Wind Generators - Do All Serious Cruisers Have Them?

[Group9]

Originally Posted by stevewrye

We have done a lot of long distance cruising over the years places like S. Pacific. Over the years we have heard a few cruisers complain about noise and not in an angry manner about wind generators but never complain to those who have them.

The reason I think no one I have met has ever complained about the noise to those cruisers with noisy generators or wind generators is that most serious cruisers understand the importance of making power. We all live together in far off anchorages and know tolerance is an important part of the cruising community. Now I'm sure there are some who complain about the noisy portable gen set up on deck if it is getting late in the evening but again I see a lot of tolerance in such matters.

Sort of like complaining about people anchoring close by your boat. After awhile you get used to it because it is part of the cruising life.

Cheers

I agree. I'm not going to listen to that all night and day, but I don't care if someone else does unless they are right next to me. KC-135's are all I have (with a 4.5 kw genset when needed) and I'm happy.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Bash

Actually, I'm starting to suspect that proper installation has something to do with it.

I believe this!!!

[Astrid]

I'm with Don and Bash on this as well. Turbulent air going over the blades of the gen might not only make more noise, but would also be less efficient.

[Cheechako]

Although I had one, I dislike the noise in the anchorage of a large wind gen like a 4 winds etc. They can be more noisy than even a big powerboat gen set. The small ones are barely audible from what I can tell.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

And really guys, the hyperbole gets boring: if you really think that an Air-X is as loud as a Lear Jet taking off (which I have heard) or a Banshee screaming (which I have not heard) I question your experience! The Air-X can briefly get into blade flutter in sudden gusts before the internal regulator shuts it down, and that can indeed cause a very loud sound... but it lasts a couple of seconds and then vanishes as the blades slow down. That blade flutter is what earned the earlier 403 model its reputation as an extremely noisy device -- it did not have the internal shut-down mechanism.

Finally, I too await the news about the Silent Wind. While I find the Air-X a satisfactory device, I am certainly open to improvements for the future. Should I need to replace the blades on my Air-X I will likely pop for the much quieter and allegedly more efficient "Blue Blades", and should the whole thing die (as many of you seem to wish) I'll be looking at the whole market place for its replacement.

Cheers,

Jim

Sorry Jim. I'm responsible for the Banshee comment ... I meant the quiet kind .

Seriously though, point taken. It is a bit hyperbolic. That said, I have owned an Air-X for four years now, and it is loud (to my ears) when the wind gets up over 25 knots. Could be my installation is not as good as yours, but whatever the cause, I found it loud. Not worse than my little 1000 watt generator. Not worse than running the big diesel, but all those are loud to my ears.

I will definitely report back on my new Silent Wind. Heck, I'll even record it if you like. Unfortunately this will have to wait a few more months. Water is still very hard up here, and the new generator is still in the box -- too damn cold to be workng on the boat yet.

[mbianka]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Sorry Jim. I'm responsible for the Banshee comment ... I meant the quiet kind .

Seriously though, point taken. It is a bit hyperbolic. That said, I have owned an Air-X for four years now, and it is loud (to my ears) when the wind gets up over 25 knots. Could be my installation is not as good as yours, but whatever the cause, I found it loud. Not worse than my little 1000 watt generator. Not worse than running the big diesel, but all those are loud to my ears.

Mike:

I find the opposite to be true with my 48 volt Marine Air-X. There is a little noise up to one amp of current but, not it's overbearing. But, as the wind cranks up it goes very silent. I did replace the blades last year and do have the Air-x pole with vibration mounts installed so that may have something to do with it. But, I find it be a reliable unit and my dealings with Southwest Windpower customer service were excellent. I've been very happy with the unit for the past five years.

[deckofficer]

I think mounts are key to not using the deck as a sounding board.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

I think mounts are key to not using the deck as a sounding board.

Perhaps for noise perceived on board, but probably not for noise heard at a distance. At least, what the major detractors seem to complain about is the "whish,whish" sort of noise, and that is primarily an air flow/blade issue (I think!).

Cheers,

Jim

[barnakiel]

On the less noisy vane: Silent Wind, Rutland, D400, AeroGen, and the newer clones of Air- that use new design of the blade(s).

Probably many others, this is a well saturated market.

b.

[s/v Jedi]

I was just standing next to a D400 and all I heard was the banshee noise from the Air-X of the next boat.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

I was just standing next to a D400 and all I heard was the banshee noise from the Air-X of the next boat.

AAhhh, NIck, you poor mistreated bugger. Until the D-400 chaps come out with a WG as inexpensive and as light as the Air Marine models, I reckon that you are just gonna suffer these agonies.

From the description, it sounds like you were in a marina, and I do agree that one should turn off one's wind gen of ANY sort while in a marina environment.

Cheers,

Jim

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

AAhhh, NIck, you poor mistreated bugger. Until the D-400 chaps come out with a WG as inexpensive and as light as the Air Marine models, I reckon that you are just gonna suffer these agonies.

That's what I thought, people don't care about pollution (and windgen noise = pollution) when it touches their wallets. Even don't care about their neighbors.

The reason that quiet boats don't come complaining at noisy boats (windgen/ genset/ whatever) is that they try to be tolerant; it is not because they like the noise from their neighbor.



We spent some extra hard-earned cash on more solar panels and a genset that you can't hear running so that our neighbors can enjoy the anchorage too. It's often a choice.

[montenido]

Thanks everybody for the lively discussion. I am learning SO MUCH! I am going to go with solar only for now (with Hondas 2000 as back up).

Thanks again, such great information.

Cheers, Bill

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by montenido

Thanks everybody for the lively discussion. I am learning SO MUCH! I am going to go with solar only for now (with Hondas 2000 as back up).

Thanks again, such great information.

Cheers, Bill

Good choice Bill. This will be your only maintenance. This is how gulls return the favor of not being clunked in the head by a spinning turbine blade.

[IceDog]

Thanks for the good information on the thread. It has helped me to decide to go with all solar (and LifeP04 batteries) for my upcoming project.