Monitor Manual

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3 Installing the Monitor

3.6 Installing the Airvane Course Control Line

The airvane is remotely controlled by means of a thin (approximately 1/8") dacron line around the pulley mounted on the vane control shaft. An endless line with ONE FULL TURN around the pulley is preferred to prevent slippage.

This line MUST BE INSTALLED and kept UNDER TENSION when you are using the vane gear.

Otherwise, the airvane may gradually change its setting and take the boat off the desired course.

The pulley can be adjusted to the proper level on the vane control shaft by adjusting the screws (77). Make sure that the pulley is below the counterweight. The control line can be led practically anywhere on the boat to manipulate the airvane for a course adjustment. 

In general, the line is led so that it can be easily worked from the helmsman’s position or all the way to the companion way.  The latter method makes it possible to control the MONITOR without going on deck which might come in handy on an ocean passage when you are down below and do not feel like putting your foul weather gear on to go on deck to make a minor course adjustment. Use fairleads instead of blocks since you want to have some friction in this line. 

We recommend that the control line be either spliced or sewn together to form an endless loop. Before the splice is made, the line should go through a stainless steel ring attached to the boat with a piece of shock cord. By adjusting the shock cord you will adjust the tension of the control line. A stainless steel ring is cheaper and better than a block because here you want friction. 


An endless line twice around the pulley, a stainless steel ring rather than a block and a shock cord for tension makes a basic arrangement for the coarse control line. Tension adjustment can be arranged by mounting the blocks at the bottom of the pedestal on an adjustable track or similar.

Next >> 4.1 Becoming a Vane Sailor