Wind Vanes for LM sailboats?

[peterf]

Hi,

I have an LM 30 with a wheel pilot.   Has anyone mounted a Wind Vane tiller steering unit on the stern of their LM?  If so, what model did you choose, why, and what has been your experience?

Cheers, Peter Ford   SV Rachel Pringle

[jdp]

Hi Peter F,

I also have an LM30 it came with a ST6002 Wheel pilot which although it appears to work gives up after a short time - I put it down to too much play in the wheel steering. She also came with a tiller pilot which seems to work well.
Does your wheel pilot work well? Do you have a rudder angle detector ?
Any advice would be most welcome.

John

[oldmanofthehills]

Oct 15, 2022 13:26:03 GMT peterf said:

Hi,

I have an LM 30 with a wheel pilot.   Has anyone mounted a Wind Vane tiller steering unit on the stern of their LM?  If so, what model did you choose, why, and what has been your experience?

Cheers, Peter Ford   SV Rachel Pringle

The stiffness of the combined wheel plus tiller will conspire against you as the power output of a wind vane is limited and friction stops a suitably quick response, unless you fit drum on wheel rather than the tiller, however the wheel is rather too small to readily fit a drum and getting vane cordage to it from the vane a nightmare .  

You could detach the link at the stern so it goes direct tiller only on vane.  

I have seen photos of tabs on the rear of the rudder driven by a complex linkage but gain friction might limit performance and installation involves significant modification to the hull

Better still go for a hydrovane which is a completely separate rudder, used while main rudder fixed in desired position for the tack.  Expensive however, and I doubt I will ever afford it.