Backstay Wind Generator Support

[Trim50]

It utilizes the Waltz radar leveling backstay structure for tortional stability. The parts are being fabricated this weekend and then getting anodized.

[captain465]

What keeps it from rotating around the backstay????

[George Elliott]

Looks interesting, but whatever is the Waltz stucture? How have you clamped it to the backstay and as the previous reader asked what keeps it from rotating the wire. I made a self leveling radar mount and discovered I had to drop a SS tube to the existing Air wind gen pole to control the wire rotating, not the mount turning on the wire. I've got a 2nd air unit, but could I stand the extra noise? Interesting idea, I'd like to learn more about it. Thanks George

[DeepFrz]

Could you post the engineering principals behind that? How about test data?

I would be afraid, very afraid, of being anywhere near that thing...

[Bash]

nooooooo! The AirBreeze turbine installation manual wants two support struts at a 90 degree angle. I tried to get away with a single horizontal strut attached to an arch, and the installation was not happy in 12-foot seas.

Your installation is going to be a lot less happy.

[Trim50]

If you look closely you will see that it is clamped to both the stay and the Waltz radar mounting pole to resist torsion just as the radar uses it. I also plan to bring two struts at 60 degrees down to the solar panel mounting structure not shown yet.

The idea is to place the wind genset at the centerline of the vessel so that it works equally on both port and starboard tacks.

It will make more sense once I have more engineering drawings completed.

[James S]

Looks to have some merit....like everyone else, I wonder about the torque on the pole it’s mounted to, and how the base of the pole is mounted to the boat.
Clamping to the pole alone, may not be enough.
I fabricated my gimbaled backstay radar mount...on the top I have a couple "horns" for the Sat phone and the GPS antenna....these "horns" are welded on.

[Trim50]

This might make it easier to understand...

[forsailbyowner]

I wonder what it will sound like when it gets humming? Possible harmonics with rigging? Not being a naysayer, just curious.

[Trim50]

The rubber vibration isolation mounts will hopefully reduce transfer of vibration to the stay.

[delmarrey]

So, what I assume you are mounting is a swivel over the back stay.


If the brackets are latched to the back stay, backstay's slightly twist under alternating tensions. I found that out mounting a MOB pole to a backstay.

But do let us know how it turns out, just curious too!

[Bash]

...by the second set of drawings.

I'm no engineer, but I can't help but wonder if a set of spectra guys might serve to stabilize the system in a storm.

[DeepFrz]

I'm not an engineer either and I'm not sure if you are or not, but I think you really need to have an engineering specialist look at this. The twin side supports surely will help but I think there will be some very large cyclic loads put on your backstay. Loads that your rigging was not designed to handle.

But as Del said, please let us know how it works out.

[Trim50]

Originally Posted by James S

Looks to have some merit....like everyone else, I wonder about the torque on the pole it’s mounted to, and how the base of the pole is mounted to the boat.
Clamping to the pole alone, may not be enough.
I fabricated my gimbaled backstay radar mount...on the top I have a couple "horns" for the Sat phone and the GPS antenna....these "horns" are welded on.

Nice fab job! I want the wind generator support to be serviceable so I want it to be free to slide down to a shoulder height by simply releasing the bolts on the two blocks.

Your signature says you live in Yemen...what do you do in Yemen?

[senormechanico]

I admire your imagination, but as drawn, I don't think it's going to stay in one piece in a seaway of any size. It's going to twist the mount right out of the deck, or find another way to destroy the mounts in another way. Imagine being in a beam sea of even 6 feet whether or not there's a lot of wind. The twist on the backstay tube is going to be immense. It's somehow got to have a couple of side stays, even if just small diameter line.

Steve B.