Customer Reviews

Wind-Vane Self-Steering

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After viewing two examples of home-built Belcher inspired self-steering gears, I was eager to get hold of the book their builders used to make them. I was not disappointed. After skimming over the theory part,(I'll get back to that later) I cut to the chase and read the example drawings near the end. It soon all made sense. A reasonably proficient DYI person can put a gear together at very reasonable cost in comparison with the commercially available models. So simple... The ones I saw were rough and ready but one could refine the finish if so inclined. I would have liked to see some 3D drawings and/or photos to make the concepts more quickly accessible to the average reader. In the Foreward, H.G. "Blondie" Hasler, a pioneer in self-steering development, endorses the book, saying, "For the reader who wants concise and clear instructions on how to plan and build his own vane-steering gear, this is just about the best book I've yet seen, and I would gladly go to sea with any of the gears he recommends." (1982)

Belcher really did "write the book" on self steering systems and provides simple to follow diagrams and patterns for vertical, horizontal, and servo-pendulum systems. Even if you're not planning on building your own, it's nice to understand the basic concepts of what they do, how they work, and the pros and cons of the different systems. If you do decide to get this book, remember that some of the more simplistic designs can be scaled down and rigged on a dinghy for almost no money at all. A few bucks in plywood and some pvc pipes could get you a small self steering system. Don't worry about trying to build a servo-pendulum system for your 50' sailboat right off the bat. Start simple, start easy. Bill Belcher's book helps you do that.