Wind turbine practical in BC Coastal waters?

[senormechanico]

Years ago on another boat, I made the same mistake I see around the PNW almost daily when out sailing.


That mistake is, a wind generator mounted ABOVE and close by the solar panel array.
The effect, at least in the PNW is a greater loss of solar output because of shading from the wind generator than the output you get from the wind generator!


We sailed to Mexico before I finally admitted it to myself, so I removed the generator from the pole mount. This still gave me a bit of shading from the pole, but my solar output increased by a noticeable amount. About a week or so later, I chopped the pole off at panel height and the solar amount increased again.
We ditched the generator and never regretted it.
A side benefit, SILENCE !!

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by senormechanico

Years ago on another boat, I made the same mistake I see around the PNW almost daily when out sailing.


That mistake is, a wind generator mounted ABOVE and close by the solar panel array.
The effect, at least in the PNW is a greater loss of solar output because of shading from the wind generator than the output you get from the wind generator!


We sailed to Mexico before I finally admitted it to myself, so I removed the generator from the pole mount. This still gave me a bit of shading from the pole, but my solar output increased by a noticeable amount. About a week or so later, I chopped the pole off at panel height and the solar amount increased again.
We ditched the generator and never regretted it.
A side benefit, SILENCE !!

Your panels should be out on the amas. Little to no shading even from sails.
The advantage of a ketch customer is having me put one on top of the mizzen mast.

[senormechanico]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Your panels should be out on the amas. Little to no shading even from sails.
The advantage of a ketch customer is having me put one on top of the mizzen mast.

As I said in my other post, it was about our previous boat, a Lord Nelson 35.


On my current boat, a Dragonfly 1000, I have a 120 watt flexible on each ama, and three 120 watt flexible panels on the stern arch.
As you can see from the photos, you don't get a lot of wind in most anchorages when surrounded by mountains and hills.
Wind generators have their place, like in the Carribean, where it blows all day and night like clockwork. Around here, not so much.