4
WELCOME …
… to the world of silent self-steering!
Prepare to be pleasantly surprised by your new windvane steering system: life aboard
will never be the same again!
Learn to trust your new live-aboard guest. Enjoy the moment you realise it can steer
with the kind of stamina and prolonged precision we can only dream of. Hand over to
your tireless new mate and make the most of all the time it leaves you for other things.
Life aboard will become much more relaxed; time at sea will be generally more
restful. And those long trips that were once all but inconceivable are now very much
within your grasp.
We at WINDPILOT are almost as single-minded as our windvane gears. We have
been continuously developing and refining our systems for more than 30 years now -
and all that experience comes free with every system sold. You will notice the
difference: we have left no stone unturned!
KISS (keep it simple, stupid) - that’s the motto we live by at WINDPILOT. We
realise that manuals are probably well down your list of reading priorities, but there
are mistakes to be made and they can be avoided. Good advice is particularly valuable
at sea, especially if you have it there on board with you, so take a deep breath and
read on…
You expect good steering from your WINDPILOT and it, in turn, has certain
expectations of you:
- DON’T NEGLECT YOUR SAIL TRIM
Poor trim amplifies weather helm, which means more pressure on the rudder and less
boat speed. Don’t sail with the handbrake on! A well trimmed boat heels less and
requires less pressure on the rudder. That means it sails faster. Adjust the mast, trim
the sails: try it, you have plenty of time!
- BE AWARE OF THE CONDITIONS
Some combinations of wind and sea conditions will be too much for your windvane
gear: imagine trying to steer around breaking waves with your eyes closed, for
example.
- MAKE SURE YOUR WINDPILOT IS PROPERLY INSTALLED
Install it with care, treat it well and be prepared to give it a little attention now and
again.
- TALK TO US, PREFERABLY RIGHT FROM THE START
If you would like confirmation that your system is properly installed and that
everything is just right, send us a few photos of your WINDPILOT set up and ready
for action. Pictures tell it like it is and make it easier for us to help you.
You have our word on it - lazy days at sea await… at least as far as steering is
concerned…
Peter Förthmann