The Sailboat Cruiser

We cruisers love helming a well-balanced sailboat as it powers through the waves towards its destination. But for hour after hour? I don't think so...

Sooner or later we have choice to make: balancing the electric precision of an autopilot against the zero-power dependability of a mechanical wind vane.

My latest article clears up any confusion and lays out the definitive strategy for a safe, efficient offshore steering setup, ensuring you have the right backup for every situation.

Self-Steering on Passage: A Guide to Wind Vanes & Electronic Autopilots

• Understand why the two self-steering systems are complementary, not competing.


• Learn the one clever trick to drastically reduce your electronic autopilot's power consumption.


• Find out why the debate on auxiliary versus servo-pendulum vane gears still matters.


• Discover essential maintenance and tuning tips to get the best performance from either system.