Alternative to WoodenB and Y&B?
Edit April 8th 2021:
WoodenB has been cancelled but the Y&B KIT can be ordered for delivery later in 2021:
Working on the concept of WoodenB over the past year has opened up another possibility to deliver a more affordable windvane self steering system to you.
To compare the options I've put together a comparison chart for you, available below.
One of the differences you will see there is that the parts come to you unfinished, mostly straight from machining.
The biggest "but" in that concept is that it may prove hard to DIY finishing stainless steel to a level that is not only nice to the touch, but also offers sufficient corrosion resistance.
In researching the matter I have not been able to find a DIY method that guarantees success.
What do you think? Would you be interested in purchasing a set of parts for a self steering system, even if successful corrosion prevention on the stainless steel parts is not the easiest to achieve?
I'd love to read your thoughts, please drop us an email
| WoodenB | Y&B Parts Kit | Y&B standard | |
| Price, expected * | Eu 645,-- to 695,-- | € 899,00 | € 1.395,00 |
| Description | Plywood based self steering kit | Self steering system kit, almost the same as Y&B Standard | Self steering system kit, ready for final assembly |
| Mounting kit | Tubes and fittings to the boat not included | Included, may require extra mounting tube | Included, may require extra mounting tube |
| Availability | towards the end of each year | To be determined | around March |
| Materials | Plywood where possible, plastics, little bit of stainless steel, carbon fiber tube for the pendulum rudder | Plastics and unpolished stainless steel, plywood, carbon fiber tube | Plastics and polished stainless steel |
| Additional materials required | Epoxy, paint, mounting tubes, and - fittings | Epoxy, paint | paint |
| State in which received, requiring | Rough parts, requiring finishing, water proofing & glueing with epoxy, painting, assembly | Rough parts, requiring mechanical finishing, making the pendulum rudder from supplied parts+epoxy, stainless steel is unpolished, painting if so desired, assembly | Ready for final assembly, no effort on visual finish, stainless steel is polished. |
| Tasks | Too many to list here | Building pendulum rudder from supplied materials. Finishing: sanding, "polishing" stainless steel, painting (mostly optional), assembly | Painting the pendulum rudder, Final assembly |
| Vane base material | Plywood/epoxy | Glass fiber box section | Glass fiber box section |
| Pendulum rudder | Plywood/epoxy/carbon fiber | Plywood/epoxy/carbon fiber | Carbon fiber/glass fiber/epoxy/epoxy foam |
| Tiltable windvane axis | No, fixed at 20 degrees | Yes, 20-50 degrees | Yes, 20-50 degrees |
| Amount of work required before connecting to the boat | Lots, easily several days | Medium: expected around 15 hours | Little, 1 to 3 hours |
| Skills required | Medium to high | Low to medium | Low |
| Removable Pendulum rudder | No | Yes, releases completely | Yes, releases completely |
| Personal pre sales support | None | limited | Yes |
| After sales support | Forum only | Forum only | Email, forum, phone |
| Warranty | None | 2 years on individual parts except pendulum rudder, No I.W.S.Y.B | 2 years on individual parts(limited shipping options)+ 1 year I.W.S.Y.B |
* prices Include VAT/sales, not charged outside the European Union
This comparison does not include information that is the same for all systems
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