effectiveness of solar & wind

[sailingdog]

And Cam says I try to inflate my post count...

[Valiente]

Originally Posted by therapy23

Thank you so very much for that chart.

Four winds for me I guess.

What are it's down sides??


Wait...........that chart is on the Fourwinds website...........Hmmmmmm..........

Don't be so hasty. Practical Sailor had a good pair of articles on the plus and minuses of the various styles of wind gens, and it comes down to location of the boat, noise produced and ranking of the wind gen in the importance of one's energy supply needs. In my own situation, that order is solar, followed by alternators, followed by wind, followed by small gas genset as a belt-and-suspenders approach (the Honda EU2000, which can also feed "stock" 115 AC power tools on deck or ashore instead of running a big draw through the inverter).

This means I can opt for a smaller-bladed, quieter wind gen if I wish, because wind is a lesser component of my proposed charging supply chain. I can see that if I am in 30 knots of wind on a cloudy or even stormy day (or night), I could really juice the batteries just via sailing, which would allow me to opt for autopilot over windvane if higher wave crests were stalling the vane.

Lots to consider. I am amazed that this ridiculous and frequently derailed thread is finally producing useful information.

[sailingdog]

BTW, I like the KISS windgen, since it is a good deal more affordable. However, it isn't as efficient at lower wind speeds. The KISS is about $1000, about the same cost as the Rutland 913, and the Four Winds II is about $2000.

[camaraderie]

Therapy...of course you are right...that is on the 4 winds site and one would expect marketing hype. So throw out the 4 winds and look at the KISS and the windbugger which they have no interest in promoting...still double the power in low winds of many of the smaller units. (And I can tell you from personal experience that I got 4-6 amps in 10-15knots out of my 4 winds).

The downside is large blades which mean you have to mount further off the deck toprovide proper clearance and you need to brace the pole mount carefully and under tension ( a little bend) to keep vibration to a minimum from the longer "lever". Also...you need to tie off the blades in higher winds with the loop provided. I always tied off in anything over 25 knots. You can get one with a centrifugal brake mechanism but I did not want the complication.
SSCA members rated the KISS and the 4 Winds highest in their member equipment surveys if I recall correctly.

Val...don't forget that going downwind you reduce the available wind gen force by 5-6 knots and going up wind you increase it by the same. So where wind vanes typically work least well, is also where wind gens also work least well. This would definitely influence my choice of wind/solar balance depending on where I planned to cruise.

Dog...the 4windsII is $1899...but that includes full pole mounting kit, all wiring and regulator, whereas the Kiss price requires you to buy all the mounting components and wiring...so the price difference isn't quite so great. Nothing wrong with the KISS though!

[sailhog]

Originally Posted by Valiente

I am amazed that this ridiculous and frequently derailed thread is finally producing useful information.

I can change that...

One often overlooked downside of wind power is the everpresent danger of getting one's armpit hair caught in the blades. This can be a painful, even life-threatening, hazard when sailing offshore. Discuss!

[sailingdog]

Sailhog-

If your armpit har is that long.. you need to start shaving it and stop popping the hormone pills.

Originally Posted by sailhog

I can change that...

One often overlooked downside of wind power is the everpresent danger of getting one's armpit hair caught in the blades. This can be a painful, even life-threatening, hazard when sailing offshore. Discuss!

[wind_magic]

Hmm. I had already made the decision to get the KISS when I purchase, but maybe I should give the 4 winds another look.

[chucklesR]

Whew 101 pages, I finally finished them all.
Where is the PS review of the SS? I read something somewhere that said it's a nice mount system, as a passive system, it's not passive (who remembers to reposition it?) and it's pricey, was that PS?

Doesn't matter, I have a 2 axis rotatable 80w on my davits, and I'm happy to report I get from 30-35 ah on a good day. That and my honda 2000, propane powered refridge and I'm making ice in the topics, playing the stero all day (truth be told, I live in maryland not the tropics).
The day I pay 4.5k for a stick is the day I sell my boat and take up beach combing.
Sorry, after 100 pages of posts, I'm entitled to talk trash. Now I'm done.

[hellosailor]

I think PS published the first part of their review three weeks or so ago, second part still to come.

So, Chuckles, what is the brand name for the 2-axis rotatable you have on the davits? It would be nice to know what options there are versus the SS for this.

FWIW, I think the SS is well below $4500 now. My first reaction was that it was horribly overpriced. Then I got to SEE it, and I can say there's easily $2000+ of metal fabrication in it, plus $1000+ of electrical components. Making it not so unreasonable--if that's the type of mount and structure someone wants.

Since some of the big chandleries are now first carrying it--the real selling price remains to be seen.

[Freesail99]

I be interested in learning what this 2 axis rotatable 80w ( solar panel ) on my davits is all about.