Victoria Shadow Association Members' Forum

Norman_Crawford

Member

Registered: 2012-05-21

Posts: 6

Wind Pilot Pacific Light

I am considering fitting a Wind Pilot vane to my Frances 26. Can anyone help with a contact to provide a mounting bracket, or indeed any views on the Wind Pilot. My only experience with a vane has been with a Monitor on a Twister - very efficient but the mount is quite large.  Many thanks, Norman Crawford

Admin

Kraken

From: Dublin Bay

Registered: 2011-02-24

Posts: 333

Re: Wind Pilot Pacific Light

I'm moving this to the Q&As forum, as it will hopefully be seen by more members there.  If for any reason you specifically wanted it to only appear in the Members Only area, please don't hesitate to let me know.  Thanks.

Mark_Bloomfield

Guest

Re: Wind Pilot Pacific Light

Hello Norman,
Contact Peter at Wind Pilot in Germany, he is really helpful and enthusiastic. There are many examples of different installations on their website. He responded very quickly to my initial email.
His details are below.
Best wishes,
Mark

Peter Foerthmann
Bandwirkerstr 39 - 41
22041 Hamburg
Germany
tel: +49 40 652 52 44
fax: +49 40 68 65 15
email: peter@windpilot.com
www.windpilot.com

Ian_Johnston

Member

Registered: 2009-11-01

Posts: 62

Re: Wind Pilot Pacific Light

I am considering fitting a Wind Pilot vane to my Frances 26. Can anyone help with a contact to provide a mounting bracket, or indeed any views on the Wind Pilot. My only experience with a vane has been with a Monitor on a Twister - very efficient but the mount is quite large.  Many thanks, Norman Crawford

Jumblie (V26) came with a Sea Feather which (one quick google later) seems quite similar to the Wind Pilot Pacific Light. Both are much lighter than devices like the Monitor, which is important when they are hung out over the back of a pointy stern. The Sea Feather took a little setting up (correct tension in the control circuit is crucial) but is wonderful to use. It steers closehauled better than I can, uses no electricity, makes no noise and is just plain fascinating to watch.

Hooray for wind vanes!

Ian

Colin_Reid

Member

From: Gloucestershire

Registered: 2003-11-02

Posts: 37

Re: Wind Pilot Pacific Light

I have a Neptune windvane on Tui (V30). its very similar in design to the Wind Pilot but a bit smaller and lighter so maybe worth considering for a 26.This link should show you the mounting bracket which I had fabricated by a marine engineer in the yard where Tui spends the winter. http://www.windvane.co.uk/Customers.aspx.  It took a lot of offering up and adjusting to fit so just as well the engineer was onsite. Making a bracket for a compound curved shape is tricky so try to get a firm quote. There are stainless steel plates on the inside of the hull sikaflexed in place to spread the load. The Neptune has steered Tui thousands of miles and is a great bit of kit although getting the sails trimmed right is essential. It has little friction, the bearings show no wear and altogether I am a happy customer. Its also very easy to remove over the winter for example.

I did a transatlantic passage in a 10.6m steel yacht this summer with a Wind Pilot and it was also excellent and we had a lot of wind at times. It is a bit more substantial and heavier then the Neptune although perhaps they do a smaller one. I think the one I saw would be a bit big for a 26.

Colin

Last edited by Colin_Reid (2012-12-29 14:24:54)

Admin

Kraken

From: Dublin Bay

Registered: 2011-02-24

Posts: 333

Re: Wind Pilot Pacific Light

I have today received the following by email:

I picked up a conversation regarding the Windpilot pacific Light posted by Norman Crawford from a Google search. I have used this self steering since 2009 on my Golant Gaffer which I have recently literally recycled. The transom bracket is likely to be perfect for the Victoria.

Images of the unit in operation can be found on my website
http://www.mcs-justright.org.uk

If your members are interested in the bracket or in fact my Windpilot pacific Light they can contact me using address details below.

I am now sailing a Royal Cape One Design which is too light and fast for a windpilot hence my unit being available. Currently safely in storage.

Best Regards

Gus Davidson

Mobile: 07867 774872

email - gus.davidson at ajdweb dot co dot uk

Thank you Gus.