The Windvane Self-Steering Handbook [Hardcover]

Bill Morris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2004

Here is the definitive manual for choosing, purchasing, installing, maintaining, repairing, using, and even building a windvane self-steerer, that amazing device that relieves longdistance sailors from the the helm while using not one amp of precious electrical power. This user-friendly guide includes:

• How vane gears work
• A clear discussion of how to match vane design with boat
• Invaluable instructions for how to sail with a windvane-- settings, sail trim, and more
• A detailed look at nine commercial models, plus plans and instructions for readers to build their own

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

How to choose, buy, build, install, maintain, repair, and use a windvane self-steerer

When you're cruising shorthanded, you can't always be at the helm. A windvane self-steering system is the most reliable means of steering your small vessel on long ocean passages--and it doesn't use one amp of your precious electrical power. The Windvane Self-Steering Handbook is the definitive guide to every aspect of sailing and working with the long-distance sailor's best friend.

Veteran sailor Bill Morris points out the mechanical and navigational advantages of vane steering systems; provides an overview of available products, complete with sizes, prices, and contact information; and shows you how to install, maintain, repair, and modify vane gears for best performance. In this practical guide you'll find:

*Lucid explanations of how vane gears work
*An easy-to-implement discussion of how to match a vane design with your boat
*Invaluable instructions for how to sail with a windvane--settings, sail trim, etc.
*A look at ten commercially available vane gear systems
*Diagrams and instructions for a home-built unit
*Instructions for customizing vane gears for optimum performance

From the Back Cover

How to choose, buy, build, install, maintain, repair, and use a windvane self-steerer

When you're cruising shorthanded, you can't always be at the helm. A windvane self-steering system is the most reliable means of steering your small vessel on long ocean passages--and it doesn't use one amp of your precious electrical power. The Windvane Self-Steering Handbook is the definitive guide to every aspect of sailing and working with the long-distance sailor's best friend.

Veteran sailor Bill Morris points out the mechanical and navigational advantages of vane steering systems; provides an overview of available products, complete with sizes, prices, and contact information; and shows you how to install, maintain, repair, and modify vane gears for best performance. In this practical guide you'll find:

• Lucid explanations of how vane gears work
• An easy-to-implement discussion of how to match a vane design with your boat
• Invaluable instructions for how to sail with a windvane--settings, sail trim, etc.
• A look at ten commercially available vane gear systems
• Diagrams and instructions for a home-built unit
• Instructions for customizing vane gears for optimum performance

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press; 1 edition (March 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071434690
• ISBN-13: 978-0071434690
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,125,449 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Windvanes from Soup to Nuts, September 10, 2005

By 

Philip Fehrle (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Windvane Self-Steering Handbook (Hardcover)

This is a well-written, easy to understand book on everything you would ever want to know about the very technical topic of wind and water steering vanes for sail boats. I especially like the fact that the author does a good job of comparing various products on the market in terms of both performance and price. There is even information on buying used equipment and/building your own. I found this book invaluable in helping me determine which way to go for my 43' ketch.

-- Phil Fehrle
Los Angeles, CA

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A big disappointment, January 14, 2006

By 

Ralph (PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Windvane Self-Steering Handbook (Hardcover)

I am looking to equip my sailboat with a self steering system and had hoped that this book would give me more background information than what is available on the internet. This book did not teach me anything new about self steering than what I had already researched on the various product web pages on the internet. In fact some of the commercial product web pages have more informative competitive comparisons on them.

It seems that the author is filling space with way too many general, common sense statements, diagrams and repetitive chapter descriptions.
I had also hoped to get more information about building your own system but the chapter dedicated to this is only 6 out of 200+ book pages which gives you an idea of how little in depth it is.

I will say that the chapter about materials is informative; again, you don't get rid of the impression that the author is filling space when you see tables about melting points of base metals...

Overall a very big disappointment

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Quite Dissapointed With This Book, May 3, 2007

By 

Raymond Tougas "RadioRay" (Maryland - USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Windvane Self-Steering Handbook (Hardcover)

The writing is good and the humor is fun and the author sounds like a witty a guy. However, the book is more of an unabridged sales brochure for the sale of commercial self-steering systems. This book is basically a relative comparison of commercial/turn-key products to guide purchase. For those sailors who can solve all problems with the check book, this is fine. For those of us who are builders, this book is of little if any use.

>Ray
sv. Milenka II

Ps. For a much more indepth view of self-steering, theory and practice, I recommend Letcher's book on the subject.