wind generator noise in aft cabins!

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  • 29th December 2006 at 11:09 am #10931

      Hi Everyone – Happy New Year!!

      When I was looking at heavenly twins I boarded an HT with an aft wind generator and the noise in the aft cabins was terrible. This makes me very wary about getting a wind generator but I need to get one to cross the Atlantic – I have been advised by seateach in emsworth that a forgen would not be good enough for the trip – does anyone have any ideas or solutions maybe that they have installed?

      Sassy

      29th December 2006 at 6:21 pm #11409

        You probably looked at the one we bought then!

        The problem with 95% of noisy wind gens is worn bearings. These are very cheapely replaced by Rutland for £45 including labour – they are very nice people.

        This sorted our problem, it now gives just a gentle hum in the aft cabin in anything above a force 4, and is inaudible in force 3 and below.

        Apparently the cause of the problem in the few remaining cases is a faulty installation where the pole is bent or the gen not attached correctly to the top.

        30th December 2006 at 5:42 am #11410

          The noise and vibrations depend of the wind generator model too. Some brands are more silencious than others (Aerogen are said quieter than Air-X or Rutland). The bigger the model, generally the quieter as the bigger turns more slowly.
          The five blades propellers are said quieter than the 3 or 4 blades ones.
          To avoid vibrations, you have to mount the wind generator with rubber silent-blocs.( Rubber diabolos can be found on wind-surf store). A small link with a SS cable between the generator and the mast under the rubber silent blocs can be usefull in case of the rubber beeing broken under very strong wind: your generator can be transformed in a free helicopter!!!)
          I saw a bristish boat with a mast done with two SS tubes : a 2″ exterior tube bolted on the deck and an inner 1,5″ tube bolted to the wind generator. The space between the two tubes was stuffed with silicone, avoiding vibration transmission. Very wise!!

          30th December 2006 at 12:05 pm #11411

            Thanks Yann and Pastasimon – that is a great help – I had thought about rubber but wondered where I could get it from – I will definitely visit a wind surf store! I will be doing a lot of downwind sailing across the Atlantic as well so will probably install two SS tubes as suggested.

            Thanks again Sassy

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