Abstract: A wind vane steering gear for a yacht comprises a bracket adapted for attachment to the transom of the yacht, a rocker which is pivotally movable on the bracket about a rocker axis in the longitudinal vertical center plane of the yacht, rudder coupling tackle connecting the rocker with the yacht rudder, a servo oar mounted on the rocker and pivotally movable therewith and rotatable relative to the rocker about an oar axis perpendicular to the rocker axis, and a steering arm which is provided with a wind vane and pivotally mounted on a support member carried by the bracket with the pivot axis situated in the same plane as the rocker axis, the steering arm being coupled to the servo oar by a linkage so that pivotal motion of the steering arm causes the servo oar to be rotated and thereby, under the action of hydrodynamic forces, to be pivotally moved together with the rocker about the rocker axis.

Abstract: A support arm is pivotally supported on the side of a boat for movement from a horizontal to an alternate stowed side position, this arm in its horizontal position extending transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the boat across the steering device which may comprise a tiller or wheel in the close proximity thereto. Supported on the arm for movement along the longitudinal axis thereof is a coupler member having drive cable connected thereto, the drive cable being wound about suitable blocks so as to enable positioning of the coupler along the axis of the support arm in response to movement of the cable. The coupler member has a plurality of apertures spaced longitudinally therealong which enables the selective connection of the coupler member at any one of its apertures to a mating attachment member on the tiller. Thus, the coupler is driven laterally in either direction in response to movement of the cable, thereby actuating the steering control accordingly.

Abstract: A self-steering system particularly suitable for maintaining a sailing craft such as a yacht on a preselected heading relative to the apparent wind. An oar member which forms a hydrodynamic servo is mounted on a center body for rotational motion. Also supported on the center body above the oar member is a wind vane which is mounted for rotational adjustment and for pivotal motion substantially normal to its rotational axis. The center body is pivotally supported on the transom of the yacht for motion about an axis approximately parallel to the longitudinal center line of the boat. The wind vane is coupled to the oar member such that when the heading of the yacht changes relative to the apparent wind, the wind vane is pivotally driven sidewise by the wind and through its linkage thereto rotatably drives the oar member.

Abstract: A steering device which is particularly suitable for the automatic steering of a sailboat on a preselected heading relative to the apparent wind incorporates a hydrodynamic servo device. An oar member which forms the hydrodynamic servo is mounted in a support housing and positioned in the water behind the boat for both rotational and pendulous motion. Also mounted in the support housing and positioned in the water behind the boat for solely rotational motion is a rudder member which is coupled to the oar member to provide a rotational input thereto in response to steering control signals. These steering control signals may be provided by a dual axis wind vane which generates an output when the heading of a sailboat relative to the apparent wind changes. When the oar member is rotatably driven from its neutral position (i.e., the position where the sidewise hydrodynamic forces balance each other out), the water force pendulously drives this member substantially sidewise.