Wind Generator Recommendation

[nautical62]

I'm looking for recommendatons for a wind generator for a 30 foot sloop. I'm as concerened about quite operation and reliability as I am about efficinet power production. I'd also rather not spend a fortune as it's for part-time cruising.

[Vasco]

I've had a KISS for six years and am happy with it.

[Unicorn Dreams]

Had a KISS on the old boat, and have one on this boat

Just like Rick above, no problems..

And they are about the most quite unit out there..

[nautical62]

Thanks guys. I hadn't even heard of the Kiss.

[FraidNot]

My KISS is quite good - a bit of a heavy wind unit I think.
Takes 10+ kts apparent to do much. I think I see about 5 amps out at 12kts apparent, and 11 to 15 amps at 20 to 25kts apparent.

[YOGAO]

the top 5 (in no particular order):

SuperWind
KISS
AeroGen 6
D-400
Air-X (but only with the quiet replacement blades sold in Portugal)

Fair Winds,
Mike

[CharlieJ]

The top two in order:

SuperWind
.
.
.
KISS

The SuperWind is German engineering at its best and it is absolutely the quietest machine that I have been around. It is expensive.

Charlie

[Rhythmsmith]

Installed my D400 only a month ago, but so far I have been impressed with the quiet operation. Starts up in less wind than the Kiss on the boat next to us. Definitely avoid the AirX, I hear those things a mile away. I think the D400 is a little more expensive than the Kiss, but far less than the Superwind. Good luck!

[beau]

Forget wind generators and buy solar, there are more sunny days than there are windy days.
Particularly when you are anchored in a quiet bay or marina.
If you want a backup buy a petrol generator.

[surfmachine]

I agree beau, get at least 200 watts of sola panels, especially in the tropics, where there is not any wind!
Keith.

[maxingout]

I have two Aerogen 6 generators, and I am happy with them. They have been trouble free, and they provide nearly all the power for the yacht when I am in the trade winds.



I also had four solar panels that provided about fifty amp hours a day total when there was good sun.

We had four adults on board all using lots of electricity plus electric autopilot, refrigeration, fans, radios etc. The Aerogen 6 were excellent in the trade winds.

Here is an article I wrote on our Aerogens:

AEROGEN 6 WIND GENERATORS*** Before I set sail

[Zanshin]

I've had a D400 for two years now and am very happy with it. Very quiet and reliable. The only downside (for a 30-foot boat) is that it is a heavy piece of hardware.
http://www.sv-zanshin.com/D400.html

[Bucky205]

We have all 3 Solar, Wind and Honda EU 2000I. Favorite is the Honda, followed by solar then wind. Most of the wind turbines espescially Air-X overstated. You need 15+ knots to get anything meaningful. By the time they start making good power the wind is around 25 knots. Wind average output 1 to 2 amps. My 120 watt panel averages 2 to 7.5 Amps output most days. My Honda can do 70 amps. Morning routine crank generator, make coffee, watch a few minutes of TV if available, if not get on the SSB, charge batteries. This routine I get 5 or 6 days out of a gallon of gas. I know I am going to get slammed for carbon footprint. But not many people can claqim to use around 1 gallon of gas per week.

[NotQuiteLost]

My 350watt array averages about 100 amp hours daily, sometimes as much as 150, sometimes as little as 60, obviously depending on cloud cover.

If I had about a kilowatt of solar, I'd be sitting pretty. All the comforts of land on my floating condo I think I've got just enough room on the roof of the pilothouse to do it, too. Just need to raise the boom track about two inches and I'll get my main lines up and out of the way.

But as is, I've got an AIR-X wind generator, and I burned out the motherboard because I screwed up the initial installation. Just replaced it and wired the puppy up exactly as instructed this time. No wind yet, so have no idea how it'll do.

[boatman61]

Aerogen fan here..... all have given me the power needed 24/7