Hi Tor,
I have the monitor, and I wouldn't carry my dinghy on davits on a passage even if I had davits. I also have a Simrad tiller pilot that connects to the monitor instead of a paddle. But I also installed the Raymarine ST-6002 Autopilot that is interfaced with the C-80 that allows me to make routes and do all sorts of other stuff with the autopilot that I couldn't do with the windvane. If you have both I think you'll be happier than depending on one or the other expecially when the main on fails, or whatever. For systems that are a necessity (are there any, really?), two independent parallel systems are the way to go.
Hi Thatcher,
If you've got so much power that you can use six or seven amp-hours all day long with an internal autopilot then it's a perfectly rational way to go. The windvane will steer the boat saving all that power so that you can keep your batteries topped off, run your radar, freeze your ice and not have to run your engine once a day.
If you're not travelling more than a few hours a day you won't bother with a windvane as it takes a while to set up and adjust and it takes a while to put away. Pressing buttons is far faster and easier (I do it with great aplomb and vigor, I might add). But for longer journeys, the windvane is quite the little thing to have.
I'm looking to set the Pelican up to run using solar power and a shaft generator and minimized power consumption so that I can run up to 5 days without using 50% of my battery capacity of 600AH (50% = 300AH). With my portable fridge it's more than possible. With my main fridge, not so much.
The whole issue is what kind of sailing you are going to do. I plan Bahamas to Bermuda, Beaufort NC to Bahamas, Bermuda to Ireland not necessarily in that order. Passages like that where if I don't have to run the motor I'm happy as a clam. Windvanes are just the ticket for that kind of travelling.
Still, I know of many people who have done just those legs with electric autopilots.
It's all about personal preferences.
There's my two cents.
Bob
—
Bob Fine
s/v Pelican
Hull #8
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