Hi David, Hi Jami,

I'm watching all very interested projects with conversion of the Galion 22. In an older movie I've noticed a SPLIT Wind Vane the David Tyler's make. See the attached slides taken from your movie. On the recent movie from the split sail trials it looks more conventional David's construction.

Since the boat I am building has a very tall astern cabin, the idea of splitting the Wind Vane seems to be suiting perfectly my needs. I couldn't find anything more on this subject, so could you please give me some comments and advise regarding?

I will not have an outboard on the transom, just two rudders.

Cheers to both of you

Kris

Sorry, no. But the fact is I have to tie and/or lift the self steering system whenever the motor is lowered. In the beginning I wasn't aware of this, and got severe damage from the propeller to the self steering oar. 

I’m starting to feel I (or actually my boat) would have liked the jibs to be some 15-20 cm wider. It wouldn’t be a big job to sew new ones. But is it possible to lengthen the 35x1,5mm battens at the front end? I suspect it’s the least stressed place of the batten, so adding 20cm of the same tube with an inner sleeve shouldn’t be a problem - or am I totally wrong?

Yes Arne,

I agree your point on the hull-driven weather helm, even though it has eased a lot with this more balanced sail. This is why I will probably make a new transom-hung rudder and skeg for next year.

But then again this might induce lee helm when not heeling a lot, right?

The best solution might be adding two feet of waterline to the transom...

Regarding the sheet: my boat/sail would probably benefit from a setup that is exactly opposite to your anti-twist sheet, that is sheeting the lower part in more than the upper.

David,

first of all my sincere thanks for the vane design. It has made my sailing so much more relaxing, that words fail me!

I have experienced with one and two part sheet, and haven't made up my mind about which to stick to. I dislike the amount of rope with two, but with one I seem to have more problems with over-tight upper part of the sail than getting too little twist - and I haven't even installed a Arne-type anti-twist sheet.

As said earlier, the vane works very well. However, I have also wondered about if the vane oar has too much character of it's own. And I have the problem of fouling to the prop, which has even led to damage and re-glassing of the oar once. I have to tie the oar whenever I use the motor (I have a setup which allows me to lift the wind vane system up, although not fully).

But lee helm? This is something I have not noticed, not with the vane or when hand-steering. If something, I still have quite a lot of aggressive, "dinghy-like" weather helm whenever the sail catches a gust.