Before shipping costs and taxes

VXA1D – no remote course setting - reduce Drive Unit prices by £275; €345; US$495; CAD$525

PACKAGE PRICE WORLDWIDE (We have no agents in any country - except Holland) - The base price is the UK£. Due to fluctuating exchange rates our Euro€, US$ and CDN$ prices keep changing. John will provide a 'package price' in the currency that suits you for a complete unit including delivery costs. Provide him with:

• Boat Make/Model -  the model and year of your boat - Pictures of the transom are always helpful
  
  

• Delivery address - city and country it is to be delivered to
  
  

• Preferred currency - Choice of: UK£, EURO€, US$ & CAD$
  
  

• Contact John - john@hydrovane.com
  
  

FLUCTUATING EXCHANGE RATES - We will provide quotes based on current rates. We worry about big rate changes and withold the right to adjust quotes. You can always check with John. Otherwise payment locks in your price.

UK VAT IN THE EU - 17.5% - All EU customers must pay UK VAT. The rate is 17.5%.

SHIPPED FROM THE UK - All product is shipped directly to the customer from our shop in Nottingham, England.

ADVANTAGE OF OUR EXPERTISE - We do not use any agents in any country, except Holland ( Rob Wink of Serious Seatools - info@robwink.nl ) and happily deal directly with all our customers wherever in the world they are - on a 'factory direct' basis. That way you get the advantage of our expertise.......and our best price.


DELIVERY TIMING – We are producing ten units every three weeks. We have a large number of deposits outstanding – customers planning to take delivery latter, once full payment is made. The result is that we are constantly juggling deliveries in order to keep everyone happy. If you are anxious it is best to get your money in - at least the deposit.

Deposit gets you in the queue & locks in the price - £ 1,000, EU€ 1,500, US$ 2,000, CDN$ 2,000 - Balance before delivery


Pay by: cheque (UK£, EURO€, US$ & CAD$) wire transfer, VISA, Mastercard, American Express


Charge card payments are processed in Canadian dollars - For non Canadian purchasers we do discourage the use of charge cards – especially for full payment – because we process in CAD$ - means the amount processed will vary from 2.5% to 5% over the expected amount - due to foreign exchange rates applied – best to use a cheque. For simplicity many do prefer the charge card method though – typically for the deposit and parts orders.

All payments are fully refundable!!

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EASY TO INSTALL

Let us show you how easy it is to install and use a HYDROVANE.

• We provide a detailed installation drawings - from our files or from measurements provided.

• There are only 2 or 3 flanges needing 4 or 6 bolts.

• Many hardly look at the instructions, although they should. The instructions are on our website as are some helpful ‘Tips’.

• Surprisingly, we hardly ever receive cries for help. As there is no critical positioning you cannot ‘make a mess of it’. The brackets are merely holders, in which, the shaft can easily be positioned up or down.

• …… and we are always available by email or telephone.
  
  

For that first test sail – you should marvel – it simply works – even without any tuning.

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USED HYDROVANES

WHAT TO WATCH FOR WHEN PURCHASING A USED UNIT

Too often we provide the bad news of the cost of necessary segments that can result in total payments nearing the cost of a new unit, but without desirable features. In looking for a used unit it is important that you find both:

• A current model
• Has the appropriate shaft and brackets.

Many purchasers of used units find that if they don’t get the correct configuration the cost to make the unit suitable to their boat is close to the cost of a new unit. As well, all shafts are now 1 ¼” OD super duplex. Pre 2009 versions were made of the weaker ‘316’ stainless steel and pre 2002 many shafts were smaller - 1 1/8” OD - not suitable for any boat over 15,000 lbs displacement nor are they strong enough for  the new rudder unless cut down. When calculating discounts for older units it is wise to know what you are missing:

• SHAFT LENGTH - not long enough – an extra £500 to £1,000 / $1,000 to $2,000 depending on length
• SHAFT STRENGTH - not strong enough – until 2002 we did provide a smaller diameter shaft for smaller boats (up to 30,000 lbs. / 13,500 kg.) – 1 1/8” (28.575mm) versus 1 ¼” (31.75mm) - and designed for a smaller rudder than our current rudder. That shaft is 1/3 weaker than the larger shaft. So often they end up on larger boats than was intended. The new shafts are not only the larger 1 1/4" diameter but made of a 'Super Duplex' stainless steel - much harder and stronger than the prior '316' stainless - see more comments below
• BRACKETS - Need an upgrade in brackets – in particular the ‘A’ which is quite expensive - £1,000 / $2,000
• PARTS UNAVAILABLE – essentially we only produce for the current model – since 1986 – generally not helpful for pre ’86 units except for brackets
• FEATURES TO LOOK FOR - might not be included in older models:
  
  
• VANE - 56” (1420mm) tall fabric vane – plywood pre 1980 – shorter in early ‘80s
• VARIABLE AXIS – early ‘80s
• RATIO CONTROL – late 70’s
• TILLER – early 80’s
• ** REMOTE COURSE SETTING – introduced in 1986 – optional but now included in 99% of units sold
• LOCKING PINS AND KNOBS - improved design 2004
• ** RUDDER - In 2006 we introduced our first ‘new longer (5.5” /14 cm.) rudder’. In July 2009 we made it thicker. Its performance is another significant improvement – virtues directed to the bigger and faster boats but certainly enjoyed by all users:
  • POWER – Its bigger shape improves its ‘lift coefficient’ – much more turning power - perhaps 50%
  • BALANCE – Easy to control – light to the touch of its tiller – means easily controlled by its vane
  • These new longer rudders do require both the new Mid Bearing and the new Super Duplex shafts .... explained as follows
• ** PTFE BEARINGS & MID BEARING - In 2008 we changed the bearings to a better bearing material and added a 'Mid Bearing' in the middle of the shaft. Without the Mid Bearing and under load, at speed, the shaft can flex causing a bit of crimping of the bottom bearing making the shaft stick, momentarily - not noticeable unless you are watching for it.
• ** 'SUPER DUPLEX' SHAFT - In 2009 the shaft was changed to a 'super duplex' stainless steel - said to be twice as strong as the standard '316' stainless.

Sales on eBay

October 28, 2009 - £2,587.00 (about US$4,400) for a unit made in 2005. It had an 'L' shaft with the single strut 'E' bracket and the older/smaller rudder. Today's list price for that unit would be £3,415 (before taxes and shipping) or US$6,147 although a new unit will have all of the features listed above, in particular the rudder and shaft improvements.

May 9, 2008 - US$3,270 paid for a 25 plus year old unit - had all features except the remote course setting - winch and wire version - vane and rudder were smaller than current models. We talked to the fellow who bought it.  He has a Privateer 35.  It’s actually quite a good fit for his boat.  He is only 24 years old and has been saving for awhile to find a used Hydrovane – A perfect fit!

The shaft on the unit was an L shaft and it was actually bent!

Mar. 22, 2006 - US$2,125 paid for a unit that is 30 plus years old. On March 29 a very similar unit sold for US$2,561. They appeared to be in very good condition. They did not have the variable axis feature. The vanes were made of plywood - not the nylon fabric which was introduced in '76 and '77. They did not have a tiller but one could be retrofitted. The remote course setting had a wire and clutch arrangement - a far cry from our current 'worm gear' with a line of any length - handy to cockpit.