Electronic Autopilot vs Windvane

Every cruising yacht that leaves Bundaberg, Coffs Harbour or Fremantle for another country has had this argument. The electronic autopilot steers a compass course, follows a route, works under power and talks to everything else on the boat, at the cost of amp-hours and a dependence on electronics. The windvane steers to the wind with no power at all, will do so for a month without complaint, and in the Hydrovane's case brings a spare rudder with it.

The resolution most experienced crews reach is not either but both: a windvane for the sailing days and an electronic pilot for motoring, light air and coastal work. The interesting decisions are how much to spend on each and which windvane suits the boat.

Write down the passages you expect to make and how much steering is likely to happen under sail or engine. Wind-referenced steering and an electronically commanded heading are different operating tasks. Discuss what each proposed system does when wind conditions or the boat’s speed change.

An electronic pilot needs an electrical budget based on the installed drive and actual use. A windvane needs a suitable mechanical installation and its own operating practice. Evaluate those requirements separately before deciding whether one system or a combination fits your cruising plans.

Installing both systems can provide different ways to steer, but independence depends on the configuration. Map which rudder, linkage, power supply and control components each system uses. A shared mechanical failure can affect more than one steering method.

Ask how the unused system is secured and whether its hardware obstructs boarding, a tender or the other steering arrangement. Practise switching between the systems in suitable conditions. A second system that the crew cannot deploy reliably contributes less to a contingency plan than its presence on the equipment list suggests.