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05-05-2011
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Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da :)
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Watt & Sea
I have tried Google so much that I was afraid Google itself was going to tell me to give it a rest.
Does anyone have any idea what a Watt & Sea hydrogenerator costs? Even a vague approximation?
Just wondering if it's a realistic thing for me to be looking at, or if (as I fear) it's WAY outside my current price range.
Thanks in advance.
Peace,
6P
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Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books. - John Lubbock
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05-05-2011
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1970 Cal 29 Sea Fever
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1981 J24 Tangent 2930
Tommays
Northport NY
If a dirty bottom slows you down what do you think it does to your boat
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05-05-2011
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Tartan 27' owner
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Why don't you call them?
Watt & Sea Hydrogenerators by Bruce Schwab
It will probably end up being as J.P. Morgan is quoted as saying when asked how much his yacht cost: "If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it."
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"The cure for anything is salt water~ sweat, tears, or the sea." ~Isak Denesen
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05-05-2011
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Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da :)
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Pleasant Hill, Louisiana
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tommays, thanks for the info - will look into that. 
CalebD - either it's the J.P. Morgan school of thought, or it's some antiquated idiot running the company. I suppose I'll eventually break down and call them. Or maybe send them a telegraph or a smoke signal.
Peace,
6P
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Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books. - John Lubbock
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05-05-2011
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There was a recent discussion about these on Sailing Anarchy. IIRC, there are two versions at significantly different price points. The cheaper one was more than 1 boat dollar.
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05-05-2011
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Bruce Schwab isn't an antiquated idiot but a respected rigger and round the world sailor.
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Brian
Living aboard in Victoria Harbour
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05-05-2011
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Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da :)
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Pleasant Hill, Louisiana
Posts: 160
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Just got done with an email conversation with Bruce Schwab. (And I take back my above comments, his response to email was just this side of light speed.)
According to the company's claims, this units makes 500W at 10knots. I know, 10kts is unrealistic for most boats in most weather, but the chart on the "handout" provided by the company, http://www.bruceschwab.com/pdf/CruisingHandout-ENG2.pdf indicates that at 5kts the unit is putting out 120(ish) watts, or about as much as a good solar panel....without having to have a huge solar panel mounted somewhere.
Now we come to price. A single unit of the cruising model will only set you back $7,200 USD. They also sell a double unit, one to go on each side so that when heeled one is always in the water. That one is $12,455 USD.
So yeah, the price is pretty hard for me to digest. I asked Schwab about maintenance issues, etc., and he had the following comment.
"The units are supposed to be maintenence-free, but of course with anything marine it may have to be serviced or repaired at some point. The issue most likely to occur is damage from hitting something in the water. The catch-22 is that it takes some force to hold the unit down in the water. You should have a breakable "fuse" in the "down" control line but if you hit something sizeable the immediate force could be considerable."
So, all in all, I have to say that leaves me thinking...maybe later.
Don't get me wrong - sounds like a dream product. I just wish the price point didn't make me sweat. Also, I can't help wondering about possible copy-cats and improvements, now that this has hit the market.
Peace,
6P
__________________
Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books. - John Lubbock
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05-05-2011
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Tartan 27' owner
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Join Date: Jan 2008
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Yes, and 1 boat dollar = $1000, give or mostly take.
You could buy a lot of solar equipment for $1K.
Quote from Ickipedia:
An avid yachtsman, Morgan owned several sizeable yachts. The well-known quote, "If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it" is commonly attributed to Morgan in response to a question about the cost of maintaining a yacht."
J. P. Morgan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
If you were a cheap skate like me you would try to make one of your own!
Cheers!
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"The cure for anything is salt water~ sweat, tears, or the sea." ~Isak Denesen
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05-05-2011
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Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da :)
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Pleasant Hill, Louisiana
Posts: 160
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mitiempo
Bruce Schwab isn't an antiquated idiot but a respected rigger and round the world sailor.
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Indeed - it's just that I never would have figured that he himself was running things at that level. I figured honestly that he was probably out somewhere sailing and that he had someone running the business for him.
Either way, see my above comment. I took it all back. 
Turns out that he's someone I'd like to do business with.
__________________
Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books. - John Lubbock
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05-05-2011
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Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da :)
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Pleasant Hill, Louisiana
Posts: 160
Rep Power: 2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CalebD
If you were a cheap skate like me you would try to make one of your own!
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Hmmm...you may have something there. I do have a friend who is an electrical engineer...
Peace,
6P
__________________
Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books. - John Lubbock
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