped high latitude Westsail 42' CC with a very experiencedoffshore skipper, I'm going for a hydrovane for the steel VDS 34' im negotiating price for as we speak, she also has 2 tiller pilots as autopilot and redundant autopilot. Offset mounting and the safety aspect of a hydrovane auxiliary rudder with only your continuous line to set vane angle on the worm gear pulley makes for a safe uncluttered cockpit with a second way to steer the boat. No brainer for a solo or shorthanded crew

Ideas on self steering rudder are so much clear now. However, I do not understant what makes this system so expensive? Thanks for the video!

best video on the topic Subscribed

great channel. Everything perfect! =D

Ótimo vídeo Uma dúvida: ele funciona a partir de qual velocidade do vento e até qual o máximo de velocidade do vento ?

Thanks for this video. Im interested in sailing but have never been on a sail boat. After seeing videos I questioned... how does that work? I've learned quite a bit watching videos.

Great video thank you. Iv decided on an auxiliary rudder system. better to have an emergency option, The other systems confuse me too much my cockpit is just a maze of sheets and pullies already better not have more lol

What software are the graphics made in? Very impressive!

I'm in the process of buying my first sailboat. And when I see this explanation, it blowed my mind with so many new stuff to think about when buying this boat. So, during the video you mention the first system is good for "small boat". Can you tell me what is "small boat" in this situation? Is it 30 foot can be an answer? Thank you!!!

I plan to make with my 3d printer a small wind vane for my autonomous micro boat. Do you know if with BLENDER we can have static STL outputs?

Really nice videos. Thank you for making them. The only suggestion I’d make is I think the voice audio needs a little improvement.

as engineer whom normally relies on my right brain.....this appealed to my left!

so if I understand this, for it to be used to keep you in course the wind would have to be constant. if the wind shifts the domain would direct you off course because it would realign you based on the new direction? meaning it holds relevance to the wind, not your heading. that seems like it could be bad to use if your resting because you could end up way off course right? sorry I dont sail, just learning concepts still.