http://prao.guillard.free.fr/voyage2.htm
--- In harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au, Michael Fischer <mifi601@...> wrote:
>
> On Russ' proa, it was a cheap tiller pilot, that was attached via line to
> both steering levers. (see red line in
> http://www.wingo.com/proa/brown/kauari-helm-l.jpg), I love that simple
> mechanism, but how would that translate to the steering of a harry?
>
> I could not find anything on 'big green french proa'.
>
> On Sat, Jul 9, 2011 at 9:28 AM, carlos <carlosproacarlos@...> wrote:
>
> > **
> >
> >
> > If i recall, russ brown's proa, inigo's proa and the big green french proa
> > all have autopilots - look them up in the web
> >
> >
> > --- In harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au, Paul Wilson <opusnz@> wrote:
> > >
> > > The book "Pen Duick" by Eric Tabarly has a chapter devoted to wind vanes
> > > for high speed sailboats. It is quite technical but it has a good
> > > write-up on the issues involved. Also "Self Steering for Sailing Craft"
> > > by John Letcher is an awesome book, the bible on wind self-steering, IMO.
> > >
> > > I have also seen windvanes on multihulls but the ones I have seen would
> > > probably rarely get over 15 knots. I think the problem is the shift in
> > > apparent wind with varying wind speeds but also the foil design. I
> > > think it is a real challenge to have a foil large enough for slow speed
> > > but small enough that it doesn't fly apart at high speed. At high speed
> > > (>15 knots?) you can get severe vibrations, cavitation, and over
> > > steering since the amount of rudder deflection required to turn the boat
> > > is much less at high speed. It is also always a trade-off with
> > > windvanes between being light (delicate) but responsive and heavy
> > > (strong) and unresponsive. This is big challenge with heavy
> > > monohulls, but an even bigger challenge with high speed multi-hulls.
> > >
> > > As far as electronic autopilots go, use a tiller pilot if you can.
> > > They are much less money and more reliable. Wrap them in a plastic bag
> > > to keep the spray and water off and they will last much longer since the
> > > seals on some are pretty poor. The flux gates inside are fragile and
> > > have tiny wires that are easily damaged but if you treat your
> > > tiller-pilot like eggs and don't bang it around, it should last many
> > years.
> > >
> > > My personal experience is that the new Raymarine wheel pilots are
> > > junk. The old ones like in the old Autohelm 3000 were poor but the new
> > > wheel mounted units are even worse. The engineers have gone for tiny
> > > motors in order to get the current draw down but it is a poor trade-off
> > > in reliability. The tiny motors burn out, the belts regularly fail and
> > > they are made almost entirely of crappy plastic parts. Raymarine does a
> > > great business in selling parts for them. If you get WD-40 near the
> > > plastic, it will fall apart. The motors are actually cheap hobby motors
> > > that are less than $5 from China but Raymarine glues a gear on that is
> > > impossible to get off and then charges you well over $100. Needless to
> > > say, I am not a fan.
> > >
> > > If you have wheel steering and can't use a tiller pilot, it is much
> > > better to have the type that fits direct to the quadrant via a ram or
> > > direct to the steering cables with an electric motor. The hydraulic
> > > units are OK too but can be noisy. All these options are expensive and
> > > relatively power hungry.
> > >
> > > Cheers, Paul
> > >
> > > On 7/9/2011 7:40 AM, Michael Fischer wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I have seen windvanes on multihulls.
> > > >
> > > > On Fri, Jul 8, 2011 at 2:27 PM, bjarthur123 <bjarthur123@
> > > > <mailto:bjarthur123@>> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > i have been told by the manufacturer and read accounts online that
> > > > self-steering wind vanes do not work on multihulls:
> > > >
> > > > http://www.selfsteer.com/windvanes101/index.php
> > > >
> > > > they could not explain why. i'm guessing it has something to do
> > > > with the large difference between true and apparent wind due to
> > > > the high boat speeds, as what else is different with monohulls.
> > > > but it is not clear to me why that would be a problem.
> > > >
> > > > has anyone had experience with such a system? or have any idea why
> > > > it doesn't work on multihulls?
> > > >
> > > > they draw NO (zero) power! a beautifully clever idea.
> > > >
> > > > ben
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > what kind of autopilot would you recommend for a harryproa?
> > > > >
> > > > > which types have been used successfully?
> > > > >
> > > > > energy draw?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ----------------------------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > No virus found in this message.
> > > > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com>
> >
> > > > Version: 10.0.1388 / Virus Database: 1516/3750 - Release Date: 07/07/11
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
