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Hydrogenerators – on test

If you’re planning to go long-distance cruising you’ll most likely be looking to fit one or more forms of power generation to avoid running your propulsion engine.

Thanks to modern alternator designs that offer increased power at lower rpm, hydro-generators are becoming a worthwhile investment for yachtsmen who regularly sail long passages. Yes, they do create a slight drag on the yacht under way, but only around 0.25kt or so, which is unlikely to worry most long-distance cruisers.

How do they work?

A hydro-generator has an impeller (reverse prop) that rotates when towed behind a yacht. That rotation is applied to an alternator, which produces AC power that is rectified to produce a DC charge for your batteries, in a similar way to a shore-powered battery charger.

Early models towed an impeller on a long line behind the boat, which was attached to an alternator on board. But their trailing impellers were often bitten off by large fish and they frequently tangled up when fouled or if not retrieved correctly. Current devices have an impeller attached to a submersible leg – not unlike an outboard motor.

Modern, brushless alternators with magnets have reduced turning resistance and increased efficiency, enabling them to produce more power at lower revs. A hydro-generator is an effective way to provide constant electrical charge over a long distance. On a 40ft yacht one of these can produce around 200Ah of charge every 24 hours at 6kt, which is enough to run most electrical items on board.

They also require little maintenance, other than weed clearance and periodic checking of the electrical connections.

Swi-Tec Hydrocharger

First this HG produced a high current flow, although not stable as it fluctuated considerably between readings. Hence the charge levels in our results table are derived from a mean between lowest and highest reading for each speed. The control box is liable to overheating, as the fan appears to be prone to failure. Our test team felt the box was more complicated than necessary.

Verdict 6/10

Watt & Sea

We tried the 600W model with the mid-range impeller as that was more compatible with the others on test. Although not as powerful as the Save Marine and Swi-TEC HGs at the lowest and highest speeds, at a typical cruising speed of between 5-6kt the output is strong and, importantly, stable.

We liked the ease of installation and straightforward operation, including the simple ‘plug-and-play’ charge controller.

Verdict 7/10

The SailGen is easy to mount and, having the heavy alternator at the boat end, is light and easy to deploy and lift. The dive plane idea works well and, though its real-time output is less than others, being always kept at the correct depth means its charge level is far more consistent.

Verdict 8/10

The output is a bit lower than SailGen’s, which itself is middle of the range in comparison with all the others, but having the 2-in-1 option of a wind generator could be a real bonus for those planning to make long passages then coastal cruise in windy areas such as the Trades.

Save Marine

We liked the lightness and ease of deployment of the Save device, especially the arm that kept the lines tidy and secure. We also thought the turbine design to be innovative, quiet and very efficient. Finally, we loved the idea of the remote monitoring on a smart device, especially as the charge controller is fully automatic so there are no switches to be flicked or audible alarms to listen out for.

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Everything you need to know about hydrogenerators

Sam Fortescue
December 13, 2023

Design developments have made hydrogenerators the most efficient form of sustainable auxiliary energy for yachts. Sam Fortescue reviews the latest innovations

The potential of hydrogeneration has been well understood for decades, but it’s only over the past 15 years that the idea has started to become properly commercialised. In essence, it’s a very simple concept: the boat’s motion through the water turns an alternator which generates electricity to recharge the onboard batteries.

‘Every yachtsman owns a sophisticated wind energy machine in the form of the yacht itself,’ explains Peter Andersen of Eclectic Energy, which manufactures the Sail-Gen and Duogen hydrogeneration systems. ‘Hydrogeneration provides a simple way of converting a small part of the power harnessed by the yacht’s sails directly into electricity.’

Because water is a much denser medium than air, a small hydrogenerator fitted to the transom of a yacht can potentially produce a great deal more energy than if a larger wind turbine was fitted to it.

‘Kinetic energy increases proportionally to the cube of the velocity,’ adds Andersen. ‘That means producing 300 amp-hours per day or more is a realistic prospect while cruising at 7-8 knots with a hydrogenerator fitted. And it’s the reason why more and more boat owners are now opting for water generation, although it’s still not as popular as it should be.’

By contrast, a tradewind run with a wind turbine might yield just 80 amp-hours per day, because the apparent wind on a run is lighter. Good performance might see 40W output from 10 knots apparent. Similarly, solar panels only produce a fraction of their rated output for most of the day, so you’d need a large array to match the return of a modern hydrogenerator.

A blend of all three will, of course, give the best outcome for different conditions at anchor and under way – but on passage, it’s hard to beat the benefits of a good hydrogenerator.

Watt&Sea’s hydrogenerator is a flexible option

Speed v drag

The speed versus drag issue has always dogged hydrogeneration technology, mainly because hydrogenerators only put out meaningful energy once a boat reaches speeds of five knots or more. However, the increasing use of hydrogenerators on the international offshore racing circuit has started putting paid to most of those concerns, with all manufacturers now agreeing that the extra drag of the impeller in the water is negligible. It also becomes non-existent once the boat reaches hull speed.

The main issue for cruising sailors is the boat speed required to obtain meaningful energy from a hydrogenerator, which is mostly a question of the diameter and pitch of the impeller. Just as you need to ensure that an auxiliary propeller is matched to both the power of the engine and the speed of the hull, so the impeller on a hydrogenerator must be correctly sized for the speed of your boat under sail and desired power output.

The pitch also needs to be set to offer the optimum angle of attack for the boat’s likely range of speed through the water. That’s why leading manufacturers offer a choice of impeller, or at least an adjustable one.

Hydrogeneration is the most efficient form of sustainable auxiliary energy for yachts

The Watt&Sea is the most flexible in this respect. Its two models (300W and 600W maximum output) can be equipped with a 240mm diameter impeller or a 280mm unit. The difference in output is striking: at five knots boat speed, the smaller one produces 100W, while the larger one can manage 120W. Over the course of a day, that amounts to an extra 40 amp-hours on a 12V system.

The smaller impeller has a maximum boat speed of 11 knots, which will be enough for most cruising monohulls. Only sporty catamarans would need to consider the smaller 200mm impeller with its 13-knot top speed. Faster than that and you’d need to look at a race model with a variable pitch.

Charging performance

Apart from price, the factors differentiating the various brands on the market are their charging performance and mounting system.

Eclectic Energy is the only manufacturer whose generators rectify the current on board to produce a DC output that can be wired directly to the batteries. This has the benefit of simplicity, but requires beefier cables running all the way from the generator to the batteries.

The Duo Gen hydrogenerator from Eclectic Energy

Watt&Sea’s hydrogenerator puts out a three-phase, low-amperage alternating current that runs through a DC converter. The converter monitors the battery voltage to determine whether it is in the higher power absorption phase or the lighter float phase of charging. After that, an electromagnetic brake stops the impeller if it’s spinning too fast and becoming dangerous.

Swi-Tec’s charge controller funnels all the power from the generator into the batteries until they reach a predetermined voltage. At this point, the MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) algorithm reduces the charge to nearly nothing, a buzzer sounds to alert the skipper and the impeller brakes itself automatically. It can then be changed to ‘freewheel’, allowing the propeller to rotate freely.

The Remoran is perhaps the most ambitious of all, with a charge controller that can automatically detect the system voltage and then apply a ‘smart charging algorithm’. It also interacts with a smartphone app via Bluetooth, allowing you to keep a close eye on its performance and power output.

A Sail Gen hydrogenerator mounted on a yacht’s transom

Mounting systems

While Watt&Sea supplies a pod-based system that can be permanently fitted under the hull, a removable transom fitting is still the most popular choice, allowing the unit to be removed and stowed when not in use. Alignment, though, will have a significant impact on a hydrogenerator’s performance, with the best results coming from a clean, clear flow of water. Manufacturers therefore recommend an offset mounting outside a direct line with the rudder.

There is a balance to be struck, however, as heeling can make one tack more productive than the other. On twin-rudder boats, a central mount works well.

Swi-Tec and Watt&Sea both offer an optional pivoting mount for fitting to a raked stern, while the Remoran has in-built pivoting as standard, using a spring-loaded knob to tab between different settings and offering a rake of up to 40 degrees. Watt&Sea also offers different leg lengths to suit different installations, while the Remoran Wave 3 has a telescopic leg that can be adjusted by over 30cm.

Watt&Sea unit with an optional pivot mounting for attaching to a raked stern

The Seagen and Duo-Gen take a very different approach to mounting, with a flexible yoke providing a single point of attachment. The alternator is attached at this end, while the impeller is at the end of a 1.6m tube which can be fastened out of the water in a vertical position when not in use. ‘It means the units are not rigidly attached to the yacht but are free to pivot,’ explains Eclectic Energy’s Peter Andersen. ‘This de-couples the impeller from the hull movement, reducing stress on the mounting.’

Main propeller regeneration

While a standalone transom-mounted unit is the most common type of hydrogenerator technology, there is another approach – using your main propeller to ‘regenerate’ electricity whilst under sail.

Oceanvolt’s HighPower ServoProp

Fully electric propulsion from the likes of Oceanvolt and Bell Marine has long had this capability built in, as do systems from Torqeedo and ePropulsion. But parallel hybrid systems are also available, where an electric motor is installed alongside the engine to both generate electricity and drive the boat electrically. Lynch Motors in Devon has been supplying its permanent magnet DC motors to the Vendée Globe boats for years, purely as a re-generator, and now produces the flexible Red Snapper motor for cruising yachts.

The only problem with a regeneration system is that the pitch required for the propeller to drive the boat efficiently through the water may not always be the same as the pitch for optimum regeneration. ‘The lift surface on a propeller is on the wrong side for efficient extraction of energy from the water,’ explains Eclectic Energy’s Andersen.

Manufacturers have tackled this in different ways. Oceanvolt has developed its ServoProp for saildrives, which electronically adjusts its pitch depending on speed and function. The latest incarnation allows total 360-degree blade mobility and faces forwards, which increases efficiency, albeit at greater risk of collision damage. At six knots, it produces an astounding 1kW of power.

Bruntons has another solution with the cleverly engineered Autoprop, which automatically pitches up to match the boat speed. Its Ecostar version of the prop can generate 200W at five knots and up to 1kW at 10 knots when connected to an electric motor.

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Marine Electrical Systems

Hydro Generators

Back in 1992, a friend of ours competed in the OSTAR (Observer Single-handed Transatlantic Race). Onboard electrical demands, especially from electronics, had recently grown, and he needed a charging source other than the engine. Marine wind generators were still unproven and solar panels were prohibitively expensive.

A group of us got together and bought for him a towed waterpowered generator for charging his batteries. He came back with good stories of how much electricity it produced—but alas, he lost the boat and generator 500 miles from the finish, so we never got a chance to try it ourselves.

The past decade has brought only greater demand for electrical power. That demand has made wind-powered generators commonplace and solar panel technology far less costly. In addition to the engine’s alternator, these are the most common charging sources for a boat at anchor or underway. However, we rarely hear anything about towed water-powered generators. Always on the prowl for alternative energy sources, we decided to try for ourselves a towed generator on a cruise from the US East Coast to Bermuda and back last summer.

HOW IT WORKS

The technology behind the towed generator is simple to understand. Its principle is very similar to the old Walker Log. As you sail, you tow behind the boat a spinning propeller on a long line that resists twisting. On the boat end of the line is a generator. As the boat moves through the water, the propeller spins, and the twist-resistant line transfers that spinning directly to the generator, which generates electricity. The faster the boat moves through the water, the more electricity is generated.

It’s worth remembering that it’s the movement of the boat through the water that turns the spinner, not the boat’s speed over the bottom. If a boat were anchored in a strong enough current with the towed generator behind, it could generate power. In this way, homesteaders living “off the grid” can make use of waterpowered generators if they live next to a fast-moving stream.

For more information on hydro generators, purchase Marine Electrical Systems, Vol. 4: Alternative Energy . Or, buy the entire Marine Electrical Systems six-part series!

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The World's First Hydrogen-Powered Superyacht Has a $644 Million Price Tag

By Nick Mafi

Superyachts seemed to be among the last modes of (luxe) transportation to bend toward the growing consumer demand for eco-friendly engine designs. But if news from last week’s Monaco Yacht Show served as a bellwether, the industry meant to cater to the wealthiest among us made a progressive splash with the unveiling of Aqua, the world's first hydrogen-powered superyacht.

Designed by the Dutch firm Sinot Yacht & Architecture Design, Aqua is a nearly 400-foot-long vessel that's run entirely by a renewable energy source. "Water is the eternal fuel of life, the life-sustaining force that makes planet Earth habitable," says Sander Sinot, founder of the firm that bears his name. "Water is soft, yet at the same time it cuts through hard rocks." It was this appreciation of water that helped the firm find balance between the natural world and the technological. The propulsion system is made up of two 28-ton vacuumed tanks that each contain liquified hydrogen which are stored at -423 degrees Fahrenheit. Along with being eco-friendly, hydrogen-based energy means for a quieter experience aboard the ship in comparison to traditional engines. That said, there will be backup diesel generators handy should the captain ever need them.

The infinity pool aboard AQUA.

There was much confusion on Monday if there was already a buyer who had paid the hefty $644 million price tag. Reports spread throughout the internet that billionaire Bill Gates had purchased the superyacht, rumors that proved to be false. Yet readers couldn't be blamed for believing such reports, as images show Aqua to include its own infinity pool, helipad, spa, and gym—amenities meant to attract billionaires such as Gates.

An aerial view of the superyacht shows how close passengers can get to the water, as well as the cascading design of the infinity pool.

Sinot and his team designed the vessel to safely bring passengers as close to the water as possible. "Water is relaxation; it makes us calmer and more creative," Sinot comments. "We wanted to provide those on board with the closest possible proximity to the water. The aft deck features an innovative series of platforms cascading down towards the sea, while a large swim platform allows all passengers to enjoy the optimal experience of accessing the water at sea level."

One of the bedrooms inside of Aqua shows a minimalist aesthetic.

Aqua can reach speeds of up to 19.5 mph and features enough room for 14 guests and 31 crew members. The firm plans to complete the vessel by 2024.

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Watt&Sea Hydrogenerator

The principle is simple: using the speed of the boat to turn an immersed propeller and produce electricity.

Explore the watt&sea website or contact us to learn more.

In 2015 we became a dealer for Watt&Sea Hydrogenerators for Canada and the USA – and our customers elsewhere in the world. A green product that is very much in line with our high standard of quality and engineering, the Watt&Sea is, like the Hydrovane, of huge value to the offshore cruiser. I can’t wait to mount one on our Hydrovane! – Will Curry

HOT SEAT WITH WILl & RICHARD

10 Reasons to choose Watt&Sea

High electric output – 24 Amps at 7.5 knots of boat speed
Negligible drag because of leg and blade shape
A source of free green power
No need to run the engine to charge: saving in fuel consumption
Completely quiet
Lightweight
Easy to install, especially with the Hydrovane bracket
Maintenance-free
Has a sleek design and look… just like the Hydrovane!
Designed and manufactured by top racers and engineers in France

Mount the Watt&Sea on your Hydrovane

Install your Watt&Sea in the perfect position – attached onto the Hydrovane shaft.

This unique installation, exclusive to Hydrovane owners, means no extra holes in the transom and allows easy use and removal of the Watt&Sea.

See the Galleries section for photos.

Watt&Sea Frequently Asked Questions

Which model, leg, and propeller size is best for me.

Please email Richard with your boat type, a photo of the transom, average cruising speed, and shipping location. He can provide further information, answer any questions, and send a complete quote.

How does the it integrate into my charging system?

The Watt&Sea comes standard with its own converter and MPPT charge controller to hook directly to your batteries or central bus. The system is plug-and-play and compatible with any existing infrastructure.

What type of batteries can it charge?

The system is compatible with any type of batteries including lead-acid, AGM, and Lithium. If needed, charging and float voltages can be manually set via the Bluetooth app.

What speed loss is to be expected?

Watt&Sea doesn’t have any specific data on the effective drag of the device, or about the speed loss it generates. All immersion and lifting trials at constant speed have not shown any substantial difference on the speedometer for a loaded cruising boat. Testimonials back this up.

Can I replace the propeller?

Yes, replacing the propeller is simple and only requires an allen wrench and an extractor screw.

How should I maintain the device?

Wash down the outside with fresh water from time to time. The device does not require any specific maintenance.

What is the anti-corrosion treatment?

The aluminum parts are anodized, and coated with paint. They are also electrically insulated from the other metallic parts to prevent electrolytic corrosion.

How reliable is the system?

The Watt&Sea has been designed with the latest technology. All metal parts are made either in specially treated aluminum or in 316 stainless steel.

The generator housing is sealed with hi-tech ceramic-carbon gaskets. These gaskets have a lifetime of several thousands of hours and will painlessly support a circumnavigation.

The housing is filled with a lubricating oil and slightly pressured to prevent any water seepage.

In addition, the alternator is immersed in a resin that encapsulates electrical conductors. Should any dampness occur, the electric parts would not be damaged.

Overall, the system is impeccably designed and built – and is therefore highly reliable.

What power output can I expect?

The power generated increases exponentially as boat speed increases. At 5 knots, the output power is about 120W (or about 10A on a 12V battery) with the 280mm propeller. At 8 knots, the system produces 4 times more power, i.e. 480W (about 40A in 12V ). The output may differ depending on sea conditions.

Contact us to learn more!

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Fountaine Pajot multihull builder will introduce the first hydrogen generator aboard a small yacht on its Samana 59

Fountaine Pajot will be the first shipyard to integrate hydrogen as an alternative energy solution on its catamarans. The French builder said that, as part of its Odyssea 2024 plan, it has chosen EODev’s hydrogen generator, REXH2, to power its Samana 59 sailing multihull. Equipped with the latest-generation Toyota fuel cells, the generator is designed to perform in harsh maritime environments.

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The benefits of using hydro generators for your boat's electrical needs

Discover the benefits of using hydro generators for your boat's electrical needs and how they can help you reduce your reliance on fossil fuels while sailing the open sea.

The Benefits of Using Hydro Generators for Your Boat’s Electrical Needs

As you embark on your sailing adventure, leaving the rat race behind and embracing the open sea, it’s essential to consider the environmental impact of your new lifestyle. One crucial aspect of this is the energy source you choose to power your boat’s electrical needs. In this article, we will explore the benefits of using hydro generators as a clean energy option for your boat.

Introduction to hydro generators, how hydro generators work, environmental benefits, economic benefits, practical benefits, choosing the right hydro generator for your boat, installation and maintenance.

Hydro generators, also known as water turbines or marine hydro generators, are devices that convert the kinetic energy of water into electrical energy. They are an increasingly popular choice for sailors who want to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and embrace a more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Hydro generators are particularly well-suited for sailboats, as they can harness the power of the water that flows past the boat’s hull while it’s underway. This means that you can generate electricity while you’re sailing, without the need for additional fuel or the noise and pollution associated with traditional diesel generators.

A hydro generator consists of a turbine, which is submerged in the water and connected to the boat’s electrical system. As the boat moves through the water, the flow of water past the turbine causes it to spin, generating electricity.

The amount of electricity generated depends on several factors, including the speed of the boat, the size and design of the turbine, and the efficiency of the generator. In general, the faster the boat is moving, the more electricity the hydro generator will produce.

Most hydro generators are designed to be easily deployed and retracted, allowing you to use them only when needed and stow them away when not in use. This is particularly useful for sailboats, as it means you can generate electricity while you’re sailing and retract the generator when you’re at anchor or in a marina.

The Benefits of Hydro Generators

There are several key benefits to using a hydro generator as your boat’s primary source of electrical power. These can be broadly categorized into environmental, economic, and practical benefits.

One of the main reasons sailors choose hydro generators is their environmental credentials. By harnessing the power of the water, hydro generators produce clean, renewable energy that doesn’t rely on fossil fuels or produce harmful emissions.

This is particularly important for those who are embracing the sailing lifestyle as a way to escape the rat race and live in harmony with nature. By choosing a hydro generator, you can significantly reduce your boat’s carbon footprint and contribute to the global effort to combat climate change.

Additionally, hydro generators are quiet and unobtrusive, meaning they won’t disturb the tranquility of your surroundings or the marine life that shares the ocean with you.

While the initial cost of a hydro generator can be relatively high, the long-term savings can be significant. Once installed, a hydro generator will produce electricity for free, meaning you won’t need to spend money on fuel for a traditional generator or shore power when you’re in a marina.

Over time, these savings can add up, making a hydro generator a sound investment for those who plan to spend a significant amount of time living aboard their boat.

Hydro generators offer several practical benefits for sailors. Firstly, they are a reliable source of power, as they can generate electricity whenever the boat is moving. This means you won’t need to worry about running out of power when you’re far from shore or in the middle of a long passage.

Secondly, hydro generators are generally low-maintenance and easy to use. Most models can be deployed and retracted with minimal effort, and they require little ongoing maintenance beyond regular inspections and occasional cleaning.

Finally, hydro generators are a space-saving solution, as they don’t require the storage of fuel or the installation of large, bulky equipment. This is particularly important for sailboats, where space is often at a premium.

When selecting a hydro generator for your boat, there are several factors to consider. These include:

Boat size and type : The size and design of your boat will influence the type of hydro generator that’s best suited to your needs. Smaller boats may require a more compact generator, while larger boats may need a more powerful model to meet their electrical demands.

Electrical requirements : Consider your boat’s electrical needs, including the power consumption of your onboard appliances and devices. This will help you determine the size and output of the hydro generator you require.

Sailing habits : Think about how and where you plan to sail. If you’ll be spending a lot of time in calm waters or at anchor, a hydro generator may not be the most efficient choice, as it relies on the boat’s movement to generate power. In this case, you may want to consider other clean energy options, such as solar panels or wind turbines.

Budget : Finally, consider your budget. While hydro generators can offer long-term savings, the initial cost can be high. Be sure to factor this into your decision-making process.

Installing a hydro generator on your boat typically involves mounting the turbine on the transom or another suitable location, connecting it to your boat’s electrical system, and ensuring it can be easily deployed and retracted.

While the installation process can be complex, many sailors choose to tackle it themselves, following the manufacturer’s instructions and seeking advice from online forums and fellow sailors. Alternatively, you can enlist the help of a professional marine electrician or boatyard.

Once installed, hydro generators require relatively little maintenance. Regular inspections and occasional cleaning are usually sufficient to keep the generator running smoothly. Be sure to consult the manufacturer’s guidelines for specific maintenance advice and recommendations.

Embracing the sailing lifestyle is a fantastic way to escape the rat race, explore the world, and spend quality time with your family. By choosing a hydro generator as your boat’s primary source of electrical power, you can also make a positive impact on the environment and enjoy the many benefits of clean, renewable energy.

With their environmental, economic, and practical advantages, hydro generators are an excellent choice for sailors who want to live in harmony with nature and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. By carefully considering your boat’s needs and selecting the right hydro generator, you can enjoy a sustainable and fulfilling sailing adventure.

Attainable Adventure Cruising

The Offshore Voyaging Reference Site

A Coastal Cruiser Reviews A Watt & Sea Hydrogenerator

Back in 2017, we published a detailed review of the Watt & Sea hydrogenerator by Andy Schell of 59 North .

But Andy’s sailing is almost exclusively multi-day offshore passages, very different from the coastal cruising, perhaps with an occasional longer passage, that most of us do.

So does the Watt & Sea make sense for the latter usage and, if so, how does it fit into an overall electrical storage and generation plan?

To find out I video-interviewed our friend Ed Sitver, who installed a Watt & Sea two years ago on his J/42 that he lives aboard, while ranging from the Bahamas to Newfoundland.

We discussed:

Installation
Deployment and retrieval
How the Watt & Sea fits into his overall energy plan

It’s a longish interview at 19 minutes, even after I edited it, but well worth your time.

Even if you have never considered a Watt & Sea, you may be surprised by how compelling Ed’s case is.

That said, Ed also shares why the Watt & Sea would be a waste of money for many cruisers, so watching this could also save you a bundle.

This is an honest evaluation from a thinking guy, not a fan-boy video.

In a couple of days, we will publish my detailed analysis of Ed and Andy’s experiences, including how to decide if a Watt & Sea is right for each of us.

Given that, I have published this article with the comments closed, since it will make more sense to have all AAC wisdom in one place on the analysis article, which will be part of our Electrical Systems Online Book .

Here’s the video, and below that, an added comment from Ed:

Ed texted the following a couple of days after we shot the video:

One thing I could have mentioned about the W&S is that it does need to be tended to, or at least listened for. I don’t see a way to hook up audible alarms to a system via software, but the W&S will hum contentedly when producing energy, it will growl annoyingly when not producing properly (I’ve seen it referred to as a roar), and it will go silent or set up a loud vibration when seaweed or other detritus is caught in the prop. Sailing through a bunch of sargasso is not going to be productive.

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Noiseless, highly efficient hydro-generator from Watt & Sea

Propulsion Systems for Monohull

The silence of an Oceanvolt electric propulsion is a skipper's dream. Whether quietly maneuvering through a harbor or motor-sailing on low-wind days to create your own apparent wind, our electric solutions will enhance and extend your sailing enjoyment.

Oceanvolt offers Hybrid or Electric systems as a power & propulsion option in partnership with many leading monohull boat builders - adding new partners continuously. We also offer repowering solutions for converting away from legacy diesel engines – removing the diesel engine, fuel tanks and exhaust system - cleaning up greasy, smelly engine compartments and freeing up both weight and space below deck.

Oceanvolt systems are scaled and configured to achieve maximum efficiency - taking into consideration boat length, beam and displacement as well as system weight and placement within the boat. Range, beyond battery capacity, is extended through hydro generation while sailing above 6kn. This can be complemented with either a portable AC generator or a DC generator (in larger boats or for long distance cruising).

All Oceanvolt systems are engineered to operate at 48 volts for passenger safety and ease of repair. Oceanvolt systems are extremely low maintenance and do not require winterizing (no annual engine maintenance/storage costs).

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Sailboat Wind Generators: The Ultimate Guide 2024

Sailboat wind generators are a way to capture the energy of the wind and use it to charge your batteries and power electronics aboard your vessel.

A large part of the appeal of living on a sailboat, for many people, is being more or less self-sufficient – using the wind for propulsion, and the elements to generate all the power you need.

Solar panels are a wonderful technology, literally magic, but the sun doesn’t shine every day. In fact, of the most popular cruising grounds in the world aren’t even that sunny. It rains three to four days a week in Barbados or Antigua, for example (don’t even get us started on the English Channel).

And what about night sailing – keeping critical loads like autopilots and instruments online after the sun goes down?

A marine wind generator fills in those vital gaps in the energy picture, and eliminates the need to generate or run the engines to keep your electronics online.

In this expert guide we take a deep dive into sailboat wind generators, covering everything you need to know – from how they work through to the very latest technological advances.

With thousands and thousands of miles under the keel, we have lived off-grid using technologies just like this for almost a decade now. We’ve rewired more boats than anyone should ever have to. We’re marine electronics nerds, basically, and specifically very passionate about renewables like wind and solar.

That’s why we couldn’t wait to write about this topic, and why you’ve got a good 4000 words on it! Sorry about that! But feel free to skip and just read the information you’re interested in, we don’t blame you!

So, let’s take a close look at sailboat wind generators, how they work, what makes a good one, the best sailboat wind generators that we think deserve a place on your next nautical expedition.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We also earn from other affiliate programs. This means we may receive a small commission on products purchased through our links at no extra cost to you.

The best sailboat wind generators – best budget choice, the best sailboat wind generators – best overall, what is a sailboat wind generator, why install a wind generator on a sailboat, wind generators vs solar power.

What is a dump load on a marine wind generator ?
Marine wind generators vs hydro generators

Our top budget choice: Nature Power 500

If you are in the US, the choice for the best budget marine wind generator is easy – it’s this guy , the Nature Power 500, which West Marine have sold for donkey’s years with eternally solid reviews.

It’s a 500-watt turbine that is natively compatible with both 12V and 24VDC systems. It’s made from marine-grade aluminium that’s also coated in a thick, durable coating to help it withstand years at sea.

This wind generator is rated for winds up to 110mph – well into hurricane territory – and it comes as a complete kit including a charge controller using the latest MPPT technology. The controller even has an electronic brake, even though it’s a manual one.

Honestly, this is just a lot of value for the ~$700 they’re asking, and very easy to recommend for the best budget sailboat wind generator.

We don’t massively recommend most of the budget options on Amazon for extended cruising – they’re just not built for the task. But if it’s all your budget will stretch to, something like a Pikasola 400 would be the best bet for a sailboat wind generator under $500.

Readers in the UK or Europe could look at something like a Rutl and 914i . You’ll pay a little more, around £850, but a Rutland is a proper piece of kit – they’re been manufacturing marine wind generators since the 1970’s, long before solar panels were even seen on pleasure yachts.

The 914i will produce about 260 watts in 30 knots of breeze, or 20+ amps into a 12-volt battery. In a hurricane it’ll make over 400 watts.

This is a genuine marine wind turbine built from quality parts and specifically designed for the aggressive saltwater environment. It comes with very few compromises, from the bundled MPPT tracker to its extremely quiet operation.

The charge controller supports a small solar panel as well, which is sort of nice – but we’d highly recommend using a top-quality, stand-alone MPPT charge controller for any solar panels if you can possibly afford it.

If you are in Europe, or can import, we think the Silentwind Pro is probably the best sailboat wind generator you can buy right now. This is with the caveat that while we’ve seen these installed on lots of different yachts, talked to multiple long-term owners, and even handled one out of the box, we’ve never actually owned one.

That’s because they start at about €2,100, which is a considerable sum for a 420w wind generator. But what you do get is an incredibly refined package – one that picks up and starts generating with as little as four knots of breeze, and remains whisper-quiet right up into the high RPMs.

The Silentwind Pro uses hand-laminated carbon blades that are rated to withstand hurricane-speed winds, but that are also highly efficient across the curve. This is definitely one of the most engineered solutions on the market today.

The polished package is rounded out by features like an automatic electronic brake that kicks in if the wind exceeds a certain speed. Cheaper options may have an electronic brake but it generally has to be tripped manually by the crew.

Models without an electronic brake of any kind are frankly dangerous, because you have to lasso them to stop them – which is how the gentleman broke his arm, and wind generator, in the earlier example.

Other than Silent Wind, there are a few slightly cheaper options that are still very good. For readers in the US, one option made locally is the Air Silent X made by Primus Wind Power. We don’t have as much experience with these, but we have met a couple of happy owners and have heard similar things to Silentwind.

Primus claim they have the bestselling wind turbines anywhere in the world; we’re not sure about that given that Marlec / Rutland have been around nearly two decades longer, but either way their site states they’ve sold more than 150,000 wind generators since ’95, into over a hundred countries.

Primus make six different models at different price points that are all potentially worthy of consideration, but the Air X Silent or Air Breeze are both solid choices.

Rutland wind generators also remain easy to recommend across the board, particularly to readers in the UK and Europe, and a premium option would be something like a Rutland 1200 .

At around £1,500, or $1900, the Rutland 1200 can produce up to 480W flat out, and will hit 300W in only 20 knots or so of breeze. It’s a proper marinized unit built to withstand the rigours of life at sea, and that should provide years of low-maintenance service.

A sailboat wind generator, also known as a marine wind turbine or wind charger, is a device for capturing wind energy and turning it into electricity.

Sailboat wind generators typically have 3 or more long, aerodynamic rotor blades attached to a central hub. The blades translate wind energy into rotational force and spin the hub, sometimes at near-supersonic speeds .

The hub is attached to an electrical generator – a lot like the alternator on an engine – that generates electricity as it spins.

A wind turbine is an electrical fan operating in reverse. The fan takes electricity and uses it to spin a motor, attached to a hub and some blades, creating wind.

A wind turbine takes wind energy and uses it to spin a hub attached to generator, creating electricity.

You can actually just spin any DC motor to generate electricity , but it helps a lot if you pick one that generates the flavour of electricity you’re after.

Brushed motors are appropriate for generating DC, whereas a brushless motor is better suited to AC voltage applications.

A handful of marine wind turbines, mostly older ones, do use a brushed motor set up to produce a voltage that can directly charge a 12 volt or 24-volt battery.

Brushed motors are called that because they literally have a core of metal brushes that drags along inside outer, magnetic stator. Those brushes wear out over time and need to be replaced. They’re in something like a starter motor that works intermittently, but putting them in wind generators was always a bad idea.

They’re also noisy – which is a major consideration in a device that is going to run overnight, above your head, while you sleep, every night.

Brushless motors have so many advantages over brushed, from their efficiency to their lifespan to their reduced mechanical noise. As such, most wind generators produce AC electricity and then rectify it to DC at the regulator in order to charge the battery bank.

This means you will normally have three wires leading from the wind generator on your sailboat to the charge controller. It also means you definitely don’t want to connect those wires, carrying AC electric, to your DC battery bank, without passing them through the charge controller first.

Wind generators offer a lot of advantages – notably the ability to work day and night, and in both sunny and stormy weather.

Solar panels are great, but they only work during the day – and on sunny days, at that. They’re also affected a lot by the seasons, because in winter there are both less hours of daylight, and the sun is lower in the sky, its rays have to travel further and they strike the panel at an oblique angle. And, it’s cloudy or rainy nearly every day.

Regardless of season, as we’ve explored earlier in this guide, some of the most popular sailing destinations don’t actually have reliable sunshine – but all of them have reliable wind.

Not so with sailboat wind turbines, which work just as well on sunny days as stormy. They often generate even more power in winter, on days when solar might be producing at 10% or less.

This effect makes wind generators a big enabling technology for grey-weather sailing, from extending your sailing on into the “shoulder season” and benefitting from empty bays and anchorages, to exploring unconventional cruising grounds such as the Scandinavian fjords.

Besides stormy and overcast days, wind generators will keep on producing at night. This is particularly helpful when night sailing with the radar, AIS and full nav suite running, maybe plus an autopilot, and then all your domestic loads like your fridge and freezer. Even if you’re just at anchor, it’s nice to wake up with topped-off batteries every morning.

This doesn’t apply if you have a modern boat with ample battery storage, but when we were just getting started in sailing, we would frequently have half-flat batteries by morning.

Not only does this shorten the life of the bank, it occasionally even meant we struggled to pick up the hook in the morning – which is a bit of a safety hazard. Again, this is mitigated by wind.

None of this is to say that you should ditch solar power for wind. Solar power has many wonderful properties, explored below, and the two technologies actually complement each other very well. If you have a large enough vessel, we fully recommend you try to integrate both into your power plan.

Wind and solar are both very useful technologies to the cruising sailor, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Their pros and cons in fact offset each other and synergise quite nicely, compensating for each other’s weaknesses.

As such, we’d argue it’s less about deciding which is better, and more about figuring out whether you can incorporate both into your power plan somehow.

Nonetheless, let’s have a look at how solar power and wind generators compare and contrast, and some of the pros and cons of each technology.

Advantages of solar power vs wind power

Solar power’s major advantage over wind is that it’s “solid state”. This means it has no moving parts to wear out, and requires almost no maintenance.

In fact, solar panels will generally sit and faithfully do their thing decade after decade with almost zero human interaction. A common standard nowadays is for panels to retain 90% of their producing power after 20 years .

There’s a 10kW solar array in Switzerland that’s been feeding directly into the grid since 1982; it’s over 40 years old and going strong.

Solar panels benefit from wiping down once or twice a year, but other than that, they’re a totally set-and-forget technology.

Many sailing destinations have ample sunshine, with long hours of direct sun throughout the sailing season.

Solar is also cheap and plentiful nowadays, and panels come in all shapes and sizes that can fit almost anywhere on a yacht – including a handful of solar panels you can walk on, although those are not cheap.

Overall, though, solar is much cheaper than wind watt-for-watt. You might pay $0.50 per watt for a good rigid polycrystalline solar panel and charge controller. A wind generator may well run to $2000 for 400w – that’s $5 per watt, up to ten times more expensive. And the wind generator has moving parts that can require replacement.

Another often overlooked advantage of solar panels is that their solid-state nature makes them very safe – there are no moving parts to catch a finger in, or spinning blades that could strike a member of the crew. They just sit and silently do their thing, year after year.

Disadvantages of solar power vs wind power

Solar only works when the sun shines. The sun, as we’ve pointed out earlier, doesn’t always shine. You might be surprised by how cloudy places like the Caribbean can be – some islands have rain up to 50% of the time.

Some popular sailing destinations, like the English Channel, average about two hours of sunshine per day, with rain or overcast skies on 75% of days annually ( no, seriously ).

There’s always night sailing, as well. If you’re night-sailing, you may well have tools like radar and AIS running for safety, plus other loads like an autopilot and anything like fridges and freezers running below.

If you only have solar power, and no wind, you may have to run the engine to make it through the night – or invest in a large battery bank that can keep up until morning.

Marine wind generators are an excellent way to bridge the gap. It can be windy at any time of the day or night, and very often the cloudy or stormy days are the windiest. It’s only sunny during the day, and only some days, so this is a major disadvantage of solar power when compared to wind.

Another disadvantage of solar panels is that they lose power quite dramatically when shaded, and sailboats unfortunately have a lot of tall, shade-casting objects. These include the mast, the boom, the sails and anything like radar or Starlink dishes .

Somewhat paradoxically, solar panels also lose power as they get hot in the sun, meaning the normal, everyday conditions in many exotic destinations can actually reduce their efficiency by double-digit percentages. They are happiest somewhere cold with lots of sun, like on top of a mountain – not in the tropics.

Advantages of wind power over solar power

The wind doesn’t rise and set like the sun – it can blow around the clock. Okay, technically, the sun rising and setting down does change the temperature and create all the wind on earth.

But the wind often continues after the sun goes down. In fact, when you’re on a boat, on the water next to land, the wind usually just reverses at night .

It’s often windy on the water on sunny days because all wind is caused by pressure flowing from high to low, and the main source of those differing areas of pressure is heat from the sun – particularly, say, where the adjacent land and water heat up at different rates.

That’s how wind is made on sunny days. But it’s often windy on non-sunny days, too, because it’s just about air rushing between those areas of high and low pressure, hot and cold air. As such, cold fronts can bring wind too.

This makes wind somewhat more of an always-on technology than solar – especially in the places that sailing boats are found. There is usually wind offshore, and often in the anchorages too as it rolls off the hills . In some parts of the world, such as those affected by the Greek Meltemi , it blows straight 30’s weeks on end.

Overall, sailing boats are just usually found in places with abundant wind energy, so there’s a lot of synergy between sailing boats and wind generators. And we’ve pointed out, many exotic sailing destinations in the world have more wind than sun, and that’s before we get started on sailing somewhere like Scandinavia.

A wind generator has a small footprint compared to a solar panel, although it does need a large exclusion zone around it for safety. Wind generators are sometimes mounted up the mast, but we don’t generally advise putting a large, pendulum-like weight at the end of a 50-foot-long lever arm if you can avoid it as it may negatively impact the motion of your boat.

Disadvantages of wind vs solar power

Wind generators do have some drawbacks compared to solar. The obvious one is that they have moving parts, which both present a hazard to the crew and require replacement or regular maintenance.

The worst-case scenario is a crewmember being struck by the blades. The tips of something like a Silentwind Pro can spin nearly a hundred times a second and get close to breaking the sound barrier.

Here’s an example of where someone accidentally clipped their arm on a sailboat wind generator and it both shattered their arm and sent the turbine blade flying across the cockpit. The author notes that they had also seen the wind generator explode a seagull prior to this incident.

Much of this is mitigated by putting the wind generator outboard and features like electronic brakes, so you don’t need to stop it with your right ulna as the gentleman above did. The upshot is that wind turbines are dangerous in a way that solar panels are not.

The constant motion also generates wear and tear. It used to be worse, back when we used brushed DC motors – but the bearings in brushless motors do eventually wear out too, and they benefit from regular greasing a bit like your winches. It’s just an extra thing to maintain.

It can be too windy for wind generators, too. It can’t be too sunny for solar panels (although it can be too hot). Many modern, top-end marine wind turbines have that electronic brake built in to compensate for this, but you still have to shut down and stop producing when it blows a gale.

Another disadvantage of wind is that it’s really expensive compared to solar on a watt-for-watt basis. Good polycrystalline panels paired with a brand-name MPPT controller might come to $0.50 a watt at the time of writing, while a leading wind generator works out at $5.00 per watt.

This is compounded by the fact that wind does often produce on quite a concave power curve. That is to say, you need a fair amount of wind to produce anything at all, and probably need gusts into the 30-knot range to start to see your rated wattage.

Another often-overlooked point is that if you’re sailing downwind, you are robbing the wind generator of air. If you are sailing downwind in 15kts of breeze, making 7kts, the apparent wind speed at the generator is only 8kts – which might not even be enough to start generating.

Finally, wind generators can be noisy. Again, brushless motors have helped with this significantly, but there is still the rushing of the air over the blades, and any eccentricity in the bearings or blades will send maddening, resonant tremors down the pole and directly into your sleeping quarters at all hours of the night.

The latest wind generators make use of things like acoustic decoupling, a fancy term for having a rubber dampener between the end of the pole and the deck, to mitigate this.

What is a dump load on a wind generator?

A dump load , also called a dummy load or diversion load, is something used in wind power to get rid of excess power when the batteries are fully charged.

One of the small downsides of a power source that runs night and day is the potential to oversupply electricity and overcharge the battery bank.

As an electrical generator supplies more and more power, it gets stiffer and stiffer to turn. The power has to come from somewhere, and it’s felt as resistance – producing a braking effect.

If you suddenly take that braking effect away by disconnecting the battery bank, the wind turbine will start spinning at very high speed, causing anything from rapid and excessive wear on the bearings through to a catastrophic failure where the blades shear off at supersonic speeds.

In order to prevent this from happening, the charge controller has the option to switch between charging the battery and supplying power to a dump load .

The dump load can simply be a big resistor. It will heat up as the wind generator spins on, and safely apply a brake to it by literally just wasting power as heat.

You can probably guess where this is going. Another option is to use an element specifically designed to heat up, and use it to heat water. You can easily buy DC immersion water heater elements for $20-30 , connect them in the place of the dump resistor and use them to make hot water with the excess power instead.

We’ve often daydreamed about using it to make ice or run a teeny tiny aircon unit as well.

Some of the top-end sailboat wind generators will automatically apply an electronic brake and safely stop the blades when the bank is full, and it varies from model to model whether they simply have that as an option, or it replaces the dump load entirely (including useful ones, like making hot water).

Do not be tempted to use the dump load to charge a second battery, such as a starter battery, when the first bank is full. If you do, you will encounter problems once the second battery is full and the turbine starts to freewheel.

If you do want to charge several banks at once, or one after the other, you want a split charger connected to the main charging output instead, and a highly resistive load that can run indefinitely on the dump load output.

Marine wind generators vs hydro generators

Hydro generators are another way of capturing the energy of the wind and turning it into electricity. But instead of capturing the flow of air, a hydro generator is dragged through the water behind a boat under sail.

The elephant in the room here is that a hydro generator is only going to work when the boat is in motion. A wind generator, on the other hand, keeps on producing while you swing around at anchor.

The average cruiser spends around 90% of their time either at anchor, on a mooring ball, on town quays, or in marinas. This is because the everyday business of cruising is not so much about sailing as it is about fixing the boat, going ashore for provisions or parts, waiting for a weather window, or exploring the place you sailed to, socialising with the other yachties you just met, barbecuing on the deck, and so forth.

The wind generator works through all of that, night and day; the hydro generator only a fraction.

So why does anyone use hydro generators at all, then?

The answer lies in the fact that a traditional trade-wind circumnavigation, by far the most popular way to “sail around the world”, is almost all downwind .

As a result, you are often “running away” from the wind when you sail around the world, which has the effect of subtracting your speed from the true wind speed and deducting that much power from your wind generator.

Thus, if you want to sail around the world on say, a performance catamaran, it might make sense to drag a generator behind the boat instead of in the air. That way, its performance is tied to your boat’s speed through the water rather than the apparent wind.

An adjacent use-case to this is people who “sail around the world” in the sense of not stopping, or stopping very little. Someone sailing non-stop downwind around the world, particularly on any kind of record attempt, would probably get a lot more of out of a hydro generator.

Another place hydro generators are seen is in the regenerative systems of systems like Oceanvolt . In these sophisticated systems, the propellors of the boat itself work as hydro generators by spinning and capturing energy as they’re dragged through the water under sail.

This feature is even starting to show up on electric outboards, such as the ePropulsion Navy series.

In summary, wind generators are the most practical choice for the average cruiser, multi-year circumnavigator or liveaboard sailor. Unless you love sailing so much that desperately want to go and tack around for four hours to charge your batteries – in which case, more power to you.

Wind generators can form an incredibly useful part of the renewable energy mix on board a sailboat.

While wind power on a sailboat works out many times more expensive than solar power, watt-for-watt, it makes up for this by generating power day and night – and often making even more power at times when solar falters, such as during storms.

Cruising sailboats that only have solar power will be forced to generate or motor if it’s cloudy for days on end, something that happens at least once or twice a month somewhere like the Caribbean.

Solar, naturally, doesn’t produce at night either, so if you have a lot of electrical loads running overnight your battery bank can take a beating.

A common example of where you might get caught out is night sailing with the autopilot, radar, AIS and instruments all running, in addition to your regular loads like the fridge.

Wind generators might usually be sized to produce less than a solar array because of cost, space and weight considerations, but they have the potential to run all day and night and in any kind of weather, and as such they often punch above their weight in terms of the overall energy generation picture.

Electrical loads might slow down a little overnight, as the crew sleep and lower temperatures mean fridges and freezers don’t work as hard, but it’s not uncommon for the overnight draw on a sailboat to be 8-10 amps or more. It adds up, by morning.

Wind represents an excellent bridging technology for nights and extended cloudy spells, naturally producing the most when solar fails – such as during storms.

A sailboat wind generator is most effective when paired with solar and a good lithium battery bank , allowing you to generate in all conditions. day and night; and to store and retrieve that energy efficiently even at high currents.

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Solar panels, wind generators, and hydro-generators: 3 green ways to produce clean energy on a boat

Solar panels, wind generators, and hydro-generators: here’s how to increase power production on a boat.

Wind, sea, and nature in general offer resources that we can harness to increase electrical energy production on board. Solar panels, wind generators, and hydro-generators are three excellent examples to take into account when evaluating increasing electrical production on a boat . In the following guide, we will analyze the main characteristics of these three tools that, in a clean and eco-friendly way, can transform sunlight, wind, and propeller rotation into electrical energy.

The Energy Balance

The ever-increasing use of electrical and electronic equipment leads boats to have to support a daily power consumption that is increasingly significant: the so-called energy balance . While until a few years ago overall consumption was low, between 50 and 60 amperes per day (1 refrigerator, navigation lights, and autopilot), today the energy balance of a boat is much more important. Doubling the instrumentation and display size, automation systems, and the utilities connected to them, bring energy balance to triple-digit numbers. It is not uncommon today to consider a need ranging from 100 to 120 amperes per day.

So here’s how to try to fill this gap by using clean energy production.

Solar Panels: simple, affordable and functional

Solar (photovoltaic) panels are one of the most common solutions for producing clean energy on board, as they convert sunlight into electrical energy through a process called photoconversion. The first major distinction to make when talking about solar energy is between solar panels, which produce heat, and photovoltaic panels, which produce electrical energy. There are two main types of photovoltaic panels: rigid and flexible. Rigid photovoltaic panels have a solid structure, usually made of aluminum, offer good durability over time, and are ideal for fixed installations in a defined area of the boat. On the other hand, flexible photovoltaic panels have a softer structure, are lighter, and can be temporarily placed on curved surfaces, such as a bimini.

From a performance perspective, rigid photovoltaic panels tend to have slightly higher efficiency compared to flexible panels. This means that, for a given surface area exposed to the sun, rigid panels generate more energy than their flexible counterparts. Moreover, rigid photovoltaic panels generally have a longer lifespan than flexible ones, mainly because the materials they are composed of are more robust, providing better resistance to weathering and wear.

In any case, it can be considered that with a 150 W installation, we will produce between 50 and 100 A in a day depending on the power of the sun and the orientation/exposure of the cells.

Ultimately, there is no one solution better than another: both types of panels (rigid and flexible) have their own features that can be useful depending on the condition of the boat.

Rigid photovoltaic panels offer better energy efficiency, durability over time, and weather resistance, but they are bulkier, heavier, and require a solid and resistant mounting location.

Flexible photovoltaic panels are, on the other hand, lighter, more manageable, and do not require fixed structures to be positioned on. However, they are less resistant to weathering and wear and have slightly lower energy efficiency.

Wind Generators: energy from the wind

Furthermore, it is important to consider that photovoltaic panels are generally easier to install and require less maintenance compared to wind generators. For the former, periodic cleaning of the modules is enough, while for the latter, maintenance involves more delicate and complex turbine revisions. What’s more, wind turbines require a specific wind thrust to function, without which they remain inactive.

In conclusion, there is no universal answer to which technology generates more power, as it depends on the specific circumstances and environmental conditions of each installation. Both systems have their own advantages and can be used complementarily to maximize the production of energy from renewable sources.

Hydro-Generators: energy from the wave motion

The size and properties of the ideal hydro-generator depend on the characteristics of the boat and the average cruising speed. For example, with a boat cruising at 4 to 6 knots, a 300W hydro-generator might be optimal as it more than compensates for the consumption of about 8 amperes of the onboard system.

For boats larger than 35 feet, it may be useful to install a 600W hydro-generator, which not only provides a greater amount of energy but also produces electricity exponentially starting from speeds of 6 knots.

Solar panels, wind generators, and hydro-generators: conclusions

In an increasingly environmentally conscious world, the use of renewable energy sources on boats has become a recommended choice for those who wish to increase their electrical contribution sustainably. Photovoltaic panels, wind generators, and hydro-generators offer effective solutions for producing clean energy and reducing the environmental impact of boating. Choosing the best solution depends on the specific needs of the boat , typical navigation conditions, and the costs associated with installing the equipment, but one thing is certain: the future of boating, a future that lives in harmony with the environment and high energy performance, is now possible and achievable even with modest investments.

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Hydrogenerators
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POD 600 Hydrogenerator

Technical specifications sheet
Output curves

The hydrogenerator POD 600 is THE innovating solution for sailing boats unable to fastened an hydrogenerator on their transom for technical, mechanical and aesthetic reasons.

Tested since 2014 by a few privileged sailors, this version has been able to demonstrate those useful advantages :

no complicated handling up and down
easy start-up
electrical output is the same compared to classic models

The hydrogenerator POD600 is delivered with a 100 mm aluminium leg; it will find its place under the hull of the boat to insure an on-board electrical output with the utmost secrecy.

Reference : PK-POD-600

Pack composition

Technical characteristics

Dimensions and weight

Output power curves

Choosing the propeller.

The propeller supplied in standard with the POD600 pack is the 240 mm model which allows to produce 8 Amps at 5 knots. It is the more “universal” model guaranteeing the energy self-sufficiency on most boats with a negligible drag.

To produce at higher speed to minimize the drag effect, the 200 mm diameter is available as well as the 200 mm with manual variable pitch propeller.

General Questions

How to choose the right power : 300W hydrogenerator is designed for boats under 35 feet, and 600W is ideal over 35 feet sailing boats. It also mainly depends on the equipment you have on board !

How to choose the right lenght for my boat : First define the location for your installation onto the transom.

You have to respect 3 rules to choose the ideal location :

The hydrogenerator should not be in the rudder blade axis to avoid water perturbations. 10 or 20 cm aside from this axis will be fine.
The leg must be vertical in the lowered position for the production to be optimized : the propeller axis must be horizontal, aligned with the water flow.
the recommended depth between the surface and the propeller axis is 300 mm(12 inches), even when the boat heels.

Taking in account those 3 points, the 610 mm or 970 mm leg will be chosen.

Watt&Sea recommends servicing every 2 years or every 10 000 miles. It should be noted that, regularly, you can :

remove the propeller and clean the conical fitting
check all the cables, to be sure it’s not cut , spoilt or pinched (what could damage the energy output, and generate some noise)
check the good condition of the plugs (corrosion can damage/stop the power passage and the energy production)

Mechanical installation

Eletrical installation.

Accessories

Removable mounting kit for transom

Universal support for all kind of transoms

Cruising hydrogenerators range.

After-Sale Service

Cruising 300

Cruising 600.

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Choosing a Generator for Your Sailboat

By Ed Sherman
Updated: November 14, 2018

You can’t take it anymore: Your 1990s vintage cruising sailboat didn’t come equipped with a factory-installed air-conditioning system or an alternating-current generator to power it and the other AC appliances you’ve brought aboard. Since you’ve owned the boat, though, you’ve turned into a real believer in global warming as you try to sleep through sweaty nights on board, and finally you’re ready to pull out your wallet and do something about it.

So, where do you begin? The first step is to analyze how much electrical power you are going to need. Since your boat had a basic shore-power system when you bought it, you already have some idea of your small-appliance usage, things such as hair dryers, the coffee maker and maybe even a small TV. But now you need to think in terms of running this same gear while at anchor. Additionally, if the standard-equipment shore-power option for your boat at the time of purchase was a 30-amp service, as is most often the case here in the United States, you might discover that it’s inadequate to run that new reverse-cycle air-conditioning system you’re dreaming about.

This is an area where, in my experience, a lot of boat owners go into denial as they discover that more power consumption adds considerable cost. Everything you’ve read about marine electrical systems so far tells you that air conditioning and refrigeration use a lot of power. But how much? The good news here is that these units have become more efficient in recent years and the power needs are not as great as they were when your boat was new. As an example, a modern 18,000 Btu reverse-cycle system from Dometic Corp. will need about 15 amps of AC power to get the job done. A 10,000 Btu unit is going to draw around 8 to 10 amps, depending on your location and whether you are heating or cooling.

Analyze Your Needs

The first step is to do an honest load analysis to see how much electrical power you will need. This is typically measured in thousands of watts, or kilowatts. The operative phrase here is: Don’t cheat. If you want to luxuriate in air-conditioned comfort 24-7 while cruising, it’ll cost you. Unlike powerboats, most cruising sailboats come equipped with liquefied petroleum gas stoves and ovens, so one of the major power consumers (an electric galley) is not a concern here.

All said, you are probably going to be looking at generators in the 4 to 12 kW size range. The typical owner of a 40-something-foot sailboat who wants to power up a reverse-cycle air-conditioning system, small galley appliances, a refrigeration system using either AC or DC power, a water heater and a battery charger is going to want an 8 kW generator. Larger boats that might end up having a clothes washer and dryer, larger reverse-cycle heating and cooling unit and water heater can easily end up in that 12 kW output range. The American Boat and Yacht Council offers a free trial membership with access to the relevant electrical power standard (E-11), including a complete load analysis worksheet for those who are so inclined and want a detailed account of their electrical needs. Simply go to abycinc.org to gain access via the consumer section of the site.

A quick way to determine your AC power needs is to look for the mandated label on each appliance. It is required to tell you either the operating voltage and amperage draw or the operating voltage and wattage.

Either way, a simple equation can be applied to get the info you need: Volts multiplied by amps equals watts; or watts divided by volts gives you an amperage value. Add the number of watts each device requires and you will get an idea of what size generator you’ll need. Remember that it takes 1,000 watts to make 1 kilowatt. Understand that this method will actually give you a result that does not take into account the fact that you might not be running all of your appliances simultaneously. The ABYC load analysis method found in the ABYC E-11 standard offers some diversity adjustments that are more conservative and reflective of the real world.

Although modern generators are not as sensitive to running with a light electrical load, most installers will tell you that running them at 70 to 80 percent of their maximum capacity is better for the engine. The risk here is carbon buildup in the engine’s combustion chambers if run with a light load for extended periods. So, this is a case where significant overkill is not such a good thing.

Practical Concerns

In addition to the electrical load you need to meet with your new generator, you should also be considering its weight and physical dimensions. Will the generator fit into the space you have available? The units I compared (see “Generators by the Numbers,” page 82) ranged in weight from a low of about 270 pounds for the 5 kW Fischer Panda to a high of just under 700 pounds for an 11.5 kW Kohler. This amount of weight dictates that when installing a generator on a monohull, you’re going to want to keep it on the centerline of the boat. Typically, this works out well because most sailboats built from the early ’90s on will have adequate space aft of the propulsion engine to fit in new generator. Multihulls offer more options on that front.

What might be a concern with the monohull is service access, not only for the generator itself, but for things like the propeller shaft stuffing box and shaft coupling. I’ve inspected many boats where the only way to access a leaking shaft seal was to lift the generator out of the way!

Wherever you end up installing your new generator, you need to be able to gain access to all the service points on the unit.

The physical dimensions of the generator could end up being a game changer too, so you’ll need to measure your boat’s available space carefully and compare that to the specifications for the units you are considering. You will also need to determine whether the unit will fit with a sound shield installed or not. Understand that some of the generators offer a sound shield as an option only. The presence of a sound shield, or your ability to insulate the space where you are going to have this generator mounted, could make a difference not only in size requirements but also noise issues while running.

As an example, comparing a Fischer Panda unit that comes with a standard sound shield, we get dimensions of 23 inches by 17 inches by 22 inches. A similarly rated Cummins Onan unit, which also comes with a standard sound shield, is 26 inches by 23 inches by 21 inches. A Westerbeke with a similar rating but with optional sound shield measures 36 inches by 23 inches by 25 inches. That 13-inch spread in length between the Fischer Panda and the Westerbeke could mean the difference between a doable install in the space available on your boat or not.

Finally, wherever you end up installing your new generator, you need to be able to gain access to all the service points on the unit. Can you get that oil filter off as installed? Can you access and change the water-pump impeller without needing an emergency chiropractic visit? These are questions that will need answers.

Power Perks

Several features related to newer generators are worth considering. One is whether the unit is equipped with digital controls that may also allow for self-diagnostics and integration to onboard networking that you or a former owner may have installed on the boat.

From a maintenance standpoint, you’ll also want to know whether the water-cooling system for the engine driving your generator is raw- or freshwater cooled. Raw water might save money initially, but will cost in the long run.

Buyers Beware

I can’t emphasize this enough: This sort of upgrade does not qualify as a do-it-yourself project unless you have considerable mechanical skills and experience, and labor will be a major addition to the overall cost of the installation.

Also, when you compare different units, study the supplied components carefully. Does the unit come with a remote display and control panel? What additional parts will you need? These will likely include an exhaust system, starter battery and cables, and raw-water supply hoses and a seacock. And don’t forget about wiring the generator into your existing, or possibly a replacement, AC distribution panel board. These items can add considerable cost above and beyond the generator prices shown in “Generators by the Numbers.”

If you are planning on cruising far afield with your new generator, you should also think about parts and service availability, not to mention its warranty.

Lastly, if you are planning on cruising far afield with your new generator, you should also think about parts and service availability, not to mention its warranty. As part of my research for this article, I looked at units from Cummins/Onan, Fischer Panda, Kohler, Northern Lights and Westerbeke. All five brands have extensive global dealer networks, so locating a service center that can help is just an internet search away. As for warranties, I’ve noted them in the “Generators by the Numbers” table. Keep in mind when reviewing this information that it is based on likely choices from the individual company’s offerings for a boat in the 35- to 45-foot size range. Also understand that the prices quoted are list price. Several of the dealers I spoke with suggested that discounts of $1,500 to $2,000 are quite common. That said, if you spot something you think is a deal, be certain of what you are actually getting, especially if it’s at a remarkably discounted price.

Ed Sherman is a frequent CW contributor, Boat of the Year judge and vice president of education for the American Boat and Yacht Council.

A green alternative

Considering the cost of installing a generator — estimated at $15,000 to $20,000, or possibly more depending on your boat and the power output selected — you might consider some alternatives.

How about essentially silent AC power via a direct-current-to-alternating-current inverter and adequate storage capacity that relies on the latest high-capacity battery technology?

Marine electrical systems have evolved considerably over the past decade or so, and I’m at the point now where I question the need for an onboard AC generator for most cruisers, though some might still benefit from installing a DC generator to supplement solar-, wind- or water-driven charging solutions.

The current density of high-end absorbed glass mat and lithium-ion batteries has improved by 20 to 30 percent due to their inherent capacity compared to older flooded-cell batteries. They can also be discharged to deeper levels without damage and recharged much more quickly due to high absorption rates. I’m of the opinion that it might be time to look at alternative power if you are willing to spend the kind of money we are talking about with an AC generator upgrade for an older boat.

As quiet as they might claim to be, that incessant drone of an AC diesel generator, not to mention the however faint odor of diesel exhaust fumes, is going to be a reality. It’ll have to run all night if you want that AC keeping you cool.

Instead, you could run the DC generator in the morning to replenish your batteries from an overnight discharge. Or, let your solar panels and wind generator do the job. I like the concept of not having to run an engine continuously to get my AC power.

Generators By The Numbers

*All dimensions are with sound shield; **price includes sound shield; ***price does not include optional sound shield

More: Electrical , generator , How To , maintenance
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Ed Sherman is a frequent CW contributor, Boat of the Year judge and vice president of education for the American Boat and Yacht Council. A green alternative. Considering the cost of installing a generator — estimated at $15,000 to $20,000, or possibly more depending on your boat and the power output selected — you might consider some ...