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SAILOMAT 700
THE ULTIMATE
IN SAILBOAT SELF-STEERING

All-mechanical servo-pendulum self-steering
for all cruising and passage-making sailboats
24-50 feet LOA

Blue Water sailors all over the world seek the Freedom at Sea. When you are cruising or racing and need reliable assistance at the helm, a good all-mechanical Self-Steering system will keep you on course and give you the freedom to enjoy the open waters.

The comfort and survival for the crew when cruising or racing depend on the selection and quality of the yacht's equipment. Most yachtsmen agree that the single most important equipment for a successful and pleasant voyage is an all-mechanical windvane Self-Steering.

But you don't have to cross oceans to appreciate a good Self-Steering system. Also for coastal cruising, day-sailing, or whenever you are shorthanded, a Self-Steering system is of great value. It enables you to concentrate on navigation, keep better outlook, attend sails, cook, eat and rest. And it avoids crew fatigue and increases the safety.

In hard weather the Self-Steering system will give reliable assistance at the helm, so you can safely enjoy the comfort and protection of the sailboat's cabin.

For over three decades, SAILOMAT has built the very best Self-Steering devices. Over two thousand SAILOMATs have been built and steered all types of sailing yachts for thousands carefree miles around the world. The strong and reliable SAILOMATs continue to steer when other autopilots fail.

Universally acknowledged among world cruisers as the most advanced Self-Steering systems available - a SAILOMAT is a masterpiece of design and function. The very high strength, built-in simplicity, simple mounting, reliability and long life make SAILOMAT Self-Steering the distinguished leader in its field.

Since the beginning in 1974 when the first SAILOMAT was introduced, every effort has been made by the SAILOMAT design team to enhance capabilities and quality. That commitment has resulted in many unique design concepts and overall improvements.

With the very first SAILOMAT (3040) self-steering an impressive circumnavigation record was broken, when Naomi James 1978 sailed single-handed round the globe via Cape Horn- first woman in the fastest time ever.

Further technology advancements were made with the subsequent systems SAILOMAT 500, SAILOMAT 536, SAILOMAT 600 and SAILOMAT 601.

For further readings on Self-Steering we recommend the excellent recent book 'The Windvane Self-Steering Handbook' by Bill Morris, published 2004 by International Marine / McGraw-Hill. ( Note. The all-new SAILOMAT 700 system was introduced after the publication date of this book, and a description of the SAILOMAT 700 was therefore not included in this book. However, the previous model SAILOMAT 601 is given great and foremost attention)

In early 2005 our design team has proudly introduced a new state-of-the-art Self-Steering system SAILOMAT 700, based on the servo-pendulum principle, incorporating new and superior design concepts and manufactured with new advanced metal-cutting techniques. From mid-2005 this all-new system is replacing the previous SAILOMAT 601 Self-Steering systems.

This Self-Steering system was designed using the latest SAILOMAT patented innovations and unique design concepts, together with advanced manufacturing techniques. The result is a world leading state-of-the-art Self-Steering device.

The SAILOMAT 700 systems are built and custom designed for sailboats in the range 24 - 50 feet LOA. It is designed to be used on all types of cruising or racing sailboats.

The SAILOMAT 700 is designed and built on the so called 'servo-pendulum principle', which is the most powerful and most sensitive self-steering principle. A light airvane is used as a 'signal' to detect the amount of sailing-course deviation (course error), a pendulum-type servo-blade positioned in the water stream behind the yacht to mechanically amplify the signal, and a line circuit with blocks connecting the SAILOMAT pendulum body to the yacht's main rudder (tiller or wheel connection). The function of the SAILOMAT is to sense a weak course error (signal), mechanically amplify this signal and to generate a strong mechanical force and motion of the line to the tiller or wheel, proportional to the course error. The yacht's main rudder performs the steering correction, under the SAILOMAT control.

Typically the weak aerodynamic 'signal' side force on the airvane may be of the order 0.040 kilogram ( 0.4 Newton, 1.4 oz.), the servo-blade side blade of the order 3 kilogram (30 Newton), and the line force to the wheel or tiller of the order 15 kilogram ( 150 Newton, 33 lbs). In this example the vane-to-line force amplification is then of the order 375:1. The energy required to move the wheel or tiller is thus extracted from the waterflow by the servo blade. Correspondingly there is a small and insignificant reduction in the yacht's speed in order for the SAILOMAT to perform the self-steering task.

Several different line circuits can be used with the SAILOMAT 700. In contrast to previous systems, the two pull-pull lines from the pendulum body are initially running upwards from two unique 'wing' lever arms attached to the pendulum. This permits simpler block positioning, and keeps the transom or walk-thru region more accessible and clean from 'line-clutter' often seen with other systems.

Installation of the SAILOMAT 700 on the yacht is particularly simple. Off-center mounting is possible with the SAILOMAT and indeed desired for modern walk-thru transoms, or to clear a center-located ladder. The new and unique mounting base of the SAILOMAT 700 is already positioned to one side ( port or starboard) of the SAILOMAT main body, making off-center mounting even more feasible and attractive.

The unit can be mounted also on double-enders, using simple shimming. Custom-designed side-mounting on special sheet metal or tube platforms are possible for yachts with extreme transom hung rudder geometries.

The compact universal mounting base is simply secured with four bolts to the hull, at any transom slope angle. The main SAILOMAT unit can be simply and rapidly removed from the mounting base, for stowing when not in use for longer periods of time.

Large blade swing ability to the side and out of the water means overload safety and simple 'parking' of the servo blade when not in use.

Enhanced overall steering performance in light winds is achieved with a low-friction vane-to-servo-blade linkage, and a variable ratio mechanism (Sailomat patent).

The materials used for the SAILOMAT 700 are primarily extruded marine-grade aluminum and marine-grade aluminum sheet metal, with higher tensile strength and very much higher strength-to-weight ratio than previous aluminum castings of previous models and welded stainless steel (competitor) designs.

The overall weight is yet lower than the previous SAILOMATs.

All parts are safely bolted together with advanced fastener components, thus achieving accurate safe control and precise calculation of the strength of the individual parts and the overall assembly (not possible with castings and if welding is used).

Galvanic corrosion resistance is enhanced by a zink sacrifice anode.

SAILOMAT 700 systems are manufactured and assembled in professional plants in Sweden.