Watt & Sea Hydrogenerators

[HR42]

Originally Posted by OceanPlanet

HR42,

We've just discovered that Watt & Sea apparently had a bad batch of the injection-molded props. We hadn't heard about this until a client send of pics of two broken props. We sent the pics & hydro serial #'s to W&S and they promptly agreed to send out replacements. Perhaps when you first inquired they didn't know about the problem themselves...how long ago did you report? If you have pics of the broken ones please email to us here at OPE, along with the hydro serial #'s. We'll see what we can do.

Bruce

Hello Bruce, my props failed over 12 months ago now, and this is one of the main problems with watt and sea is that even you as a distributor have only just found out about it. Yes they did replace straight away but you would expect that at the very least.




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[OceanPlanet]

Ah, so they DID replace it. Good. Obviously they get those from a third party and it took a while to sort out. Even the good props get broken by collisions with stuff, so it probably took a number of failures to realize they had a real problem.

[OceanPlanet]

Originally Posted by HR42

Hello Carsten, now converted to lithium, batteries are Genasuns, they change the voltage slightly higher


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HR42, did you specify the converter/voltage settings to W&S, or did we? I don't remember this one however my memory has been spotty lately...

[HR42]

Bruce you seem terribly apologetic and understanding towards watt and sea, do you have some interest in them. You also seem to think that you've had some involment with my setup?..

Saying they "obviously" source these props from a third party, is making a generous assumption, given that they held back the fact that there was a fault with these props for at least 12 months that I am able to deduce from your own previous statement. And still haven't issued any sort of recall as far as I'm aware.

I didn't make my comment on this forum to have you try and wash them clean. This is a serious issue with this company, or two serious issues, 1 their reliability and 2 the integrity of the company


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[OceanPlanet]

Originally Posted by HR42

Bruce you seem terribly apologetic and understanding towards watt and sea, do you have some interest in them. You also seem to think that you've had some involment with my setup?..

Saying they "obviously" source these props from a third party, is making a generous assumption, given that they held back the fact that there was a fault with these props for at least 12 months that I am able to deduce from your own previous statement. And still haven't issued any sort of recall as far as I'm aware.

I didn't make my comment on this forum to have you try and wash them clean. This is a serious issue with this company, or two serious issues, 1 their reliability and 2 the integrity of the company


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HR42,

While we have sold W&S in North America since their early days, we don't need to apologize for them. While not perfect, their product has improved steadily over the past few years (although there have been bumps along the way). Overall, their hydros have been a valued addition to many cruisers & racers.

Yes, we have been frustrated ourselves now & then, however things seem to have improved and responses have been quick lately. Hopefully that will be the way things stay.

I brought up the programming for Genasun as we handle most of the GLi application support, and typically we would provide the info to W&S about the proper converter/regulator programming. We are busy so I don't remember who is who all the time, hopefully you're all set there.

[Jim Cate]

I am amused by the contrast between a 600 dollar aluminium prop for the W&S device and the second hand 6 hp Johnson prop (also Aluminium) I used for my homebrew rig. Cost? Zero dollars, form an outboard shop... it was a bit dinged on the leading edges of the blades and not suitable for their customers use, but worked fine for the low speed application of a trolling generator. But even a brand new one is on the order of a hundred bucks IIRC... 600 is outa line IMO.

I am sure that there is an important lesson to be learned here!

Jim

[Radio]

Anyone knows, if they have a patent for that design or any part of it? May be mounting?
I checked out US Patent Office, no luck.
I am willing to invest and/or design similar good low flow generator including “smart” remote electronics (regulator) for 12 or 24 Volts.
It should not be that expensive!!!!! China can help us.
Props shown by HR42 are real pieces of art!!
Any thoughts?
Radio

[OceanPlanet]

Originally Posted by Radio

Anyone knows, if they have a patent for that design or any part of it? May be mounting?
I checked out US Patent Office, no luck.
I am willing to invest and/or design similar good low flow generator including “smart” remote electronics (regulator) for 12 or 24 Volts.
It should not be that expensive!!!!! China can help us.
Props shown by HR42 are real pieces of art!!
Any thoughts?
Radio

Don't know if this helps or not...however a couple years ago there was a very interesting new hydro that came out in competition to W&S, the name was Cristec. We saw at the Annapolis show and were looking to offer them alongside W&S. It had a forward-facing prop which I didn't think was the greatest idea, however one very cool feature was an automatically feathering prop that operated on centrifugal force somehow. W&S has feathering props only on the VERY expensive racing units, so this feature could have been a game-changer.

However, apparently there were patents infringed that W&S vigorously defended. In a few months, all of the Cristec hydros had been returned to Europe, evidently to be destroyed(!). Don't know if a Chinese product market only the US could somehow escape the same fate...?

B

[Radio]

After additional search, I discovered that WaS has a Design Patent in US and France. They are two inventors: Y. Bestaven and M. Michou, and evidently assignee is Wat and Sea Company. No technical claims.
So, an object with a design that is substantially similar to the design claimed in a design patent cannot be made for 14 years (Ornamental Design Patent).

This patent can be challenged only, if a similar design (ornamental view and/or appearance) existed before May 18 2011.
Any thoughts?
Radio

[Radio]

Thank you Ocean Planet for info.

Cristec: Cristec - on-board energy - Company, but no hydro.

Interesting, Marinebeam is still selling mentioned by you hydro ?
Cristec Hydro Generator for Sailboats
radio

[Rubikoop]

Originally Posted by Radio

Thank you Ocean Planet for info.



Cristec: Cristec - on-board energy - Company, but no hydro.



Interesting, Marinebeam is still selling mentioned by you hydro ?

Cristec Hydro Generator for Sailboats

radio

The Marinebeam site says it's out of stock.


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[JazzyO]

There was a full-page advert by Watt&Sea in one of the UK yachting magazines that stated that they had successfully fought Cristec for patent infringement and that the Cristec hydro was not allowed to be sold anymore by court order, a couple of months ago.


Onno

[SVNeko]

Originally Posted by JazzyO

There was a full-page advert by Watt&Sea in one of the UK yachting magazines that stated that they had successfully fought Cristec for patent infringement and that the Cristec hydro was not allowed to be sold anymore by court order, a couple of months ago.

Funny they would advertise that. All that would say to me is that they don't want competition, customers be damned.

[OceanPlanet]

Originally Posted by SVNeko

Funny they would advertise that. All that would say to me is that they don't want competition, customers be damned.

I completely agree that running an ad like that was lame. Bad PR. Should run on strengths like being "the original", and promote the new "economy" 300W version, etc. But what do I know....

[Katiusha]

Originally Posted by JazzyO

Strange story. The W&S charging unit doesn't charge at 12.8V or more, so there is never any need for switching on gear because you have too much power coming in - it simply stops providing current. And, of course, you could always lift the prop.


Onno

JazzyO, where did you get the information about not charging at or above 12.8V? Do you know if it's only for recent models or earlier ones, like 2+ year old, as well?


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