Doug,

I just installed a KISS in Ft. Lauderdale (where I was replacing my
Fischer Panda (ooops, slap, slap, slap :-) ) before I moved the boat
back to Guatemala. As a result I only have a few weeks experience with
it.

I will say that I'm having trouble with vibration. I've carefully
followed their instructions on ballancing the blades, but I'm still
getting vibration. I'm planning on machining a replacement support-pole
hub that will have a bearing in it that will ride against the stainless
pole. That will get rid of most of the vibration I suspect.

I will also agree that the thermal cutouts seem to cut-out too soon. I
noted I was getting cut-outs in the 20-25 kt range. Even worse, this
seemed to have disabled the STOP switch position. To me this means that
if I don't stop it in time that I may have to use a pole to swing it
sideways into the wind, which is probably something that I don't want to
do if the wind is getting up there and especially if I'm out at sea. If
this is what is really happening (and I think that it is), this is a
serious design flaw.

On the plus side it's very easy to maintain and parts are available
anywhere. And it's VERY quiet. You can hear the blades woosh, but
that's about all. I hate the Air Marines and have even moved in an
anchorage due to their noise.

-- Geoff

P.S. If you're interested, there's a photo of the generator at
http://www.geoffschultz.org/2003
_Sailing/BlueJacket_Work/imagepages/image9.htm

"Doug Dotson" wrote in
:

Sorry, but that is not my experience having a KISS for over a year
and using it all last winter. A friend just down the pier said that
his Aerogen
is very quiet (I've heard it, it is very quiet). He also says it
really doesn't
generate that much power compared to some of the newer generators but
he is happy with it.

"Truelove39" wrote in message
...
1. They are not well-balanced, and they vibrate.

You balance it yourself after installation and attaching the blades to
the hub. If you take your time and do it right there is little or no
vibration. Mine has no disernable vibration.

2. They are noisy, unlike the Aerogen which is virtually silent.

Just not true. It is one of the quietest generators I have heard. The
only one
that is more quiet is the Rutland but it had the unfortunate property
of not generating much power. In a 15kt breeze you can hardly hear it
when sitting in the cockpitright under it. Does start to woosh a bit
ubove that.

3. They have a thermal shut down device which functions juat as you
are
getting
good output.

Mine will run continuously in a 20+ knot breeze while outputing over
20 amps.
It will shut down when it gets up around 30 though. Better than
burning up the
alternator.

4. I have had my Aerogen 6 since 1997 and it has performed
flawlessly.

Well, the jury is still out on that for me having only had mine for
1.5 years. I
know someone that bought one of the original models something like 4+
years ago. Only problem they have had is a burned up switch. Other
than that it is still operating as good as when it was new. They did
say they have
the original blades which are noisier than those provided now. In the
anchorage we shared I can agree that theirs was noisier but not nearly
as loud as the Air Marine units. Although the new Air Marines are much
quieter than the older ones.

John

Doug wrote:
If you are in Trinidad, why don't you own a KISS? Much better than
an Aerogen.