24 YEARS OF USE ON NAJAD 320 AND BREEHORN 37
Dear mr. Förthmann, After more than twenty years of extensive use I would like to overhaul my Windpilot Pacific (version prior to 1998) and replace a number of “plastic” parts that show wear and tear. I would appreciate to receive a quotation for the parts on the photograph below as well as for the top cover (part 60 in the exploded view). For convenience I have added references (where clear) to the exploded view on the website.
Thanks for your help!
Sytze Brandenburg, SY Gannet
SV Gannet – Sytze Brandenburg NED
SV Vega – Georg Johan Nese NOR
ANOTHER VEGA CALLED VEGA – FIRST EXPERIENCES
Hello Peter, just have to say i`am verry impressd by the bulit quality of the windpilot, and the simpel installasjon. I have only been on one trip and testing the windpilot, and it worked Perfect. I`am sending you some Picture of the pilot and a movie when i was out sailing.
Best Regards
Georg
SV Melody – John Eriksson SE
HAVSFIDRA 20 – UNDERWAY WITH PACIFIC LIGHT SINCE 10 YEARS
Good Day Peter! Windpilot Pacifica Light working great!
I just wanted to say i have tried the windvane quite a bit now and it works great! Holds its course in all winddirections and almost in all winds, steers straighter than an human being, perfect!
Best regards John Eriksson
Life Lessons
ALONE OR, PREFERABLY, NOT
Life works best in a pair.
For anything else
To give real satisfaction
Is really decidedly rare.
JSD Drogue
SHANE FREEMAN PRACTISING THE JSD DROGE IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC
A multi-facted, and complex discussion, where theory and praxis can vary a lot.
SV Jonathan – Caro + Marc van de Weg NED
JONATHAN JUST ARRIVED IN PUERTO WILLIAMS – CHILE
Hi Peter, A few days ago we arrived in Puerto Williams from the Pacific. We had an uneventful crossing from Rapa Iti in the Austral Islands. Sure we had some weather but nothing extreme. The Windpilot steered all the way and as usual without any problems. Even a bit better then before for I had made a new pendulum rudder since the old wooden one had gotten very rough on the surface. So the new slick one performed even better. Continue reading
Idols and Dreams
FROM TRAIN DRIVER OR SHIP’S CAPTAIN TO AN AUNT FROM AMERICA
Pacific – Pacific Plus
ABOUT CHOICES
Golden Globe Race – SV Asteria – Tapio Lehtinen – Update 28.nov.2022
REFLECTIONS ON THE LOSS OF ASTERIA
SV Oldbones – Peter Matthew US
GILES 30 AND WINDPILOT STILL IN LOVE AFTER 45 YEARS OF SAILING
Good day Peter. Aye have lost my vane on my boat old bones. And we know you not made this wide vain for decades. So am am asking please I like to make a copy of it but I don’t have actual size of it. I fully overhaul this 2 years ago. Get lots of comments on it all good. New rudder shaft plastic bushes etc. Ok thanks pete. Sv oldbones
SV Dutch – Sebastiaan Ambtman NED
LONGDISTANCE CRUISING ON BREEHORN 37 – NOW BOREAL 44
Dear Peter, It has been a few years since we were in contact. We used our Windpilot on our Breehorn 37 ‚Pjotter‘ a great deal. We have now bought a Boreal 44 (‚Dutch‘) on which I would like to install our trusty Windpilot. Is there anything in particular I should be taking into account or can I just follow the manual? I noticed that one of the pictures in the manual was taken on a Boreal! Maybe you have more detail pictures?
Best regards,
Sebastiaan Ambtman SV DUTCH
SV Blue Water – Mikael Olund SWE
ALLEGRO 33 SAILING TO SURINAM
Hello Peter! Thank you for a great produkt. I have now used it for approx 12 000 miles. But now I have a problem to make it funktion properly. It seems like the inner pushrod in the tube has bent. What could have cosed that?
Regards from Mikael, currently in Domburg, Surinam
Hi Mikael, simple reason – explanations herewith:
1.- some one lifted the pendulum rudder to wrong side rather at port side
2.- servo rudder has been tilted to the aft due to some by flotsam / seagrass during sailing … which caused the puchrod to carry too much loads.
To cure the damage: just take pushrod off, bent it back … and go sailing…
take care
Peter
SV Kareela – David Williams UK
SMART IMPROVEMENTS ON CONTESSA 32
Good morning Peter, for your informationI have attached some images of a small modification I have made to your excellent Windpilot. I was finding the windvane adjustment with the thin red cord rather fiddly and did not make tacking an easy thing. I used to hang off the end of the boat and turn the worm spindle by hand.
So now with the help of a small continuous line dinghy furling drum and a reduction in the length of the worm spindle I can now use a long contiuous loop (no knots) of 6mm cord right up to the head of the tiller. Adjustment is super quick and tacking good too. A few good pulls takes the windvane though 100 dgrees. Job done! The stainless steel handle which I made a few years ago still sits on the end of the worm handle and gets used occaisionally.
I wonder if you could incorporate something similar on your models without too much effort? I guess it would involve a change to the casting to make it look less DIY which I appreciate is a big job. Just a thought.
best from the UK
David SV Kareela
Oilskins or swimsuit?
FROM BRITTANY TO THE CANARIES VIA SPAIN, PORTUGAL AND MADEIRA
Golden Globe Race – Déjà vu – UPDATE 12.november 2022
SLEEPLESS ON THE ATLANTIC
SV Elane – Eivind Amsrud NOR
ATLANTIC CIRCLE ON JEANNEAU SUN ODYSSEY 43 DS
Dear Peter, After 2 years of cruising and crossing the Atlantic both ways, we are now back in our home country, Norway. Just wanted to let you know that we have been very happy with our Windpilot Pacific MF3. It has been our preferred choice for self-steering and gets our recommendation. Continue reading
Considerations about emergency rudders
ORCAS – THE THINKING BEGINS
In the Service of Aeolus
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SAILOR
SV Asevao – David Jolivet FRA
GARCIA PASSOA 46 – ARRIVED IN HORTA
Hi Peter, between the problems with the COVID and the manufacturing of the custom-made support part for the Windpilot and the Watt&Sea, it took me a long time before I install the Windpilot… But it is now done, since this summer : In July, I installed it. In August, I used it from France to the Azores Islands.
It works so well. I was amazed myself. It is a perfect helmsman ! I love it.
When I arrived in the Azores, guess who came to give me a friendly greeting… Harry, from Good@Wood.
Thanks for this great Windpilot!
David – Bateau Asevao
The Orcas – again
WISHFUL THINKING ABOUT GOOD BOAT BUILDING TRADITIONS?