any idea what this is?

[thorper]

I saw this on the back of a yacht the other weekend and have no idea what it is:

http://www.rickydiver.com/images/eas.../DSC_0193.html

any ideas ?

Ricky

[Jonny Fuller]

Autopilot

[thorper]

Thanks Jon - how does it work? I could see the cables running off it to the boat, but couldn't work out what it was for at all!

Ricky

[Alan]

Its a windvane self steering gear but without the wind vane (vertical aerofoil) attached!

[Mr-d]

I think my dad has been trying to make one of them, The principle is that the boat will always steer in towards the wind, (with offset steering)
so that when it gets to close, the rudder will adjust, and go back off a bit, the wind will catch the "flap" again and push it closer into the wind and hold it there, as soon as it goes to far, or is not close enough, it auto corrects!

Genious idea!

[codprawn]

Yes windvanes are very popular with long distance sailors - their main advantage is just how seamlessly they work - as they constanly adjust they are far more sensative to the wind than any other kind of autopilot.

Only trouble with them is they always tend to be a bit Heath Robinson!