International Dufour Grand Large and Dufour Performance Forum

[Michael Boe]

We are due back in Denmark in august 2010 after a one year cruising trip to the Caribbean.

A few special items installed on our 385 to make life safe and comfortable will not stay on the boat as we go back to normal coastal cruising. Maybe someone with a similar sailing project would like to save time and money taking over the equipment?


1. Hydrovane self steering. Windvane and emergency rudder.

A special stainless steel bracket was made to fit the 385 transom. The installation is off center to allow for continued full function of the bathing platform (lowering and raising it)

2. Watermaker and additional generator for Volvo D1-30

Using 4 existing bolt holes on the engine a frame is bolted to the engine. The frame holds a Balmar 150A generator (with external regulator) and a Cat Pump 247 high pressure pump. A flexible high pressure hose goes unnoticed to the bathroom, where two membranes, flow meters and the pressure holding valve is placed on a board on the wall. The raw water booster pump and the filters are placed just in front of the water heater. A new through hull fitting is to be made here. (we used it also for deck wash at the anchor well and salt water in the galley). Mount belt on high pressure pump (20 seconds) and make 130 liters of water while charging batteries. Great when "on the hook" for weeks and weeks.. (Install a second service battery bank for the additional generator - we installed 600 Ah)

Cheers,
Michael

[Michael Boe]

[Roorda]

hi Michael,

you showed just where I was looking for. Namely the mounting of the autopilot in regard to the bathing platform.You also mounted the Hydrovane autopilot out of center. Did the Autopilot work corrrectly under the various wind directions and did you experience any difference sailing over portside vs. starboard? By sailing over port was the rudder deep enough in the water?
Did you also mount a small compass controlled autopilot to the emergency tiller of the Hydrovane? And how did it perform at low winds?

Awaiting your comments,

Theo

[Michael Boe]

Hi Theo,

We never tested the Hydrovane much. I prefer the Raymarine autopilot, and the Hydrovane was only a backup system. I dislike the seelfsteering windvanes inability to steer straight, and you have the boat going a little bit zigzag. I don't think you loose very much speed over ground by doing so in most cases, but being and old racer it just does not feel good! It did take us through a night dead downwind in 20 knots of tradewind, and did very well. Other than that we tried it briefly in gusty conditions with the wind from the side. That revealed one problem. The Hydrovane works by first locking the mainrudder in the balanced position, where the boat wants to sail straight on. Then the Hydrovane rudder takes over the steering. For the 385 this mainrudder balance point changes as you heel over. When you are hit by a gust and heel over the mainrudder is in the locked position, which actually not any longer holds the boat on a straight course. This puts ekstra work on the Hydrovane rudder, and causes the zigzaging to increase. Again the boat is traveling in the right direction over time, but looses some speed..

I don't think there is a problem with lifting out the rudder. When the boat heels over you have wind and therefore speed. Then the rudder is not lifted out of the water, since the water is actually "lifted up" and follows the bottom contour of the hull, before leaving as wake behind the boat. Have a look next time sailing.

Sorry I have so little experience to share.

Cheers,
Michael

PS The Hydrovane has been sold a couple of days ago