Wind vanes/mechanical autopilots

[hull113]

Misc talk about wind vanes and autopilots

[hull113]

Which wind vanes did the participants in the 2025 MGR buy? Which are you planning to buy? What are others buying?

I had a South Atlantic.

Jack
Right Now

[timeandtide]

I’ve purchased a South Atlantic. Should be here in a couple of weeks. Any advice on its implementation?

[capucinette]

I got south atlantic -
Jack are you going to join us for MGR ?

Renaud
Capucinette
Hull 28

[hull113]

I have a South Atlantic, but was thinking about a change to a Wind Pilot. Wind Pilot seems unwilling to supply Wind Pilots to 5.80s.

Working on fundraising for MGR. Currently, probably not doing MGR.

[Gary.S]

Hi Jack , Did Wind Pilot give you a reason that they were unwilling to supply Wind Pilots to Globe 5.80's?
Thanks
Gary.S Hull # 111

[hull113]

Not much, other than that he didn't want to. If you don't tell him what kind of boat you're putting it on, you might sneak it by.

Jack

[Shawn Keith]

If enough of us are interested in a wind pilot, do you think that they may change their minds on that? I haven’t purchase a wind vane yet, but as my boat gets closer to being finished I’m gonna need too, my plan was the South Atlantic of course. The price is great but after hearing what Jack said on one of the videos and a few others have talked about problems they encountered with them . It seems they’re gonna need a complete rebuild of bearings etc. after every use of a long sail. My concern is it breaking in te middle of a 400 mile sail and having to hand steer.

[hull113]

The South Atlantics get a little sloppy from wear, but they work.  You do have to maintain them as corrosion can be a real problem  Anything that can come apart needs to be taken apart and Tef Gel applied to combat aluminum/stainless corrosion.  It needs to kept clean of salt as much as possible.  There are lots of friction points that have to maintain that friction, and there are lots of joints that should slip, and that needs to be maintained too.  You really need to see how it works, and apply loctite/tefgel/lube/clean water as necessary.

I don't think Wind Pilot is going to change his mind.  If anyone buys one, I'd love to get in on one.

Jack
Hull 113
Right Now

[Gary.S]

Hi all ,
I had a lot of email correspondence with Peter at Windpilot & he is determined that he wont change his mind. I will keep trying though..