Sun or Wind?

[Awfeith]

I want to do alternate power for fridge, lighting and instruments. Anyone have feedback on which is better? I am installing radar arch/dingy davits. I can do panels or wind prop. Price to purchase seems to be close.

[skip1930]

Wind.

Always a 'BUT'.
But I'm not sure your boat is big enough for 'wind'.
You'll be listening to it grind away all night long. Tie it down.

Why not both?

skip.

[capt_nemo]

If it is EITHER/OR then Wind - but shop around and choose wisely. Many serious cruisers have BOTH! (Redundancy)

capt_nemo

[peterg]

Given enough wind, my FourWinds wind generator always provided enough charging capacity to keep a Technautics cold plate refrigeration system in a state of frozen bliss, and enough to run the other incidentals- lights, radio, etc. I did add, later on, some solar capacity to enhance the wind generator, as well as provide some power on sunny, but windless, days. A point to consider is the maintenance factor. The solar panels were essentially maintenance free once installed, whereas the wind gen required new brushes, bearings, and eventually, the blades got out of balance from bird strikes, etc, and had to be replaced. The wind gen lasted many years, but does require periodic maintenance, and is a bit noisy. I am going back more than a few years on this, and I have to believe that current models are less noisy. Once you start running many electrical systems on your boat, you will also want to install an amp hour metering system to keep track of what you are using and how much you are replacing. It can just go on and on and on...........I think I am liking my fairly simple CP23 more and more!!

[Steady1]

On the other hand, there's space on the Bimini of our 27 for a Solbian 135 (I think) aft of the boom end.  Not inexpensive but real easy to handle. Since putting that on, it more than keeps up with the Frigoboat, lights, instruments, etc.  Granted, I've converted to LEDs for anchor and cabin lights, so demands are low compared to many boats.  But it's been great!  There seem to be a lot of summer days when the wind doesn't blow, much if at all, but the Solbian pumps out a few watts even on cloudy days.  When at anchor for a couple of days, this keeps us from running the diesel to keep up the battery.

Just a thought.  Either way, good luck!

[skyshadd]

I like my solar, over wind, because it's quite.

ShaddO