E381 HydroVane Install

[Angel D.]

Hello Friends !
I have questions to share with you all , perhaps shere your experience in the matter. Looking for opinions on this install. First i would like to thank any insight on the matter , all comments will be apriciated.

At HydroVane site this is the example of an install on E38 ...





Now , is close to the water and i would like to bring it up... have any owner done this , the lower bracket at the stern???

Here is an example of what I mean by that .


Consider that super moon have me touching bottom and water is about 4in lower than it should be . Anyways i feel is way above and also this last picture backet is crooked due to a wake . Bracket is hanging of a line for dry fitting at this point.

Also the 3/8in bolt would sit 3-1/2in from the edge of the back stay plate . Wish is perhaps not such a big compromise I think , if im wrong please comment .



I hope to find some E38 owners that have installed this kind of gear here, and also others that can shere some insight on this project. As soon i have a chance I'll turn the boat Aft to the docks and get a better view for dry fitting steps and pictures, will be sharing soon. All comments are much appreciated and thanks in advance !

 

[Christian Williams]

I think either option for the lower mount is fine, if both conform to Hydrovane install instructions.

The E38 transom almost never touches the water while sailing. The lower option might touch water when motoring, but only at hull speed when the stern squats.

Here's a clip of video of the E38 at seven knots showing typical transom water clearance:

 

[Angel D.]

I think either option for the lower mount is fine, if both conform to Hydrovane install instructions.

The E38 transom almost never touches the water while sailing. The lower option might touch water when motoring, but only at hull speed when the stern squats.

Here's a clip of video of the E38 at seven knots showing typical transom water clearance:

Thank you Mr. Williams , I apriciate your help... seems like I did not need to worry about the clearence or the holes .Will do a few dry fittings for the Vane before start drilling holes on the stern. Also study the details of install all over. On my previus boat was the same deal. Like docking, Slow is pro ! Thanks Again .

 

[southofvictor]

Here are some pics of ours. We have a three bracket mount, but that shouldnt make a big difference on the height above the water for the lower bracket. We spread the three brackets out as much as possible for strength. The lower bracket gets in the water when we are motoring and the stern is squatting, but I don’t see a problem with it.

 

[Angel D.]

Excellent, that's basically the profile I'm looking for. I don't have the top two leg bracket , but this is the idea. Thank you for sharing the pictures ,it Shure help visually.

 

[Angel D.]

Hello Fiends !
This week waas the start of geting the aft locker ready to work inside, thats were the life raft sits and my little honda gen. Today i should have time to get in there with a bucket and clean it up. However there is another question that is likely you friends have gone through. There is a fiberglass obstacle were the bottom plate sits. Its the strongest section on the stern , been solid glass and have tabs that spread a few inches to the side. In my mind i would make two separete back plates to sperad the load of the washers , and have the glued with thick resin and then glass over with cloth.


I got my 3/8in stainless bolts this last week and im lookin to get another 2in stainless pipe for the arm. The one i had on my other sailboat might me short but won't know until dry fitting.

Hope everyone is doing well , and look forward to hear from you guys !

 

[southofvictor]

That’s how we did it. Here’s a photo of ours. We used 1/4” glass board bonded to the transom with a stainless plate on top.

 

[Christian Williams]

glued with thick resin and then glass over with cloth.

No need to glass them over. They're just backing plates.

 

[Angel D.]

That’s how we did it. Here’s a photo of ours. We used 1/4” glass board bonded to the transom with a stainless plate on top.View attachment 51310

Great ,.. I'm on the right path here ,.. thanks for sharing ! Always Appreciated.

 

[Angel D.]

glued with thick resin and then glass over with cloth.

No need to glass them over. They're just backing plates.

Thanks , I can make a big project with out need, Im Thankful for pointing that out ,.. its getting cold up here , mother nature won't let me glass the right way. I appreciate your advice.

 

[Angel D.]

Hello Friends ,.. this week made some progress. Base for the brackets contour and got the right bolts for attachment . So far missing some parts like the 2in OD S.Steel Pipe ,.. that's been ordered , and some thikened epoxy to fill out the minimal gaps on the back plate. also looking for a pice of plate of aluminum or stainless for the back plate. Going back and forward in this boat fixing things but little by little fixes and upgrades are getting done . And I'm so very happy to get this boat,.. For her age she is very sexy and her transom is looking great !

Been neglected for 4yrs , she needs some love. I'm not too much into cosmetics for now ,.. first thing is functionals and get her sailing !







Brackets sit nicely ,.. took some time but im very happy with the results.


Sicka flex is soooooo mesy !!! LOl






Almoust there !!!

 

[EngineerSailing]

I have a Hydrovane with the A-H brackets on order
thanks for sharing pics, looking great
I plan to put my on the far outboard

 

[vanilladuck]

I also have a Hydrovane sitting in my garage, waiting to be installed on my E32-3. Love all the photos and info here. I'm guessing my positioning will be similar -- port side inboard

 

[Angel D.]

Hello Friends !
I'm glad to hear this post is helpful and also motivating. And that's the point here, helping and motivating each other!

This weekend the 2"OD stainless pipe was delivered, one step closer to success!




Here is the link to my source just in case one of you friends might need it ...

Mandrel Bent Thick SS

Shop here for Mandrel Bent Thick SS

www.siliconeintakes.com

 

[Angel D.]

Hello friends !
Last week some progress was made on this project. All bolts cleaned up and Lanocote them up to put this gear together. Noticed that stainless and Aluminum don't play along well at sea. The insatal info on the PDF i had download last time i did this didn't point it out . And i mean not only Lanocote the bolts but also the 2in pipes. The moving parts got some oil added and now this Hydrovane is up. Level and plum. Thickened epoxi between the back plates and hull will have to wait till spring, its too cold already here at the north east.




This was the last big project out side the boat for now , mother nature has the last word and i don't argue. Now its up to tidy the cables on the solar bimini and some bimini tweeks . Other little projects on deck could be done I guess but this one took me a wile , longer than last time. Happy with it. Looking forward to Spring!

 

[vanilladuck]

Nice work!

I'm curious if it's necessary to epoxy the backing plates in place?

 

[peaman]

In any sort of rough weather, I would watch for how much sideways force is put on your upper strut. The vane rudder itself will be steering the boat with no assist from the primary rudder.

I think I might like a Hydrovane unit at some point, so interested to see future comments on how you like it.

 

[Christian Williams]

I think caulk is all you need on those mounts since they're through-bolted. On backing plates, too.

Yes, the single strut is apparently approved by Hydrovane. They also offer a a double strut for lateral stability. As Peaman said, there's a lot of sideways force, but Hydrovane must know what they're doing.

Among other differences from servo-pendulum devices, this install looks easy. And it looks like it can also be removed from the boat if needed, a feature that I find attractive.

 

[Angel D.]

In any sort of rough weather, I would watch for how much sideways force is put on your upper strut. The vane rudder itself will be steering the boat with no assist from the primary rudder.

I think I might like a Hydrovane unit at some point, so interested to see future comments on how you like it.

Hello Mr.Peaman .
This Hydrovane I used on my other boat. It was a 1969 Charlie Morgan 38. Took everything I could from it and got it into this one. For the time I use it was great. Silmple and efficient keeping me on course. I would recommend this gear in my humble experience. That boat had a long keel with a center board that I never dropped. I follow the coast. And various rivers. Longest sail was 12hrs. coastal and always about that time range. the long keel kept the boat sailing fairly straight on balance sails , but was tricky at docking and the Hydrovane sure was a plus when out long sailings by my self . I did love that boat , but it was in deep on years and rather sail than refit and fix up stuff.

This Ericson was the answer to my prayers. Same size with a much more comfortable layout. Need some TLC but not mayor work. And when I Sail this boat felt amazing. This Ericson is faster , and also stays pretty straight when balanced ,. i did not expected that ,. but some how it does. Is my guess that the vane will also do minor corrections to the course like before. Unfortunately my experience on this boat is not much. Is a new to me boat. Champagne sailing so far and less than 200nm with her.

She draft a little more and is a little taller , but every boat is a compromise, and im very happy with her.

I'll gladly do an update when I sea trail the vane. But im shure this boat and this vane will not disappoint.

 

[Angel D.]

I think caulk is all you need on those mounts since they're through-bolted. On backing plates, too.

Yes, the single strut is apparently approved by Hydrovane. They also offer a a double strut for lateral stability. As Peaman said, there's a lot of sideways force, but Hydrovane must know what they're doing.

Among other differences from servo-pendulum devices, this install looks easy. And it looks like it can also be removed from the boat if needed, a feature that I find attractive.

Hello Mr. Williams.

Thanks for pointing out the caulk ,. I apericiate you keep and eye on me,. is the second time you save me from my overbuilding/overthinking self. You are right,. those four 3/8in bolts are very strong. As strong as my cleats I would say.

And yes ,. taking this unit off the boat is very quick.