Monitor Manual
Table of Contents
1 Welcome Aboard
1.1 Hints for Using This Manual
2 Description of the Monitor
2.1 Servo-pendulum Principle--How the Monitor Works
2.2 The Airvane
2.3 Actuator Shaft and Gear Linkage
2.5 Lines and Blocks
2.6 Vane Frame and Hull Attachments
3 Installing the Monitor
3.1.1 Important Alignments
3.1.2 Installing Afloat or Hauled
3.1.3 Reinforcement of Transom
3.2 Determining the Proper Height of Installation
3.2.1 Factory Assistance
3.2.2 Height from Waterline
3.2.3 Length of Safety Tube
3.2.4 Importance of the Boat's Wake
3.2.5 Name Boards and Swim Ladders
3.3 Standard Frame Installation Checklist
3.3.1 Standard Installation (Straight Upper Tubes)
3.3.2 Bent Upper Tubes
3.3.3 Diagonal Tubes
3.4 Non-standard Frame Attachments
3.5 Installing the Pendulum Sheet Lines
3.5.1 General Hints--Pendulum Lines
3.5.2 Tiller Installation
3.5.3 Wheel Installation
3.5.4 Pendulum Lines to Blocks at the Bottom of Legs
3.6 Installing the Airvane Course Control Line
4 Sailing with the Monitor
4.2 Standard Operating Procedure Checklist
4.2.1 Ready the Gear
4.2.2 Assume the Desired Heading
4.2.3 Balance the Boat for the Desired Point of Sail
4.2.4 Trim the Airvane and Engage the Vane Gear
4.2.5 Fine Tune for Optimum Course Holding
4.3 Your First Sail With the Monitor
4.4 Balancing for Self-Steering
4.4.1 Problem Boats and Easy Ones
4.4.2 Light Airs
4.4.3 Running
4.4.4 Reaching
4.4.5 Hard to Weather
4.4.6 Give it a Chance
4.5 Useful Hints to Get the Most out of Your Vane
4.5.1 The Light Air/High Performance Airvane
4.5.2 The Downwind Problem
4.5.3 Friction and Binding in the Monitor
4.5.4 Friction in the Yacht’s Steering System
4.5.5 Friction in the Pendulum Lines
4.5.6 The Autopilot Friction
4.6 Autopilot Hook up to the Monitor
5 Maintenance and Problem Solving
5.1 Appearance
5.3 Preventing Problems and Damage
5.3.1 Collision Avoidance--Removing the Servo-Paddle
5.3.2 Remove the Airvane
5.3.3 Safety Line/Pull-Up Line on the Water Paddle
5.3.4 Hard Weather
5.4.1 Faulty Installation of the Monitor
5.4.2 Faulty Operation of the Monitor
5.4.3 The Boat’s Steering System has Excessive Friction
5.4.4 The Monitor is Faulty and Needs Repair or Adjustment
5.4.5 Boat is Sailed Incorrectly
5.5 Monitor as Emergency Rudder--MRUD
6 Making Repairs
6.1 Repair Overview
6.2 Repairing the Airvane Pivoting Assembly
6.2.1 Disassembling the Airvane Control Assembly
6.2.2 Disconnecting the Actuator Shaft
6.2.3 Correct Spacing of the Airvane Yoke
6.2.4 Realigning the Airvane Yoke
6.2.5 Installing Bearing Cups
6.2.6 Assembling the Airvane Bearings
6.2.7 Remounting the Airvane Base and Airvane Pilot Shaft
6.3.1 Adjusting the Length of Actuator Shaft
6.3.2 Adjusting the Angle of the Pendulum Blade
6.3.3 Gear Separation--Proper Mesh of Gears
6.3.4 Changing the Actuator Shaft Bearings and Bushing
6.4 Replacing Gears and Pendulum Parts
6.4.1 Disassembling the Gears and the Pendulum
6.4.2 Remounting the Pendulum and Pinion Gear in the Frame
6.4.3 Replacing the Ring Gear
6.4.4 Replacing the Watervane Pivot Shaft
6.4.5 Replacing the Pendulum Strut
6.5 The Hinge and Latch Assembly
6.5.1 Latch Adjustment
6.5.2 Hinge Adjustment
7 MRUD--The Monitor Emergency Rudder Conversion Kit (optional equipment)
7.1 Instructions
7.2 Mounting and Operation of the MRUD at Sea
7.2.1 Mounting the MRUD
7.2.2 Operating with the MRUD
8 Warranty
8.1 Warranty