self steering

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1

Posted by Weeks MD, Andrew (aweeks@…>)


Has anyone had any experience with self steering devices on
30-35 foot Freedoms?

(I have an autohelm 4000 which works great, but I believe in
backups on essential systems, and for me an automatic helmsman is essential as
I frequently sail solo.)

I just did my first real offshore passage from Bar Harbor to Kittery Maine and was totally impressed by how seaworthy and
sturdy my F30 was. The wind built up to 25 knots from the SW (where I was
heading) and I tacked through the night into the wind and waves with a double
reef. My only worry, besides hitting a whale or floating log, was the failure
of the autohelm and having to hand steer for the next 24 hours!
Andy Weeks

2

Posted by mike_c_f35ck (mike_c_f35ck@…>)

Andrew,
I have similar experiences with my F33 catketch. I have an old
Autohelm 4000 which is okay for motoring and light winds. Two years
ago I replaced it with a more powerful Simrad WP 30. This contraption
destroyed itself time and again in higher winds. An inboard
autopilot is no consideration on the F33 because there are no inboard
rudder parts and no inboard autopilot is watertight enough to be
mounted out in the open. Last year, after careful consideration on
price and functionality and after recommendation, I bought a Voyager
Windvane from Canadian engineer Peter Tietz. Without extra costs, he
made a cast and anodized aluminum bracket to mount the Voyager
Windvane around my large transom hung rudder. I love the elegance
and simplicity and thoughtfulness in the design, and it works perfect
on all courses. Of course, I now have a contraption mounted on my
beautiful heart-shaped transom, but I get a lot in return.
Although I never spoke Peter (I live in Europe) he worked with me
through email to get all the design adaptations right and took care
of shipping and everything. It took me only 4 hours to mount the
Voyager.

see www.voyagerwindvanes.com

Mike

ps I have no financial interest in Voyager Windvanes; I just like the
thing very much.




— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Weeks MD, Andrew”
<aweeks@e…> wrote:

Has anyone had any experience with self steering devices on 30-35
foot Freedoms?

(I have an autohelm 4000 which works great, but I believe in
backups on essential systems, and for me an automatic helmsman is
essential as I frequently sail solo.)

I just did my first real offshore passage from Bar Harbor to
Kittery Maine and was totally impressed by how seaworthy and sturdy
my F30 was. The wind built up to 25 knots from the SW (where I was
heading) and I tacked through the night into the wind and waves with
a double reef. My only worry, besides hitting a whale or floating
log, was the failure of the autohelm and having to hand steer for the
next 24 hours!

Andy Weeks

3

Posted by lance_ryley (lance_ryley@…>)

Mike,
any issues with getting around the control lines in the cockpit?

lance

— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “mike_c_f35ck”
<mike_c_f35ck@y…> wrote:

Andrew,
I have similar experiences with my F33 catketch. I have an old
Autohelm 4000 which is okay for motoring and light winds. Two
years
ago I replaced it with a more powerful Simrad WP 30. This
contraption
destroyed itself time and again in higher winds. An inboard
autopilot is no consideration on the F33 because there are no
inboard
rudder parts and no inboard autopilot is watertight enough to be
mounted out in the open. Last year, after careful consideration on
price and functionality and after recommendation, I bought a
Voyager
Windvane from Canadian engineer Peter Tietz. Without extra costs,
he
made a cast and anodized aluminum bracket to mount the Voyager
Windvane around my large transom hung rudder. I love the elegance
and simplicity and thoughtfulness in the design, and it works
perfect
on all courses. Of course, I now have a contraption mounted on my
beautiful heart-shaped transom, but I get a lot in return.
Although I never spoke Peter (I live in Europe) he worked with me
through email to get all the design adaptations right and took care
of shipping and everything. It took me only 4 hours to mount the
Voyager.

see www.voyagerwindvanes.com

Mike

ps I have no financial interest in Voyager Windvanes; I just like
the
thing very much.

— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Weeks MD, Andrew”
<aweeks@e…> wrote:

Has anyone had any experience with self steering devices on 30-35
foot Freedoms?

(I have an autohelm 4000 which works great, but I believe in
backups on essential systems, and for me an automatic helmsman is
essential as I frequently sail solo.)

I just did my first real offshore passage from Bar Harbor to
Kittery Maine and was totally impressed by how seaworthy and sturdy
my F30 was. The wind built up to 25 knots from the SW (where I was
heading) and I tacked through the night into the wind and waves
with
a double reef. My only worry, besides hitting a whale or floating
log, was the failure of the autohelm and having to hand steer for
the
next 24 hours!

Andy Weeks

4

Posted by Paul McFadden (pwhitmac@…>)
Has anybody tried a “trim tab” system on the outboard rudder 33s? It seems like it would be a natural, and you wouldn’t have to be concerned with the cockpit mess of control lines. There used to be a few on the market, tho I don’t know what’s available now.
PWMmike_c_f35ck <mike_c_f35ck@…> wrote:
Andrew,I have similar experiences with my F33 catketch. I have an old Autohelm 4000 which is okay for motoring and light winds. Two years ago I replaced it with a more powerful Simrad WP 30. This contraption destroyed itself time and again in higher winds. An inboard autopilot is no consideration on the F33 because there are no inboard rudder parts and no inboard autopilot is watertight enough to be mounted out in the open. Last year, after careful consideration on price and functionality and after recommendation, I bought a Voyager Windvane from Canadian engineer Peter Tietz. Without extra costs, he made a cast and anodized aluminum bracket to mount the Voyager Windvane around my large transom hung rudder. I love the elegance and simplicity and thoughtfulness in the design, and it works perfect
on all courses. Of course, I now have a contraption mounted on my beautiful heart-shaped transom, but I get a lot in return.Although I never spoke Peter (I live in Europe) he worked with me through email to get all the design adaptations right and took care of shipping and everything. It took me only 4 hours to mount the Voyager.see www.voyagerwindvanes.comMikeps I have no financial interest in Voyager Windvanes; I just like the thing very much.— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Weeks MD, Andrew” <aweeks@e…> wrote:> Has anyone had any experience with self steering devices on 30-35 foot Freedoms?> > > > (I have an autohelm 4000 which works great, but I believe in backups on essential systems, and for me an automatic helmsman is essential as I frequently sail solo.)> > > > I just did my first real
offshore passage from Bar Harbor to Kittery Maine and was totally impressed by how seaworthy and sturdy my F30 was. The wind built up to 25 knots from the SW (where I was heading) and I tacked through the night into the wind and waves with a double reef. My only worry, besides hitting a whale or floating log, was the failure of the autohelm and having to hand steer for the next 24 hours!> > Andy Weeks
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5

Posted by mike_c_f35ck (mike_c_f35ck@…>)

Lance,
no problem at all here; I led the lines down from the windvane to
blocks mounted on either side of the rudder using one of the
boltholes of the rudderarm. From there, the lines run forward under
the cockpit grating to blocks mounted under the steering wheel. From
there upwards through the grating to the Wheel drum. I posted some
pictures on the photo-section.
Mike


— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “lance_ryley”
<lance_ryley@y…> wrote:

Mike,
any issues with getting around the control lines in the cockpit?

lance

— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “mike_c_f35ck”
<mike_c_f35ck@y…> wrote:

Andrew,
I have similar experiences with my F33 catketch. I have an old
Autohelm 4000 which is okay for motoring and light winds. Two
years
ago I replaced it with a more powerful Simrad WP 30. This
contraption
destroyed itself time and again in higher winds. An inboard
autopilot is no consideration on the F33 because there are no
inboard
rudder parts and no inboard autopilot is watertight enough to be
mounted out in the open. Last year, after careful consideration
on
price and functionality and after recommendation, I bought a
Voyager
Windvane from Canadian engineer Peter Tietz. Without extra
costs,
he
made a cast and anodized aluminum bracket to mount the Voyager
Windvane around my large transom hung rudder. I love the
elegance
and simplicity and thoughtfulness in the design, and it works
perfect
on all courses. Of course, I now have a contraption mounted on
my
beautiful heart-shaped transom, but I get a lot in return.
Although I never spoke Peter (I live in Europe) he worked with me
through email to get all the design adaptations right and took
care
of shipping and everything. It took me only 4 hours to mount the
Voyager.

see www.voyagerwindvanes.com

Mike

ps I have no financial interest in Voyager Windvanes; I just like
the
thing very much.

— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Weeks MD, Andrew”
<aweeks@e…> wrote:

Has anyone had any experience with self steering devices on 30-
35
foot Freedoms?

(I have an autohelm 4000 which works great, but I believe in
backups on essential systems, and for me an automatic helmsman is
essential as I frequently sail solo.)

I just did my first real offshore passage from Bar Harbor to
Kittery Maine and was totally impressed by how seaworthy and
sturdy
my F30 was. The wind built up to 25 knots from the SW (where I
was
heading) and I tacked through the night into the wind and waves
with
a double reef. My only worry, besides hitting a whale or floating
log, was the failure of the autohelm and having to hand steer for
the
next 24 hours!

Andy Weeks

6

Posted by mike_c_f35ck (mike_c_f35ck@…>)

Paul,
I worked on a design for a trimtab on the F33ck rudder. My idea was
to saw off and use the aft 4 inches of the rudder itself as a
trimtab. Before sawing, I read several books and articles on
selfsteering, and concluded this was not going to work on the F33
because of the considerable wheather helm.

My control lines run forward under the cockpit grating, so they are
not in the way in any way. See the pics I posted on this board if
you like.
mike

— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, Paul McFadden
<pwhitmac@y…> wrote:

Has anybody tried a “trim tab” system on the outboard rudder 33s?
It seems like it would be a natural, and you wouldn’t have to be
concerned with the cockpit mess of control lines. There used to be a
few on the market, tho I don’t know what’s available now.
PWM

mike_c_f35ck <mike_c_f35ck@y…> wrote:
Andrew,
I have similar experiences with my F33 catketch. I have an old
Autohelm 4000 which is okay for motoring and light winds. Two
years
ago I replaced it with a more powerful Simrad WP 30. This
contraption
destroyed itself time and again in higher winds. An inboard
autopilot is no consideration on the F33 because there are no
inboard
rudder parts and no inboard autopilot is watertight enough to be
mounted out in the open. Last year, after careful consideration on
price and functionality and after recommendation, I bought a
Voyager
Windvane from Canadian engineer Peter Tietz. Without extra costs,
he
made a cast and anodized aluminum bracket to mount the Voyager
Windvane around my large transom hung rudder. I love the elegance
and simplicity and thoughtfulness in the design, and it works
perfect
on all courses. Of course, I now have a contraption mounted on my
beautiful heart-shaped transom, but I get a lot in return.
Although I never spoke Peter (I live in Europe) he worked with me
through email to get all the design adaptations right and took care
of shipping and everything. It took me only 4 hours to mount the
Voyager.

see www.voyagerwindvanes.com

Mike

ps I have no financial interest in Voyager Windvanes; I just like
the
thing very much.

— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Weeks MD, Andrew”
<aweeks@e…> wrote:

Has anyone had any experience with self steering devices on 30-35
foot Freedoms?

(I have an autohelm 4000 which works great, but I believe in
backups on essential systems, and for me an automatic helmsman is
essential as I frequently sail solo.)

I just did my first real offshore passage from Bar Harbor to
Kittery Maine and was totally impressed by how seaworthy and sturdy
my F30 was. The wind built up to 25 knots from the SW (where I was
heading) and I tacked through the night into the wind and waves
with
a double reef. My only worry, besides hitting a whale or floating
log, was the failure of the autohelm and having to hand steer for
the
next 24 hours!

Andy Weeks

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