Does chronic weather helm affect the Hydrovane’s ability to perform?
Most boats have a bit of weather helm. That does not present any problems. But chronic weather helm has a significant affect on any steering system. The auxiliary rudder system has a big advantage in that the main rudder can be set to compensate for the weather helm. This does work but only until the wind strength changes – causing the amount of weather helm to change meaning a re-adjustment for that locking position of the main rudder. So, it does solve the issue but it is more management intensive than one would like – all depending on the extent of the weather helm. We did meet one customer who had severe weather helm and found he could cope well enough doing as described above. Then he went to the effort of solving the weather helm by re-stepping his mast to where it should have been. He reported a phenomenal difference – and a blissful performance of the Hydrovane in the improved configuration.
