Windvane vs. Autopilot
Introduction
The autopilot and windvane work well as a team, they each have their strong and complementary points. The windvane should be considered the primary steering gear, the Captain, and the autopilot his or her mate. The autopilot's place on the voyaging sailboat is in calm conditions when it's time to use the engine because there is no wind. In stronger winds the autopilot becomes less and less efficient, and it certainly will have a hefty appetite for precious electricity. As conditions deteriorate most autopilots are simply not fast enough to handle steering effectively. As the wind picks up and the conditions worsen the Monitor is in its element.Perhaps part of the lure of the autopilot is the urge of the modern sailor to feel he or she is using the latest in technology. However, saltwater and electricity do not match, and when saltwater wins the windvane will soon prove that there is no need to reinvent the wheel. If it seems old-fashioned it might be because it is. Sailing is also old-fashioned. Let's face it: there is not really anything modern about sailing; the best way going to windward is in a 747.
Tony Gooch, who completed his non-stop circumnavigation in 2003, wrote an article in the January 2004 issue of Cruising World in which he compared the efficiency of mechanical windvane and electronic coursekeeping systems. Read his surprising results here, and look up pictures of "Taonui" in our Boats & Photos section. The article is in PDF format. Download the article.
West Marine Products probably sell more electric autopilots than any other company in the United States. Because of the custom mounting requirements of windvanes and the need for specialised expertise in determining which system is best for which boat, West Marine does not sell windvanes. West Marine includes advice sections in their yearly catalogs. Here are quotes from "Selecting an Autopilot" -
"Probably the biggest problem with autopilot reliability is that long-distance sailors frequently buy small, cockpit-mounted autopilots, then expect them to operate flawlessly over a multi-year cruise. When their autopilots need repair, and they will need repair eventually, our customers find themselves in a location where it is difficult or imposible to get the unit serviced. Many cruisers sail short-handed and rely on the autopilot for much of the steering, so they are in a pickle when it fails. Therefore, we do not recommend cockpit autopilots for long-distance sailing unless one of the following applies:
- You have a backup autopilot in case the first one fails.
- You have a wind vane self steering systam and do not depend solely on the autopilot.
- You love steering by hand for long hours."
West Marine has had this message to their customers in their catalogs for many years. In Scanmar's opinion a budget-concious sailor may have a small cockpit autopilot if he/she makes sure that the autopilot is only used for motoring and sailing in very light winds. As soon as the wind is strong enough for the windvane to respond it should take over steering. Of course the under-deck autopilots are a lot better than the cockpit-mounted ones but they cost a minimum of $6,000-8,000(US) installed. The additional cost for batteries, electrical sources (solar, wind, water or generator), as well as spare parts and fuel should also be considered. A windvane is far less expensive, silent, doesn't produce exhaust gas, and works more efficiently the harder the wind blows.
COMPLETE VERSIONS OF THE MESSAGES QUOTED BELOW CAN BE FOUND IN THE "BOAT & PHOTOS" SECTION
