Our vessel, as with most cruising boats, is powered by 12-volt batteries that hold enough electricity to run the boat systems for 2-3 days without a charge. Many cruisers use alternative energy sources (i.e., solar or wind power) to help charge their batteries. We’ve been discussing the pros and cons of both for the last few weeks and are reaching out to other cruisers like you for advice. Do we need solar panels, a wind generator or neither?
Solar panels or Wind generator?
The pros/cons of solar panels:
Pros
- Self-managed system
- Works on sunny days, with wind or without
- Acts as extra shade installed on the bimini
Cons
- Operates only 8 hours at best
- Overall less efficient than a wind generator
- Big installation on top of the bimini
The pros/cons of a wind generator:
Pros
- Generates more electricity than solar
- Operates 24 hours a day (when the wind’s blowing)
- Doubles as a water generator when sailing (DuoGen)
Cons
- More expensive than solar
- Noisy (compared to solar)
- Large installation on the transom
This decision is informed in part by our cruising destinations of which the first season we’ll be sailing the route from Florida to Trinidad. And for our comparisons we are assuming two 90-watt Siemens solar panels or the DuoGen wind/water generator. We have a 90 amp alternator on the motor which would need to run for about 1 hour per day to keep the system charged without any alternative energy source.
Thoughts?
Hi there! I’m no expert, but we are planning on having both and having made several trips down to the US and BVI’s we have seen a LOT (nay, most) crusing boats outfitted with both. Also – captains we know recommend both as well. “Neither” should NOT be an option if you plan on doing any significant offshore cruising, as you will need some way to “live off the grid” and running the engine will get expensive (fuel). Hope this helps! :) (again, no expert, but this is what we have heard)
We have just entered the new world of sailing and cruising, so we’re no experts either. However, I agree with Brittany that the majority of advise I’ve read states that you should really have both solar panels and a wind generator. We hope to add both in the future. We figure if we’re going to live on the sailboat, we’d rather have too much than too little when speaking of alternative energy. Best wishes!
My vote is solar! We had about 480 Watts of solar on our first boat, and we could go about 4-5 days if the sun was shining. We had everything too: two refrigeration systems, watermaker, radar, chartplotter, etc, etc. We had a genset to run the scuba compressor, but both saw relatively little use in 2.5 years and proved to be a huge waste of money (about 10K).
We really dig the peace and quiet and wind generators are like living next to a freeway in my opinion. I just hate’em, even on a neighbor’s boat.
My vote these days is to go with as simple a set-up as possible. Our newest boat doesn’t have refrigeration, or radar, or chartplotter, etc. Now we only need about 120 Watts of solar and we run the engine every three days to make water.
Abundant, fresh water BTW is the most important and comfort-inducing asset to have on board a small boat. I put it above having cold drinks or even electric light. Water is the difference between “roughing it” and living a civilized life.
Sorry, that was off topic.
I go solar every time. Great investment in a peaceful, comfortable life.
Excellent point about the noise involved with wind generators! I agree with Nick 100%. Where you’ll be going you should have plenty of sun. This way you will also have a peaceful anchorage!
Hi there! I’m glad I found your blog. This will be a perfect distraction for me from my work days… As for Wind, don’t forget that they also add vibration to the boat. Depending on what make and how well they are installed, they can be downright obnoxious if mounted over your master berth. We knew a sailor that locked his at night so he could sleep! Another con is that they are dangerous. We met a French man in Panama with a large gash on his head because he mistakenly hit his head when it was moving! And lastly, I would debate that they “generate more electricity than solar” as this depends on the anchorage and the wind. We found that boats with wind generators always anchored far from land in order to get more wind, which completely changes your way of life in an anchorage. If I could do it all over again on our boat, I would have added loads and loads of solar, but this all really depends on how much energy you need, where you sail, where you anchor and if you have the space. Good luck!
BOTH! Everyone we have talked with who had a water generator no longer use it because of the difficulty and the fact that it slows you down. Generally if you are sailing the wind has to be blowing so you will still get a charge from the wind itself look into the KISS wind gen they are high output and almost silent. We have a fourwinds wind gen that is high output and you hardly know it is even turning it is so quiet. Good Luck!
Captain Tofer
hi Christie and Matt;
We found your site – great job. We don’t have a wind gen, so can’t really comment. But, we do hate being anchored next to the noisy ones. Some are quiet, some are not. We’re on a pretty tight budget, and planned to cruise in tropical areas, so solar panels was our choice. We have two panels totalling about 200w on an arch at the stern. Works great. We have very little electrical gadgets on board, but the old fridge soaks up most of our power, so we need sun on most days, if we hope to keep the beer cold. But other than that…nothing too important in the fridge anyway.
And to add to the previous cruiser’s comment about water – we don’t have a water maker, and although it would be lovely, we’re doing fine so far. If we turn off the pressure water, we’ve managed four weeks on our 140 gallons. But I agree – it would be a fabulous addition to have daily showers in this hot climate!!
Good luck. And yes, please feel free to link to our blog…www.svrenova.blogspot.com
It’s excellent to hear that another budget conscious cruiser went with solar. I think for the money, the peace and quite, and the area we’ll be cruising, solar makes sense as the first passive way to generate electricity. We can always buy a wind generator when were out there cruising if we need it.
Thanks for sharing the advice!
Hi Matt and Christie – I just wanted to let you know about a couple of good articles I just read in Ocean Navigator that I thought would be helpful. One is “Managing Alternative Energy” and the other “Practical Solar Power.” I’ll try the html tags…. Practical Solar Power and Managing Alternative Energy
If you have trouble finding them, let me know and I’ll just email you the links.
Hi Guys !!
Just found your blog through Jolea. Love what you’re doing !!!
I’m also no expert, but from what I’ve read of other cruisers, they LOVE their Solar.
I have looked for hours and can’t find it, but I have followed a guy cruising the Carib. on a Mercy Mission for the children and orphanages that abound on the East Coast Central American Islands. It’s a great read and will send you the link as soon as I run across it again.
Best of Luck with your dreams, and may God always be your First Mate !!!
Mata ne
Liz in GA
Go Simple, Go Now !!!! The Pardeys http://www.landlpardey.com/
Hi Liz,
Thanks for the encouragement and vote for going with solar.
I think the cruiser you’re thinking of is Lee with Sailing for SOS.
We also admire his purpose and pray that we can be as of service when we get out there.
Thanks,
Matt and Christie
We have an Air Breeze and it has been phenomenal, when it works. We had one repair that was done under warranty.
We decided to go with wind generator because we figured our highest power consumption was at night and when there was bad weather. At both times we are inside and generally have at least one computer and lights on. Now that we are into the trade winds we couldn’t be happier with the wind generator. There is no doubt that in a straight dollar to amp comparison the wind generator wins in the Caribbean trade winds.
The only problem that I can see someone having with the wind generator is the noise. Ours is only audible in low winds. In anything over 15 knots you really can’t hear it over the wind. Ours is located 25 feet up our mizzen mast.
I have seen two Duogen 400 wind generators and they are almost silent. Very slick. If I were you, I would go with both. If price is a concern go with a cheaper wind generator, like the Air Breeze and a solar panel. Walk the docks on a breezy day and check out an air breeze (not the air x.) See if you mind the noise.
Also, remember power consumption counts as much as creation. We have swapped out all the halogen bulbs with SensiBulbs. They are the only LED replacements I have seen that actually look like halogens. They use .15-.2 amps. The halogens use 2 amps. I can have 5-10 LED lights on for the same power consumption as one halogen.
I’ve also heard that wind generators require regular maintenance and part replacement.