Self-Steering Under Sail: Autopilots and Wind-Steering Systems

By Peter Forthmann

Book Overview

A comprehensive description of automatic steering systems for shorthanded sailorsAll voyaging sailboats require some form of automatic steering to relieve shorthanded crew from having to steer every... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0070220115
• ISBN13: 9780070220119
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: International Marine Publishing
• Length: 147 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

The most complex book regarding self-steering since 20 years

I got this book in September 1998 and read it in one night from cover to cover. Amazingly there was nothing on the market like this for 20 years. Unfortunately the section concerning autopilots came a little bit short but other than that I can just say: Excellent! Congratulations Mr. Forthmann! If one of you guys know him personally, please tell him he has got a new fan. I never understood really how important yaw damping at a windvane is. Now I know. I sailed a lot with one of the older desings, as explained in the book and now I know why my windvane did not steer my boat so well like one of the newer designs. The author does not say that the older ones are bad, but the given facts show the reader why some features of todays windvanes are providing a better performance. The author gave me an in-depth understanding about the important things like: bevel gear for yaw damping, adjustable power arm for different numbers of turns at the wheel, better performance with fewer turning blocks, the importance to have the gear in the centerline of the boat. With this little book it was easy for me to understand what kind of windvane is the right one for my boat. I have now the knowledge and understanding to make my own decisions and don't have to rely on advertisings and sales promotions anymore.