I am very close to buying a wind generator and I'm looking for comments and recommendations (I know it's hard to get opinions from this group). Specifically, 1) FourWinds II is leading my short list, but I'm concerned about the safety with a 5' diameter propeller spinning just above my head. Anyone have experience with this generator? 2) AirMarine: I have been very interested in the new Air"X"Marine with the feathering blade, but near as I can tell it still isn't available. Everything I read about this generator talks about how noisy they are, was the noise reduced with the 403 model or is that as bad as the original? As always I look forward to the support this group offers. Roy Peterson s/y "Brilliant"
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TRY A KISS?
I love my Rutland Wind Charger, even though it does not pout out much output at low speeds it has been reliably spinning since my HI passage from CA back at the end of 1994. However, my friend Dave Hall at TINKER MARINE (www.tinkers.com) swears by the KISS wind generator that has benefits over others that are sold (he has done the comparison). They also sell TInker inflatables, Island Girl and Sea Hopper dinghies. You can call Wed-Sun at 510 814 0471. Thanks Jim Willis
I love my Rutland Wind Charger, even though it does not pout out much output at low speeds it has been reliably spinning since my HI passage from CA back at the end of 1994. However, my friend Dave Hall at TINKER MARINE (www.tinkers.com) swears by the KISS wind generator that has benefits over others that are sold (he has done the comparison). They also sell TInker inflatables, Island Girl and Sea Hopper dinghies. You can call Wed-Sun at 510 814 0471. Thanks Jim Willis
Four Winds
Hi Roy and HOW folk. Endless Summer (H31) has a Fourwinds wind generator on her stern, but it is sort of a custom thing. You can email me directly at remummah@worldnet.att.net for details. We also have three 55 watt solar panels. The combo of these two charging sources provided 100% of our DC cruising needs. The big amp hog is of course the frig. Basically I have a Fourwinds generator and mounting bracket, a wooden Hamilton Ferris propeller, a custom made (by me) mast and support system and Air Marine shock mounts. We do not have an air brake. Ours is the quietest Wind generator wa have ever (not) heard. We saw many serious cruising boats with the Fourwinds unit. The 5' prop is no problem at all, for us. Before buying the anodized aluminum for the mast, I stood on the highest point below where it would be mounted and then reached as high in the air as I could from the highest part of the boat aft of the cockpit. I measured this height and then added 4 inches to it. It can't hit me unless I stand on thetop of the stern rail. To lock the prop, I stand on the stern rail after using the control line (tied to the tail) turn the thing out of the wind to stop it. Don't know your plans, but the wind in the Bahamas, in the winter cruising months is always 15-20 knots. The Fourwinds unit loves it. We only had to run our diesel one or two times for battery charging, and that was during the unlikely times when there was no wind AND no sun (clouds). I made a step by step procedure for the construction and installation of the wind generator and I took lots of pictures. They are around here some place. Hope this helps. Email me if you want more details. Bye, Roger Mummah
Hi Roy and HOW folk. Endless Summer (H31) has a Fourwinds wind generator on her stern, but it is sort of a custom thing. You can email me directly at remummah@worldnet.att.net for details. We also have three 55 watt solar panels. The combo of these two charging sources provided 100% of our DC cruising needs. The big amp hog is of course the frig. Basically I have a Fourwinds generator and mounting bracket, a wooden Hamilton Ferris propeller, a custom made (by me) mast and support system and Air Marine shock mounts. We do not have an air brake. Ours is the quietest Wind generator wa have ever (not) heard. We saw many serious cruising boats with the Fourwinds unit. The 5' prop is no problem at all, for us. Before buying the anodized aluminum for the mast, I stood on the highest point below where it would be mounted and then reached as high in the air as I could from the highest part of the boat aft of the cockpit. I measured this height and then added 4 inches to it. It can't hit me unless I stand on thetop of the stern rail. To lock the prop, I stand on the stern rail after using the control line (tied to the tail) turn the thing out of the wind to stop it. Don't know your plans, but the wind in the Bahamas, in the winter cruising months is always 15-20 knots. The Fourwinds unit loves it. We only had to run our diesel one or two times for battery charging, and that was during the unlikely times when there was no wind AND no sun (clouds). I made a step by step procedure for the construction and installation of the wind generator and I took lots of pictures. They are around here some place. Hope this helps. Email me if you want more details. Bye, Roger Mummah
Try Windbugger
Have you spoken to the guys at Windbugger? This company is about 20 years old and makes the quietest unit on the market. It looks a bit large but its output is great!
Have you spoken to the guys at Windbugger? This company is about 20 years old and makes the quietest unit on the market. It looks a bit large but its output is great!
Rutland 910 Experience
Non fossil-fuel electrical generating devices are really good to have on board. We've owned a Rutland 910 which is a six-blade unit with a diameter of about a meter for over six years. The Rutland is mounted temporarily on the port stern rail (radar is starboard stern rail) with an aluminum mast braced with two diagonals to the rail. Bottom of blades are well above head height when standing in the cockpit. There is a line on the end of the rudder which I use to shut the spinning down - just turn it around backwards to the wind and it slowly comes to a stop. I install it for those month long cruises and take it off afterward because for the short trips there is enough engine use it isn't needed. Nevertheless, there is some rusting on the rudder where the finish was chiped. My Rutland has worked fine until last years cruise when the output, for some unexplained reason, wasn't very good. Apparently the problem is oxidation on the slip rings. The fix, I've been told, is to lightly sand it off the slip rings but I haven't done this yet. Six blades vs three: My opinion, the six blade setup provides insurance and redundancy in the event of failure of one of the blades. Met one sailor in Seattle with a three blade unit where one of the carbon fiber blades had a shattered tip shortly after leaving Japan so he couldn't use it for the entire trip. With a six blade unit one can remove the damaged blade and two others which will give a blanced three blade unit; the output will be reduced but there will still be output. Starting speed: It doesn't matter what speed the blades start to turn at. What's important is the speed the unit generates 13 or 14 volts! If the unit starts to turn at, say 4 knots, but the voltage is 7 volts, what good is that? Charge controller or regulator: This is the next item of business to upgrade the Rutland regulator. Three that I've looked at for regulating wind and solar inputs are the Trace C-40 at $179; Prostar-20M at $207, and the Morning Star Sunsaver 20L at $103. The 20-amp units will not be enough for the Rutland where the output can easily exceed 20-amps. The Trace doesn't have idiot lights but would be my recommendation. Both the Trace and the Prostar have "no load" outputs for runing things like fans.
Non fossil-fuel electrical generating devices are really good to have on board. We've owned a Rutland 910 which is a six-blade unit with a diameter of about a meter for over six years. The Rutland is mounted temporarily on the port stern rail (radar is starboard stern rail) with an aluminum mast braced with two diagonals to the rail. Bottom of blades are well above head height when standing in the cockpit. There is a line on the end of the rudder which I use to shut the spinning down - just turn it around backwards to the wind and it slowly comes to a stop. I install it for those month long cruises and take it off afterward because for the short trips there is enough engine use it isn't needed. Nevertheless, there is some rusting on the rudder where the finish was chiped. My Rutland has worked fine until last years cruise when the output, for some unexplained reason, wasn't very good. Apparently the problem is oxidation on the slip rings. The fix, I've been told, is to lightly sand it off the slip rings but I haven't done this yet. Six blades vs three: My opinion, the six blade setup provides insurance and redundancy in the event of failure of one of the blades. Met one sailor in Seattle with a three blade unit where one of the carbon fiber blades had a shattered tip shortly after leaving Japan so he couldn't use it for the entire trip. With a six blade unit one can remove the damaged blade and two others which will give a blanced three blade unit; the output will be reduced but there will still be output. Starting speed: It doesn't matter what speed the blades start to turn at. What's important is the speed the unit generates 13 or 14 volts! If the unit starts to turn at, say 4 knots, but the voltage is 7 volts, what good is that? Charge controller or regulator: This is the next item of business to upgrade the Rutland regulator. Three that I've looked at for regulating wind and solar inputs are the Trace C-40 at $179; Prostar-20M at $207, and the Morning Star Sunsaver 20L at $103. The 20-amp units will not be enough for the Rutland where the output can easily exceed 20-amps. The Trace doesn't have idiot lights but would be my recommendation. Both the Trace and the Prostar have "no load" outputs for runing things like fans.
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