I'm glad you're back at the point where you feel you're ready to go when you're ready to go!

@keeldragger

Ай бұрын

The list of unfinished projects never ends, but I am happy to have most of the major ones completed.

Nice setup. Its cool to have a spare rudder too.

@keeldragger

Ай бұрын

Thanks, Dawg. Pretty happy with it so far.

The Hydrovane is a great addition to Keeldragger! Looking forward to seeing it in action.

@keeldragger

Ай бұрын

Looking forward to using it for its intended purpose!

Can't wait to see you solo sail to Hawaii! I just finished Christian Williams Alone Together autobiography/memoir and he makes the trip seem so easy for a 71 year old.

@keeldragger

Ай бұрын

He's done that trip solo a few times now. I'm more inclined to head directly to French Polynesia and stop by Hawaii on the return. Still working on timing but Keeldragger will be ready.

@kkots

Ай бұрын

@@keeldragger Considering doing the same with a brief stop in Mexico 1st then the jump to FP, Hawaii and back home. Excited for your progress on getting you and the boat prepared for wherever the journey takes you.

@keeldragger

Ай бұрын

@@kkots Depends on timing for me. If I depart early enough, I'd head down Baja and use Puerto Vallarta as my launching point for FP.

@kkots

Ай бұрын

@@keeldragger Right on. I'm still working on some fairly big projects and this work gig keeps getting in the way. Right now I'm looking at the fall of 2025 as my target date and working the timeline backwards. A possible re-engine ( like you did) could be in the mix for me so...that could screw it all up but hey, its sailing.

@keeldragger

Ай бұрын

@@kkots yeah. good to have a timeline to work towards, though

Heck yeah!

@keeldragger

Ай бұрын

🤟

Hi Mark, great stuff, as always! Q: What are your thoughts on aux rudder systems (like your Hydrovane) vs the pendulum-servo designs (e.g. Cape Horn, Aries, etc)?

@keeldragger

Ай бұрын

I have zero hands-on experience with the other designs. I like the simplicity of the installation for Hydrovane as well as the ability to use it as an emergency rudder. Control authority seems good enough but I need to experiment with it in varying wind conditions and with the sails out of balance. I had an opportunity to do some of that this last weekend. I watched Christian Williams' install video on his Cape Horn, and subsequent issues with blocks and potential chafing that had to be remediated below decks. Scratch that one off my list. It is nice not to have additional lines and blocks run thru the cockpit to the helm like many of the servo-pendulum designs require. Maybe they have better control authority and respond better since they use your own rudder to hold course. Not sure as I haven't used one.