Wind Generator

[mlanger]

I’d like to add a wind turbine to my 2019 R-29 CB. There are several options available for sailboats that should be affordable and quiet enough while meeting my needs for night time power generation. I want to spend more time at anchor and I don’t want to run a generator. Rather than adding more solar capacity, I thought a 24-hour system might be better.

Does anyone already have a wind turbine operating on their boat? If so, can you share some thoughts about it?

 

[Sonora]

Not an expert, just thinking…. Since one objective of a good anchorage is to pick a sheltered place out of the wind I wonder how much energy you would get? Seems like you would do well catching wind while underway most of the time but would add wind drag whenever wind was not pushing. And underway the engine generators are going to be better, which is the difference of a sail boat that wants to charge batteries while underway. Comes down to how often one anchors in good enough wind to make a difference.

 

[knotflying]

I have thought about that, but how many wind generators have you seen on a power boat? Remember that sailboats go slow. I would do the research. I would say you would have to tie the prop when on the move or have one where the vanes can be feathered. Additionally, those wind generators can be noisy with the sound vibrating through the boat. You may want to watch this video with Nigel Calder. He is a guru with power. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzlNRbsOHAE

 

[Red-27]

if you do get one make sure its easily removable when your at marinas. if it gets windy the whole marina can hear it nonstop and its an annoying sound when your sleeping with one nearby.

 

[mlanger]

Not an expert, just thinking…. Since one objective of a good anchorage is to pick a sheltered place out of the wind I wonder how much energy you would get? Seems like you would do well catching wind while underway most of the time but would add wind drag whenever wind was not pushing. And underway the engine generators are going to be better, which is the difference of a sail boat that wants to charge batteries while underway. Comes down to how often one anchors in good enough wind to make a difference.

This is an excellent point.

What I’m seeing so far on this trip is a lot of shelter from waves, but not so much from wind. I don’t think a lot of wind is needed to generate power, and I’m seeing plenty of wind.

And I’d like a system that I can deploy under the right conditions and stow while under way. You’re 100% right about generating plenty of power with the engine while under way.

I’m still experimenting with anchor time but the past three days have been very promising. Still, it’s clear that 160 watts of solar on the roof is not sufficient if I want to make “normal” use of my boat’s systems and features.

 

[mlanger]

if you do get one make sure its easily removable when your at marinas. if it gets windy the whole marina can hear it nonstop and its an annoying sound when your sleeping with one nearby.

If it’s going to annoy people at a marina, it’s going to annoy me. I don’t want to be annoyed, so I’ll buy one that’s quiet. Believe it or not, they do exist.

 

[mlanger]

I have thought about that, but how many wind generators have you seen on a power boat? Remember that sailboats go slow. I would do the research. I would say you would have to tie the prop when on the move or have one where the vanes can be feathered. Additionally, those wind generators can be noisy with the sound vibrating through the boat. You may want to watch this video with Nigel Calder. He is a guru with power. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzlNRbsOHAE

Thanks for this. I’ll check out the video.

I’m interested in something quiet that I can deploy as needed in the right conditions. I would not have it up and running all the time. Just when anchored or otherwise off shore power.

It’s true that I very seldom see power boats with wind generators. But how many power boaters spend a lot of time at anchor? The folks I know who do have filled every conceivable rooftop space with solar panels and even have portables that they can deploy. I’m just finishing up three days at anchor and, although I still have plenty of power in my house batteries, I’m pretty sure that it’s because I’ve been super conservative with power usage. I’m just considering another option that doesn’t require sunlight.

 

[knotflying]

Also keep in mind that if a sailboat is sailing it is not using an engine that will charge the batteries like a power boat will. So another reason for a wind generator. I will say that I see more solar over wind generator on many sailboats.

 

[SJI Sailor]

Had been thinking about this, too, and realized two additional complexities: the "cube rule" that wind power is related to the cube of wind speed ratio (so 5 knots is 1/8 the power of 10 knots), and the fact that wind turbines are mechanical (e.g. less reliable than solar).

My conclusion was that more battery -- perhaps even a portable like Jackery that could be charged underway -- and/or expanded solar would make more sense for a power boat. Unless perhaps one anchors extensively in places that are both cloudy and fairly (sustained >10 knots) windy simultaneously.

 

[ALICE J]

My experience with my R27 was to place two solar panels for about 300 watts and wired all four group 31 batteries as one 400 amp battery, realizing that I only had 200 amps available. I did have a separate starting battery, a group 24 totally isolated from the main bank just to start my generator. This worked very well in the Canadian Maritimes with only twice did I have to start my engine to quickly charge the batteries. But the caveat is the water was generally cool. But when I was in the Bahamas I carried an extra freezer for the extra fish and to easily remove conch meat from the shell by freezing. This required running the generator, not only the charge the battery, but also to make water with my 20 gallons per hour because I like warm showers after swimming.
I thought about wind power, but I am a light sleeper, and the vibrations from the generator would keep me awake. I also realized that light winds at night do not turn the blades fast enough to replace what is used by the refrigerator. The specs on the wind generators are for 15+ mph and nightly winds often go lite. So If the wind does pick up, so does the vibration and noise, of course then you may have to stop the propellor which can be dangerous especially at night, unless you can stop it electrically or with feathered blades. But remember it's a spinning blade and where can you mount it to keep from being decapitated, hands, arms, and/or head 😳 It's a dilemma; mount it low for an easy takedown or high for safety and difficult takedown.
My conclusion was to go with solar, and probably next time go for larger panels and perhaps lithium batteries (much lighter and can be drawn down and recharged quickly with the large alternator from the engine.

 

[fishheadbarandgrill]

I upgraded to a 330W panel. It exceeds all my power demands. I have the original house battery layout... 4 X 100Ah batteries for 210ah of usable power. I routinely wake up in the mornings above 80% battery capacity except on some days in the spring and fall when there is less sun. IMO, wind will be a huge waste of money and a big dissapointment compared to solar.

 

[Bigman99]

Believe me, upgrade your solar. Having come to Ranger Tugs from the sailboat world the biggest waste of money was the wind generator I had installed on my Beneteau 331. Had solar on that boat as well and the solar outperformed the wind by a very large factor. The generator ( a Rutland 914i)was billed at the time as the quietest on the market. It definitely wasn’t quiet when the wind was blowing at any speed that would produce even moderate power. It did have a braking feature that slowed the blades right down in the marina. The neighbors appreciated that. I found that 20 knots was the minimum wind speed needed to make any power at all. I suppose if you boat in the Caribbean that might be fine.

Spend the money on solar upgrades. You’ll be a lot happier