Installing I windmill on ranger tug

[ppelland]

I'm just wondering if anybody ever installed the windmill on their ranger tug to provide power when there's no shore power available .

 

[knotflying]

I have only seen them on sailboats and suspect part of the reason may be that we go much faster than a sailboat and the velocity of wind would probably tear it apart. Then again you could take it down when not in use.

 

[Rockyman]

I'm just wondering if anybody ever installed the windmill on their ranger tug to provide power when there's no shore power available .

I have solar panels on my R27 and they work really well, even in the thin sun of the Pacific NW. I don't think you are much farther North than us in Ontario, so they should work there too. I also had them on my prior tug -- R21 EC and they worked well on that one too. They are much simpler to install and maintain than a wind generator and probably safer too.

 

[Pilotnavigator]

Got soar on my 21ec too, works great, only have a 75 watt one but it makes up enough to keep batteries charged with fridge as the main drain.

 

[Pilotnavigator]

I noticed Canadian tire has a dual solar panel system on sale this week.

 

[Irish Mist]

I have heard from sailors that they are pretty noisy. But would be much better at night, if it didn't keep you up 🙂 But for what ever reason you do not seem them on power boats that much.

 

[knotflying]

Power boats are constantly charging the batteries while in motion. Sailboats theoretically can go distances without an engine, however they are consuming power from the batteries. Hence, a need for solar or wind generators.

 

[NorthernFocus]

The main reason that wind generators are seen on sailboat is mostly due to history. Mariners are slow to accept change. And sailboat have been around a lot longer than solar cells. Wind generators have been used on sailboats for decades and are a fairly mature technology. As knotflying mentioned, historically sailboats need power generation due to long periods of time without running the engine whereas power boats run them all the time.

Interestingly in recent years the advent of inverters and more on board appliances (AC and DC) have created the need for more/better means of charging batteries on power boats.

Bottom line, there's nothing wrong with putting a wind generator on a power boat. But they are a PITA.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

other reason is older solar panel's performance drops off pretty badly if part of the panel is in the shade. there are lots of lines, sails, shrouds and mast that can cause shadows on sailboat.

there are also varying makes of wind generators that make varying degrees of noise. much of sailing forum internet space is dedicated to the topic.

 

[LADY JANE]

Wind generators! What a great concept for watercraft! Actual test results of the top-of-the-line boating windmill needs to be analyzed before jumping to any conclusions. But, the wind just might be capable of generating more power than the top-of-the-line solar panels that are converting just 19% of the Suns available rays into useable energy.
Bill- R-21EC