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Fits and Works on All Cruising Boats

Our favorite conversation happens when someone drops by at a boat show with a longing face: “I’d love a windvane, but I just can’t install one on my boat because of x, y, and z…”

Unlike many other types of windvane, the Hydrovane can fit and will work on any sailboat.

So often we have easy answers and good news to share. Those sailors leave with a new-found understanding of how Hydrovane is different from other types.

A Hydrovane can easily be fitted and will work on:

  • All transom types
  • Boats with any steering type (hydraulic, mechanical, tiller)
  • Boats with mizzens
  • Cruising Catamarans or Trimarans
  • Boats that are LOADED with gear (as many cruising boats are)
  • Boats with dinghy davits, arches, gantries, radar masts, etc.
  • Boats that struggle with some weather helm

Displacement and speed are really the only ‘stoppers’. No, we’re not fitting 70 foot maxis! Of course, the Hydrovane’s ability to steer diminishes with the weight and size of boat. The heaviest boat we’ve fitted to date weighs in at 60,000 lbs (27,000 kg). How well the boat sails, and how well the Skipper can trim, are certain variables too.

We love installation challenges… try us!

Other Features

Install Off Center – Don’t Give Up Your Transom!

Whether you like mooring stern-to in a marina for the ease of hopping off, or love the platform for donning your mask and flippers at anchor – you don’t have to give that up!

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Emergency Rudder / steering System

Second only to keeping the boat afloat is keeping her pointed in the right direction. With a Hydrovane your boat will have two complete, independent, steering systems.

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Simple to Operate

The Hydrovane is an Auxiliary Rudder system, meaning it has its own rudder that is independent of the boat’s main steering system. Once engaged, the large vane becomes a wind direction sensor, and also provides the power to drive the Hydrovane rudder.

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Incredible Performance – Heavy to Light

In tough conditions, don’t rely on an electronic autopilot or manual steering! The windier it gets, the better any windvane will perform.

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Advantage of Two Rudders

In addition to having the Emergency Rudder, the combined effect of two rudders working together (your boat’s main rudder, and the Hydrovane rudder) is perhaps the most significant performance advantage of a separate auxiliary rudder system.

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The Large Windvane

In addition to having the Emergency Rudder, the combined effect of two rudders working together (your boat’s main rudder, and the Hydrovane rudder) is perhaps the most significant performance advantage of a separate auxiliary rudder system.

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Sophisticated Fine Tuning

There are two tools for adjusting sensitivity and power for the conditions. All the other major brands have either no such tuning capability, or at best can make only minor adjustments.

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Set Course Remotely

No one wants to lean over the back of the boat on night watch alone. We run our remote course setting line forward, down the lifelines, and so it can be reached while sitting in the comfortable protection of the dodger.

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Easy to Add a Tillerpilot

The Hydrovane is designed to be connected to a tiller style autopilot for use when motoring or when sailing in very light winds with sloppy seas.

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We Stand Behind Our Product

We have always told anyone who asked that we stand behind our product 100% and would do whatever is needed to rectify any problem – after all, our reputation depends on it.

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Attain Offshore Insurance

No one wants to lean over the back of the boat on night watch alone. We run our remote course setting line forward, down the lifelines, and so it can be reached while sitting in the comfortable protection of the dodger.

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