Wind Generator

[omoore]

I want to install a wind generator on my GB42 Classic. Does anyone have experience or an opinion on location. One thought was the mast. But I can't figure out a mount that would allow it to swing 360 and clear the mast. Another possibility would be on the fly bridge, high enough to clear the Bimini. Either of those would provide easy routing for the wiring down to the batteries in the engine room.

Finally I could put in at the stern like the sailboats. But it would be a long run for the wiring.
I look forward to hearing any ideas.

Happy Thanksgiving.

[DavidM]

That mast needs to be sturdy to stand up to high winds. Doubt if a Bimini mount would do that.

But I am surprised you are considering wind. Solar pretty well killed that market. Plus it takes 15 kts or better to get any real output.

David

[O C Diver]

As mentioned above, solar is better output from an investment standpoint. Also less likely to hear complaints from marina neighbors and management. Some flexible panels mounted to the Bimini would be fairly simple.

Ted

[Xlantic]

I have seen several GB classics with a radar post at rear of the fly-bridge, on the port-side corner. Not sure how they are supported. You could place it on the roof of the rear cabin and attach to the lip of the fly-bridge, like the Nick Jackson pipe davits are attached.

But, like others have said, with solar as an alternative, why go with wind?

[Nomad Willy]

I have an opinion ….. don’t, do it. The most obnoxious thing to do on a boat.
Look up threads in archives.

[jleonard]

Originally Posted by Nomad Willy

I have an opinion ….. don’t, do it. The most obnoxious thing to do on a boat.
Look up threads in archives.

I’ve anchored near boats that had them and they are very noisy.
I think solar panels would be a much better choice.

[Comodave]

You probably should buy some ear plugs at the same time…

[psneeld]

Newer and pricier ones are much quieter.

Depending on where you cruise and how you cruise may make wind a decent addition to solar.

Make sure it would be high enough not to get disturbed air from the flybridge as it needs clean, strong air to barely put out a decent amperage.

I have seen one on the bow of a trawler to ensure good wind at anchor.... probably helped the alternator while underway to in a decent headwind.

Some of the older models were annoying, but many of the newer ones to me are no more obnoxious than many other sounds heard in anchorages. In marinas, I believe the newer ones have some sort of electrical brake on them to keep them slow or stopped. If not there are ways to keep them stopped when near other boats and power isn't needed.

[BruceK]

Agree they have become quieter. And if you rely on passive charging, there are times "the sun don`t shine but the wind do blow". Now back to locating the mast.There`s some distance perhaps increased by routing difficulties from the FB, the run from locating it aft is not so much greater.

[Hippocampus]

Had both solar and wind on the last sailboat.

When being a full time cruiser you still spend 90%+ of your time still. You avoid the noise, expense and hassle of being in slip whenever you can. The view is better at anchor as well. It’s much less hot at anchor than in a slip if in the tropics or sub tropics. So you want to avoid hydrocarbon burn. Then with a good DC watermaker you only need to come in for food.

My experience over a decade of this was the same as Fatty. In the summer with its longer days in New England the solar gave more juice. But during the winter the two D400s gave more electricity. Solar only works during the day. Wind works 24/7.

The D400s started to give meaningful output at 10kts. The panels worked best 10a to ~3p. Rain, fog and haze killed output as well. The D400s were silent. Once a year took off the blades (use Dawn as a lubricant) and waxed them with bowling alley wax. Otherwise no maintenance.

Place the pole for the wind generators where they get an unobstructed path to the wind. On a trawler the pilot house will likely impend or cause turbulent flow to them if placed aft and you’re at anchor. To prevent vibration and noise the pole needs to be supported by guys or struts in several directions or be of an adequate diameter and well mounted. Wind strength increases significantly as you go up. With a 65’ mast as much as 10 kts from deck to masthead. Particularly true when in a marina. So on a trawler the best place maybe at the aft corners of the flybridge. This will likely give three benefits. First-an unobstructed wind path. Second- if using a good length pole they will be high up. Third-if necessary you can drop the pole and generator on to the boat deck safely. Over sizing wiring will prevent much voltage drop. Would be more concerned about placement than length of wire runs. Would be also concerned about placement of the heat sink. They do get quite hot when you’re fully charged so they need clear space around them. I avoided using the brake. It can mess up your system if left on too long.