"The apparent wind problem is that as the boat speeds up, the wind operated
auto helm causes it to bear away to keep the same apparent wind angle. The
fear is that if you go too fast and slow down suddenly (into the back of a
wave) the apparent goes aft and causes a capsize."
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That's the worst case. More common with wind vane self steering would be the wild course changes as the boat accelerates and the apparent wind comes forward so the autopilot bears away to keep the same apparent wind angle and then slowing down causes another radical course change as the wind goes aft.
Monohulls don't get the sudden accelerations and decelerations so a wind vane can steer a more steady course.
When using self steering a steady course is usually desirable and this can be achieved with a wind vane on a relatively slow and heavy cruising mono.
On a relatively light and fast multihull a wind vane will not be able to steer a steady course so a compass controlled self steering would be a more successful option to steer a steady course, although with the disadvantage of not maintaining max speed as the apparent wind comes forward.
When I had an autopilot I mainly used it while motoring, a situation where a wind vane would not do the job and of course the engine was supplying the electrical power to drive the autopilot.
Cruising sailors would probably want to use a self steering system for much of the time when sailing but I think only a slow heavy cat would be able to successfully use a wind vane. A harryproa would, I think, be to light and fast to use a wind vane. I think a simple tillerpilot would be the best. just disconnect it to shunt and reset it when sailing on the new tack. I never had any success with the autotack function anyway.
Paul Nudd
auto helm causes it to bear away to keep the same apparent wind angle. The
fear is that if you go too fast and slow down suddenly (into the back of a
wave) the apparent goes aft and causes a capsize."
- - - - - - - - - -
That's the worst case. More common with wind vane self steering would be the wild course changes as the boat accelerates and the apparent wind comes forward so the autopilot bears away to keep the same apparent wind angle and then slowing down causes another radical course change as the wind goes aft.
Monohulls don't get the sudden accelerations and decelerations so a wind vane can steer a more steady course.
When using self steering a steady course is usually desirable and this can be achieved with a wind vane on a relatively slow and heavy cruising mono.
On a relatively light and fast multihull a wind vane will not be able to steer a steady course so a compass controlled self steering would be a more successful option to steer a steady course, although with the disadvantage of not maintaining max speed as the apparent wind comes forward.
When I had an autopilot I mainly used it while motoring, a situation where a wind vane would not do the job and of course the engine was supplying the electrical power to drive the autopilot.
Cruising sailors would probably want to use a self steering system for much of the time when sailing but I think only a slow heavy cat would be able to successfully use a wind vane. A harryproa would, I think, be to light and fast to use a wind vane. I think a simple tillerpilot would be the best. just disconnect it to shunt and reset it when sailing on the new tack. I never had any success with the autotack function anyway.
Paul Nudd
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