How to Build a Self-Steering Wind Vane

A self-steering wind vane is not be confused with a weather vane that sits atop buildings and points in the direction the wind is blowing, even though the two theories are similar. A self-steering wind vane is an apparatus fixed to a sailboat that allows the wind to steer the boat. The concept behind a self-steering wind vane is that the boat should be able to sail itself. The vane turns with the wind and provides feedback to the rudder so that the boat remains at a set angle to the wind. For people who sail alone, a wind vane can be a crucial piece of equipment. It allows people to eat, sleep, man the sails and navigate without sitting at the helm all the time. Wind vanes do not require any battery power and do not have any electronic equipment. Self-steering wind vanes are custom built for large sailboats at specialized factories. They are usually made of the highest quality aluminum and steel. If you have a small one-person boat, you can build your own wind vane using common supplies found at any home improvement store.

Things You'll Need

  • Piece of plywood
  • Pivot bracket
  • 2 Metal dowels
  • Coaxial cable
  • Cable ties
  • Hardware (nuts, bolts, washers)
  • Wire snips
  • Power drill
  • Circular saw
  • Measuring tape
  • Safety glasses
  • Gloves
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure a piece of plywood to be cut 6 inches wide and 12 inches long. This will be the wind vane that will stand vertically in the wind.

    • 2

      Measure another piece of plywood to be cut 2 inches wide and 12 inches long. This will be the trim tab that will attach to the rudder. Attaching a trim tab to the rudder allows the force from the wind vane to transfer to the trim tab, thus moving the rudder.

    • 3

      Cut the two pieces of plywood as measured using a circular saw.

    • 4

      Drill a hole in the bottom left edge of the wind vane and a hole in the top right edge of the trim tab.

    • 5

      Screw the metal dowels into the wind vane and into the trim tab. Secure the dowels in place by screwing washers and nuts on the dowels against the wind vane and the trim tab.

    • 6

      Cut the coaxial cable with wire snips to fit the length of both metal dowels.

    • 7

      Attach the coaxial cable along the length of the two dowels with cable ties.

    • 8

      Attach the pivot bracket to the two ends of the metal dowels, securing the bracket with hardware (nuts, bolts and washers). When the wind moves the wind vane, the bracket will pivot, moving the trim tab against the rudder.