Nifty design for wind generator poles and supports

[Bene505]

I just drew-up the support poles that I'm planning to get for our FourWinds2. It's been quite awhile and I'm not sure who to contact anymore, so I just sent Sailrite and email to see if they can recommend the right set of connector pieces.

Take a look at the picture.


Note that the main pole comes down at an odd angle to the inside of the transom, and the support pole going to starboard is also attached at an odd angle. (The one going forward and down attaches to the deck.)

If anyone has any good ideas on who to get the connectors from (or even the long poles), please let me know. I do plan on adding pre-tension poles to the pushpit to prevent the whole thing from rattling. That will come later.

By the way, I'm planning to use stainless steel poles. The main pole will be 13 feet long (higher than pictures), to account for my standing on the seat when I bar-b-que, without getting clobbered by the 30" blades. The pole going to starboard is carefull placed to allow me to still hang the dinghy engine, only to port a few inches of where it usually goes.

Regards,
Brad

[Bene505]

... oh yes, I'll be adding another stern navigation light onto the pole, since the old one will be blocked.

I want to be able to remove the generator and poles for winter haul-out, and perhaps for more unfettered sailing on those days when I have the bimini and dodger off too.

Cost is an issue, since I'm a bit over budget on all the spring projects aready.

Regards,
Brad

[funjohnson]

E-Marine makes one very similar to that.

Here is the link (click here).

And you can purchase just the hardware to mount it and the support poles.

[chef2sail]

Garhauer will custom make anything you need. The struts and pole look sililar to what I have. The strut attaches to the hull with a backing plate while the other end has a clamp collar which goes around the large pole and can be set at many different angles so it is infinately adjustable.

The make fine stuff also. I have their radar pole as well as their davits.

Dave

[klem]

Sometimes it is easier to at least tack weld things in place. If you have a local welder with a portable rig who is willing to come to the boat for a reasonable price to tack everything, that might work best. To avoid overheating any of the fiberglass/gelcoat, you could do the structural welds with it off the boat. This would allow you to pre shape everything with a grinder out of flat stock and round tube.

Another version of this would be to do a really good job of fitting everything and then put alignment marks on. The issue here is that even if you do a really good job, welding causes distortion which tends to mean it doesn't fit perfectly.

I am sure that it is possible to do this with creative use of joints but that adds too much play for my liking.

When I built a mount this past winter (on the mizzen), I hauled the mast home and welded everything up in place and it fits perfectly.

[btrayfors]

Kato in Annapolis did my radar pole:

DSC_0028

Very high quality work. Not cheap, but on a 50' boat like your 505 I don't think you want to skimp, whatever the state of your budget.

Bill

[smackdaddy]

That looks a lot like Alex's radar pole. Could you do the transom-mount ring supports (like his) instead of the angles? Maybe even add one more at the pushpit and/or davits for backup?

That was a really clean way to do the supports.

[Bene505]

Originally Posted by funjohnson

E-Marine makes one very similar to that.

Here is the link (click here).

And you can purchase just the hardware to mount it and the support poles.

Thanks FunJohnson and everyone, this is really helpful.

Regards,
Brad

[Zanshin]

That is exactly identical to what I had fabricated for my Jeanneau 49DS, see D400 Wind Generator for some small pictures. I can scrounge up some better ones that I took in order to give them to Havin's Marine in St. Martin (they did the work) and can post them if you are interested.

[oceanscapt]

Looks good but a couple suggestions:
1. Backing plates on everything
2. Thrubolt and either nylock or double nut everything, there can be significant vibration and set screws will work their way out despite locktite
3. Make sure the pole height is sufficient to clear the tallest person by a good margin
4. Make sure the main support is truly vertical otherwise you may have problems. It may be worth doing the final tweak in the water, with the usual complement onboard.

Other than those, nice design.