wind generator

[powsmias]

anyone ever design a wind generator that can be raised by a halyard to a deck fitting instead of a pole? seems logical

[TrentePieds]

Raised by a halyard to WHAT, exactly?

TP

[jcapo]

Originally Posted by powsmias

anyone ever design a wind generator that can be raised by a halyard to a deck fitting instead of a pole? seems logical

Windbugger made a hoistable generator but they are long gone.

[Jim Cate]

Wind gens that were hoisted into the fore triangle were a common sight in the 80s. I made one using a surplus DC motor and a five foot timber blade and it worked very well, but was a big PITA to use and could be dangerous when getting it down in a squall.

Jim

[powsmias]

Originally Posted by TrentePieds

Raised by a halyard to WHAT, exactly?

TP

at an angle away from mast and secured to deck fitting

[TrentePieds]

Horizontal shaft? Vertical shaft? What magnitude of output at what wind velocity?

TP

[HeywoodJ]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Wind gens that were hoisted into the fore triangle were a common sight in the 80s....

Second that, used to be the only kind there was. Bigger swept area=more available power, but with the attendant dangers Jim mentions.



IIRC had a line to the headstay to keep it forward of the mast, harder to do with roller furling.

[Rohan]

I don't understand hoisting it with a halyard. you mean while you are anchored and sails are down?

The problem with monohulls is not much space to put a wind generator, and in the few spaces available it casts a shadow on solar panels.

I've often thought, what about a folding wind generator, that you could fold outwards from the sides of the boat after you left the marina? It couldn't be too low, or it would hit the water while heeling, but if it was high enough it could catch the wind without interfering with solar.