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19-04-2011, 12:34
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ventura, CA
Boat: Islander 33 - 1966 flat top
Posts: 68
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Wind vs. Solar? Recommendations?
Dear CF,
We have 33' sailboat, flat top, with stern pole mounted radar.
Would like advice on adding wind generator or solar panel.
Which gives most bang for the buck?
Choosing one vs. combination of both?
Recommendations for products, brands, prices, buying new or used, etc.
Thank you,
from Ventura, CA
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19-04-2011, 12:47
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#2
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Lived aboard & cruised for 45 years,- now on a chair in my walk-in closet.
Boat: Morgan OI 413 1973 - Aythya
Posts: 8,455
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Re: Wind vs. Solar? Recommendations?
I don't know the West Coast, but here on the East Coast your latitude makes a big difference. We get a lot of steady wind less than 30 degrees latitude. Above that and to the Chesapeake, I think solar is more consistantly producing, but then, further north, as the solar angle of incidence decreases, the wind generator may be the best choice.
__________________
Take care and joy, Aythya crew
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19-04-2011, 13:24
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Charleston SC
Boat: 1988 Hans Christian 33
Posts: 727
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Re: Wind vs. Solar? Recommendations?
I have a 200W wind generator and tow 65W solar panels. Works well for me.
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19-04-2011, 14:45
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#4
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Lived aboard & cruised for 45 years,- now on a chair in my walk-in closet.
Boat: Morgan OI 413 1973 - Aythya
Posts: 8,455
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Re: Wind vs. Solar? Recommendations?
Lowcountry does call the compromise! ....and I agree as I've a 100amp panel and a wind generator up my mizzen.
__________________
Take care and joy, Aythya crew
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19-04-2011, 17:11
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#5
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: La Ciudad de la Misión Didacus de Alcalá en Alta California, Virreinato de Nueva España
Boat: Cal 20
Posts: 20,490
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Re: Wind vs. Solar? Recommendations?
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptForce
I don't know the West Coast, but here on the East Coast your latitude makes a big difference. We get a lot of steady wind less than 30 degrees latitude. Above that and to the Chesapeake, I think solar is more consistantly producing, but then, further north, as the solar angle of incidence decreases, the wind generator may be the best choice.
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A mount that lets you track the sun maximizes solar cell output regardless of what latitude you are sailing in. And the farther north you get the longer the summer days and the cooler the weather (improves efficiency).
Look at Atom Voyages | Voyages Aboard the Sailboat Atom - The Atom SolarTracker adjustable solar panel mounts for sailboats for one idea for a tracking mount.
On the other hand a tracker does little in areas that are consistently overcast. You would want to look at weather data for the areas you intend to sail and compare average overcast days with average winds for each month.
__________________
Num Me Vexo?
For all of your celestial navigation questions: https://navlist.net/
A house is but a boat so poorly built and so firmly run aground no one would think to try and refloat it.
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19-04-2011, 17:50
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: NSW Australia
Boat: Traditional 30
Posts: 1,980
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Re: Wind vs. Solar? Recommendations?
The sun doesnt shine at night.. But the wind doesnt always blow during the day ( your conundrum) . Thats why many live aboarders tend to use both options. Rory Bourkes and Sandra Buchanans book " managing your bluewater cruise" has calculated costs per amp...
Diesel with 50amp alt- 12 cents per amp (CPA)
same with 150 amp alt- 8.2 cpa
aerogen 6.4 cpa
windbugger 3.6 cpa
solar 3.3 cpa
Water generator 6.6 cpa.
These costs are based on the capital cost of each unit and the associated running costs eg fuel-parts etc.
If you walk around a few marinas you will notice that casual sailors (as opposed to live aboarders) tend to have more solar than wind. Obivously, thier usage isnt as high as a live aboard.
__________________
Cheers
Oz
...............
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19-04-2011, 18:01
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Adirondacks
Boat: 1967 Alberg 35
Posts: 589
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Re: Wind vs. Solar? Recommendations?
Just ordered a third solar panel, giving me 220 watts of power in optimum sunlight. Have 2- 60w (on a swivel mount pole to track the sun), and the new single 100w which will be mounted forward of the main hatch. Was seriously considering a wind generator just today but, after doing a detailed breakdown of varying conditions and power draw: Inshore, offshore, w/radar on and without, stormy conditions, etc., figured that having 3 solar panels was the best idea. There are no moving parts to break. The two I have already are very reliable. They are quiet. Can haul up only as many as needed for varying conditions. Note, I have removed the refrig. unit so that large power drain is not an issue. Solar alone would not cut it for most modern boats with freezers, watermakers, autopilots, and 48" tvs but am trying to keep it simple. Have researched tow behind generators which only work if the boat is moving and lose rotors to large hungry fishies in the wake, wind generators, which seem to be less than reliable from the feedback I've read and are obnoxiously noisy, and the combination swing up units which look great but are too damned expensive. So, going 100% solar. The two panels I have been using for two seasons now seem to be enough power but that's NOT what my numbers say including power draw of SSB, VHF, computer, nav lights, cabin lights, water pumps, radar, depth gauge, anchor light, and plotter figured in. Figured max power draw (foggy, nav lights, everything on) to be around 1650 watt hours/day.
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19-04-2011, 18:05
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: daytona beach florida
Boat: csy 37
Posts: 2,976
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Re: Wind vs. Solar? Recommendations?
kyocera seems to be the most widely recommended solar panel. i have a 135 watt unit and it provides about half my daily usage but i'm a very light user. i think i would add a second panel if i had to really depend on 'free' energy, and even then i'm sure i would have to occasionally run the honda 1000 once in a while.
there are two liveaboards near me. one has both wind and solar and the other only has solar. both have to occasionally run their engines.
i'm trying to avoid windgens because they're too mechanical for me - solar is so maintenance free. but i don't deny that wind can provide power night and day.
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19-04-2011, 19:16
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#9
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CF Adviser
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: sausalito
Boat: 14 meter sloop
Posts: 7,260
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Re: Wind vs. Solar? Recommendations?
Quote:
Originally Posted by NatKat
Choosing one vs. combination of both?
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For me, a combination of both is the best bet. During Ventura's "June Gloom," you may feel the same way. Solar does not do well under the marine layer.
__________________
cruising is entirely about showing up--in boat shoes.
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19-04-2011, 19:27
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,959
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Re: Wind vs. Solar? Recommendations?
Solar only. Quiet. Reliable. When it gets cloudy and dark the refrigerator draws less so it all works out. Besides, if it's not sunny enough untie the docklines and sail to where it is.
Since I have no generator, or even an alternator right now, It's all solar here. Refrigeration, anchor windlass, starting, autopilot, computer, fans, SSB, everything.
Nice places to anchor don't have enough wind. Proper comfortable downwind crossings don't have enough apparent wind. That's my opinion anyway.
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19-04-2011, 19:53
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Cormorant Island, BC, Canada
Boat: Lancer 44 Motorsailer
Posts: 1,877
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Re: Wind vs. Solar? Recommendations?
I am in the same boat so to speak. I am leaning towards solar only as I find that the output from the wind gens is not high enough under low wind conditions. And the noise is also an issue. I plan on solar over 300 watts. I have a big empty cabin roof and have been waiting for the price to drop, which it has been happening.
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19-04-2011, 20:08
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Sai Kung, Hong Kong
Boat: FP Lavezzi 40 / Hatteras 48
Posts: 775
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Re: Wind vs. Solar? Recommendations?
We've opted for 340 watts of solar. We also have a diesel genset, so adding a wind vane is pointless. Our house bank is 630 AH and all main lighting is LED.
So much of your decision is dependent upon local conditions. We're in the tropics so winds are often light and solar is dependable. A boat in Scotland or NZ would probably produce a fair amount of power with wind. Finally, not all boats have the space to install lots of solar panels.
From my observations locally, fewer boats are fitting wind as solar gets cheaper and better: Most now obtain additional energy via high output alternators or a small Honda genset.
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19-04-2011, 20:27
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Sold the Full Moon in PR, now on St Simons Island, GA
Boat: Hunter, Deck Salon, 44, Fullmoon
Posts: 72
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Re: Wind vs. Solar? Recommendations?
I have been living on my boat in the U.S. and Britiish Virgin Islands for a year. We are Amp HOGS. I had 2 solar panels installed before we left the states. I plan to add a wind gen soon. I believe, based on my one year experience, that a combo is best. We have some wind everyday. I have to run the gen about two hours per day. That's my two cents worth.
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19-04-2011, 20:33
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Southern California...s/v Feral Cat Catalina 38' S&S design
Boat: Catalina 38' S&S design
Posts: 66
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Re: Wind vs. Solar? Recommendations?
If you can do both, do both... I am down in the OC on a mooring full time. Have not plugged into a dock line for over two years, beers are still ice cold!
I have both... Solar works great at 200w and an air breeze wind geny... When the sun is out the solar kicks @ss, around here it seems that when there is no sun there is usually wind... I went with a lower start-up wind due to lower average winds here in SO CA.
I would say around here the best bang for the buck is for sure solar, as bash has mentioned, the whole June gloom thing does get me a little jittery sometimes when the batteries get down in the 12.4 range...
Wind works great when at Catalina - Seems to blow real regular. Really cool when out sailing and using the auto and instruments... Bang the wind geny kicks in and poof full batteries!
Do both, you will be happy!
__________________
Wayne
= =
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19-04-2011, 21:35
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#15
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cat herder, extreme blacksheep
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: furycame alley , tropics, mexico for now
Boat: 1976 FORMOSA yankee clipper 41
Posts: 18,967
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Re: Wind vs. Solar? Recommendations?
no reason for either or--- use both.kali gets benefit of both wind and solar as do many other places most of the year.
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