Wind Generator Tower Mounting

[drinky]

Need a little help mounting a wind gen, I have a D400 and am in the process of designing the tower which will become a part of the solar and davit thingo on the stern. The manufacturers suggest in some applications anti vibration mounts to insulate the tower may be beneficial. I can't find anything anywhere that is designed for the task. Does anyone have any info on insulating the tower to cut out any possible vibration from the genny.
Thanks all
Drinky

[Bash]

most of us use rubber bushings to isolate the generator from the supporting mast and struts. You don't need to worry about the genny messing with the wind gen. Rather, worry about the wind gen sending vibes down to wherever you sleep.

[Bash]

I just realized that we may have miscommunicated in terms of nautical slang. For most sailors, "genny" refers to a large foresail, not a wind generator.

[drinky]

You are right Bash. I call my genoa sail a genny but I call my wind generator a wind genny. Lazy language. Second part of your response is what I am on about. I don't want any vibration from the wind generator tower playing music to me above my bed. What I need to know is what I can use to cut out any chance of that.
Drinky

[cdennyb]

whatever mounting system you incorporate to isolate the vibration and harmonics transmitted thru the hull, use stainless and urethane. I saw one mounting assembly that used 1" stainless with urethane torsion bar mounts and the noisest thing was the constant whooop of the blades at full rpm. Hardly a sound from the mast down to the boat.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by drinky

I don't want any vibration from the wind generator tower playing music to me above my bed. What I need to know is what I can use to cut out any chance of that.

Well, if you sleep in an aft cabin, then you definitely want an anti-vibration mount, not only on the mast but on the struts as well.

[Sailmonkey]

I think I have too much time on my hands. This is a anti vibration mount that goes on an existing pole.

Vibration Isolator

[drinky]

Thanks Sailmonkey, that is the unit the bloke across the dock is waiting for delivery of, I think. Now I know where to get it from.
Drinky

[Rhythmsmith]

I just had an email with Larry from SE Marine (US distributors for the D400) and he said quote "We suggest isolating the mounting brackets from the deck with a layer of neoprene. You should buy it locally, cheaper".
Whatever you try, let us know how it works out!

[svcambria]

"We suggest isolating the mounting brackets from the deck with a layer of neoprene. You should buy it locally, cheaper".

Or rubber(ish) gasket material from the auto parts store - 1/8" or greater. Good for isolating a mast that terminates in a flange.
For lateral support I use dacron line instead of ss tubing. No vibration through that...

Michael

[drinky]

After all your help and a little mucking around the wind gen is mounted. The tower and braces are insulated with neoprene and with 25 knt wind there is no noise. Mind you the gen is extra quiet and some people at the marina are thinking of changing their current gen for a D400 because they can't hear a sound from it.
Drinky

[Rhythmsmith]

That's great news, drinky. I am finally sold on the D400 after much debate, and now I must also go through the mounting saga...
The D400 wants a 42mm I.D. tube, did you use one of these tubes or did you have a standard 1.5" Tube opened up to 42mm ID? What tower parts did you need to have custom fabricated or modified, if any?

[drinky]

I found that tube the right size wasn't polished and polishing would add to the cost, but, we found tube a little larger ( I think it was 46 ID ) which was polished and then made a sleeve from some plastic to make the D400 fit. Can't remember what the plastic was. Then fabricated bits and pieces to fit the tower into my davit and solar creation at the stern.

[trinescape]

When i mounted my wind generator i used 10mm thick rubber fittings from the plumbing section of our local hardware store for the base of the vertical pole and that works! i also used a smaller version on the 2 side stays and it certainly made it better cheers andy

[capngeo]

McMaster.com. They have it all!