I started cruising in 1993 with my first trip from Los Angeles to
Florida. Before that there were only short trips that lasted no more
then a week or two. In that time I have used almost every type of power
maker that there is so I thought I might cough up a little knowledge
for those that are still in the wondering possess.

The easiest and quickest form of electricity aboard a boat is going to
be a big, loud nasty generator, run from good old petrel. The second
bet is a big old alternator run off of an engine. If you are like me
though, I despise the running of engines while I am at anchor and I
hate changing oil so I look for other ways to may my needs.

When I left Marina Del Rey in 1993, I headed out with all the toys that
the sails guys could sell me. I had a wind generator that you suspend
from your rigging that while sailing could be used as a water
generator. I bought 4 expensive props for the water end of the deal.
While sailing near hull speed, the water generator made near 3 amps
steady for up to an hour or so before something huge would come along
and eat it. We lost 3 props to our water generator within the first 2
days of sailing, probably to sharks. We also bent our stern railing one
of the times we lost our prop because a line tangled when the prop was
struck. We don't like water generators at all -and we sold the last
prop.

The wind generator that we had worked great until we encountered 40
knots of wind off of a little island called Isla Bonita. There, we
discovered that 40 knots of wind turns your wiring into an arc welder.
We also discovered that trying to take your generator down in 40 knots
is a fantastic way to get a lifetime supply of toothpicks. Instead of
buying a new blade for the wind generator, we sold it.

Our little Arco solar panel was awesome from the get go. It never made
tons of juice but it never got in the way, made noise or was eaten.

We have replaced our wind generator with a Four Winds. Though the
generator works great when balanced, the man that runs the company that
makes them is the worst person to do business with that you could ever
want to meet. He smiles and helps you spend your money but he is a
dishonest man to extreme when it comes to getting service. I would
highly recommend a mounted wind generator but never a four winds.

There are problems with wind generators, even when mounted. They get in
the way at launching, they grab fishing lines and anything else that
gets close and they make noise and vibrate. In a big blow, you need to
secure them but a line to the back of the generator will turn it out of
the wind and stop the spin. The good thing is that they tend to work
great on stormy days that have no sun for your solar panels. Most wind
generators make 1/3 to 1/2 of what people tend to use in power.

I bought 2 new panels this last winter from Sun Electronics, in Miami
(nest to the Herald building) Phone Number is (305)-381-6166. The two
panels cost me just about $600 and make about 9 - 10 amps an hour
while the sun is strong and 3-5 amps while the sky is partly cloudy and
1-2 amps during overcast. They are set up to be an extension of our
bimini and help with blocking sun to the cockpit. In a strong blow, (75
knots) they hung in like chaps since they are on the back of the boat
and the boat was turned into the wind at anchor. I do not have a
regulator on the panels. I do have diodes to keep back flow but they
came with the panels (that also came with a 25 year guarantee). In the
state of Florida, there is no sales tax anything solar witch is a big
bonus too - (I think most states have that law so if you buy from
West Marine be sure to stick the point!) Everyone I know that has
bought from west marine has paid sales tax because the experts there
don't know anything about the law.

I don't have anything to do with the Sun Electronics buy the way. I
Was just very impressed with them, their supply of toys and level of
service that I wanted to share the good news. They have been there a
long time too.

This has become a bit long winded but I hope it helps the undecided in
their think through process. Comfort on a boat for long term sailing
requires cold drinks and lots of power.