Hydrogenerator

Maine Sail · Mar 7, 2012

Deadhead said:
I first heard about the racing version of this unit during the Velex 5 Oceans race last year. Brad Van Liew spoke highly of it. Looks as though the cruising version is now down to about $7,000. Anyone have any experience (good, bad, indifferent) with the Watt & Sea? Any thoughts in comparison with solar?

http://www.wattandsea.com/en/cruising-hydrogenerator

Regards.
DH

My friend Bruce, an ex Vendee Globe racer & the first American to complete it, is a rep for Watt & Sea. Very cool stuff & one of those where you do get what you pay for.

Of course Bruce's boat Ocean Planet, and Brad's boat go a lot faster than the average cruising boat but they are still very impressive output when you're in the right speed range. In discussions with Bruce I remember him telling me they really begin working at about 5+ knots so you really need to check and see what your average sailing speeds are.....

If you are interested I can put you in touch with Bruce and he'll be glad to help.....

Wanderer138 · Mar 7, 2012

This looks like an updated version of the old Ampair/Aquair tow-behind "taffrail" water generator, which has been around for almost 40 years:
http://www.ampair.com/downloads/Aquair_100_manual_rev_Feb_2007.pdf
http://www.ampair.com/

The impeller can be replaced with a propeller and the device pole-mounted or hoisted into the rigging to generate power from wind while at anchor. Its main drawback seems to be the tow-behind impeller, which large fish sometimes attack because it resembles a bait fish.

Maine Sail · Mar 7, 2012

Deadhead said:
Thanks MS. Your thumbs up is a big plus.

I have been communicating with Bruce via e-mail about the unit for a week or so. He is very responsive and I am happy that you know him. It appears as if I am right on the cusp of making the W&S unit a viable option. If only the guy upstairs could guarantee that every summer on the Chesapeake would have winds like last it would be a no-brainer.

The scatter point graph in the W&S literature shows that the 24 mm prop standard on the cruising unit starts charging at speeds closer to 6 knots. I have not figured out if the output at slower speeds creates sufficient current to run the instruments and at least not draw down the battery.

Thanks again.
DH

Your in very good hands with Bruce. He's one of the good guys in the industry who is extremely passionate about this stuff. He's the one who turned me onto the Genasun MPPT controllers for small solar panels. He's a die hard when it comes to energy etc.. He drives an older 80's Honda CRX HF that he's tweaked to get more than 60 MPG out of WITHOUT BATTERIES.. Talking & working with him is fun stuff....

robertsapp · Mar 8, 2012

It would seem like this unit would only be useful while underway. The typical cruiser spends 95% or more of their time anchored or tied up somewhere. Wouldn't a good solar/wind setup be much more practical? This seems like an awfully expensive option for such a limited use.

WayneH · Mar 8, 2012

I would like a way to connect an alternator to my output shaft on my transmission. Not having the boat very long, I marked the shaft for vertical while she was on the hard. During our first trip after re-launching, I went below to set the prop and found the shaft spinning merrily along. I nearly wore out a leather glove attempting to stop the shaft. We even tried shifting into gear (F/R) with no luck. So if the danged thing is going to spin, why not collect the energy and put it into the batteries.

I've got an idea but I got two purple thumbs (bruised all to hell) when it comes to mechanical things. I even change the plugs on my car one at a time and start the engine in between to make sure it STILL works.

Sumner · Mar 8, 2012

WayneH said:
I would like a way to connect an alternator to my output shaft on my transmission....

Off hand that seems to have some merit if you have room to do it. I'd think you might need to have an additional jack-shaft to get the rpm you would need to excite the alternator. I'm thinking that most car ones need about 1500 rpm to do that.

http://www.powermastermotorsports.com/faq-alternators.html

Once it is excited I think it will continue to put out under that rpm. Interesting concept.

One other thing to consider is that once the alternator is putting out it takes HP to do that and it just might then stall the prop and it wouldn't turn.

I can't hardly pull start the...

...gen-set I made if the switch that allows it to start charging is turned on as it puts too much load at that point on the engine. Once the Honda is started I throw that switch.

I agree with the other poster that you could put a lot of solar/wind on the boat for the price of the hydrogenerator, but I could see that being a good deal possibly for people making long passages or who sail most of the days when on the boat. Ruth and I sit a lot on anchorage,

Sum

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joker460 · Mar 8, 2012

You could do both. My buddy has one of these in Florida.

http://www.duogen.co.uk/

Benny17441 · Mar 8, 2012

Not practical as it is too expensive and limited to speeds of 6+ knots. A honda portable generator sells for about $1,000 and for the additional cost of a gallon of gas will power the 40A inboard battery charger for 5 hours.