What are also known as marine wind generators, are a smaller version of the ones you've seen on land. Like their bigger counterparts they too harness the power of the wind with the help of a propeller that turns that power into rotational force. This force is converted into electricity with the help of an alternator. If you buy wind turbine you get a device that require very little maintenance – once you set them up there's nothing else you'll need to do. This environmentally friendly solution will also help you save some money in the long run as you pay everything up front rather than as you go.
Build
The first thing to establish when you buy wind turbine is the materials it's made of. In order for a marine wind turbine to be durable it needs to be coated with a UV protection layer. The blades should be made either of fibreglass or polypropylene since these materials are extremely light and durable. The life expectancy of a sailboat wing turbine is usually between 20 to 25 years depending on how it's used.
Your marine wind turbine will usually need to be installed either on the masthead or mizzenmast – a higher position can harness 50% more wind than a lower position. A wind turbine positioned lower on the boat will also require shorter cables and be more accessible which makes it more convenient when it comes to maintenance. If you want to install your wind turbine higher up then consider a lightweight turbine that requires the least amount of maintenance. Most people have their turbines placed above the transom or cockpit. This position is enough to keep people from getting in the way of the blades and close enough for maintenance purposes and short cable runs.
In order for a marine wind turbine to be effective it needs be powerful enough to change the number of batteries you are using on your boat. Marine wind turbines can have a power rating anywhere between 15 W and 400 W. For example, if you want to be able to power a couple of lights, then a 15w turbine is going to work just fine. This also depends on how much you'll use all the devices you want to power with your wind turbine on a daily basis. It is recommended that you get a generator with built in MPPT power point tracking to ensure it runs efficiently.
Height & High Winds
Although placing your wind turbine lower has its benefits you need to consider the height of the turbine too. You want to get a wind turbine that will allow you to take advantage of high wind speeds which are found at higher altitudes. The higher the wind speeds the more energy you'll be able to convert to electricity but this can be bad news too.
A wind turbine won't be able to handle wind that exceeds 50 knots (92 km/ h) and as a result it can get damaged which is why you should take the turbine down. Although manufacturers may say that their product has been tested at certain wind speeds the results may not be the same in the open. These tests are usually made in a controlled environment and with the wind coming from one direction.
Noise
While marine wind turbines today aren't as loud as they used to be they can still cause some disturbance at night. If you are someone that doesn't fall asleep that easily you should look for wind turbines that don't make a lot of vibrations and growling sounds whilst generating power. The noise and vibrations are usually produced by the blades which is the result of unstable airflow due to high speeds.
For this you should look at the turbine's TSR (tip speed ratio) which is how faster are the blade tips moving than the true wind speed. There's noise restrictions in places such as residential communities, businesses and narrow inland water ways - a reason more to look for a quiet wind turbine.