Hi Danny!

Thank you so much for your response below. On our end, over the last 2 years, we have had 3 autopilot failures, with 2 of them being AT SEA, having the hand steer from Miami to New Bern, NC, and then from the Bahamas back to NC as well.

After the first failure, we replaced the original autopilot system with a brand new one. In that new autopilot though, out in the Atlantic, the pin securing the quadrant sheered off!! Ugh, having to hand steer 24/7 for days and days wears you down!

In any case, the bottom line for us is that we’re planning to be at sea for extended periods, and we’d like to have redundancy. The hydrovane gives a backup autopilot and, after our experiences, that really puts our minds at ease. PLUS, I like it that the system can serve as a backup rudder as well.

Like I wrote in the original post, we struggled because of exactly what you said. The stuff mounted on the back is in the way of the dingy when raising it on the davits. After a lot of thought though, raising up the dinghy around that hydrovane post is definitely an inconvenience, but for us anyway was outweighed by having redundant systems for autopilot and the rudder.

As for our plans, we are now liveaboards full time, woot woot!! So excited Danny!! We’re heading down to the USVI in mid-November. We’ll be there for 6 months, then for hurricane season will either go south to Grenada, or east with the ARC rally to the Med for 6 months. Our plans are then to return to St. Lucia at the end of that year, and do the WORLD ARC from January 2020 until …

Thanks again for your thoughts on the hydrovane, and sharing your experiences!!
Will and Dottie
Amari H46 #33

Hello Will, We own a 1996 46' Hylas and the last year we crossed the Atlantic from Fort Lauderdale to Bermuda, Azores and La Coruña- Spain, our boat doesn't have a Hydrovane, And I strongly believe that the boat DOES NOT need one.
we sailed through a big storm for 60 hours , with winds between 35 and 52 knots, we didn't want to watch the wind speed anymore after we saw 52 K.
and the boat ALWAYS was under the control of the autopilot. and it never failed, Boat performance EXCELLENT ,
We have sailed over 5000 miles the last 2 years and always with the autopilot. Boat is in Valencia - Spain - now.
You need to think about all the problems that the Hydrovane will create with the dingy and the swimming platform because the supports that it requiere for the installation.
Hope it helps. Let me know if any question. Wondering how far are you planning to sail.

Danny Escobar
"Grand Cru 2"

Hi Greg and thank you for your response.

I do have all the drawings for this boat and recently went through the electrical drawings matching them against the system with excruciating detail because we recently replaced all the batteries and found a BlueSea switch not on the drawings.  The switch is in the forward head and installed to tie House Battery 2 to the Windlass if necessary.

Anyway, the breaker in question is not on the drawing.  (I will upload a copy of the Electrical drawing as soon as I get it scanned <Staples here I come... >.

In the interim, I've attached a photo of said breaker.

When exercising this breaker while running the engine there is no change in Alt Amps (via guage on the panel) nor any indication of load change on the engine. 

I've traced the wire (brown) from this breaker into the harnes to the engine compartment and then it passes out of the engine compartment into a cable tray that runs aft through a cable tray below the water heater.  The cable tray disappears there as it does not continue into the aft cabin or under the floor aft as far as I can see.  I believe it turns 'up' and ultimately into the overhead thus the cockpit.  It will require removal of the cieling in the aft head to continue this theary but I need to do that anyway as I'm running new coax for the SSB next spring.

David,

Sorry for your plight!  I  reviewed the court papers after seeing your post, and you are correct. (I practice in the court)  Hylas (Jackney) and QL co-owned the molds for the 56, 63 and 70 according to the court papers.  The total value of the 3 molds is stated to be $80,000.  There was nasty litigation between the parties pending in Boston prior to the bankruptcy filing.  This will resolve all claims, but it has not been approved yet.  Creditors can object if they wish.  The judge assigned to the case is very thorough and will nit-pick the details.

Joel

On the other side of the world in beautiful Pacific Mexico, our Hylas 49 Seychelles is for sale. Email me at svseychelles@gmail,com for more info.