Sail Boat Wind Turbines
How powerful a wind turbine do I need to recharge my electric boat?
I am building a two-seater, electric catamaran, 21 ft. long, about 8 knots top speed, no sails, just two electric DC engines. I am aiming at a range of about 20 miles before it needs recharging, and my only recharging device will be a wind turbine. I've seen they do about 100 - 400 Watts when they are the marine type which usually attaches to sailboats; how long would it take for such a turbine to replenish energy in my boat, would anyone know? I'm hopeless with these things, but I still love doing them.
Thanks so much!
If you shoot for a very efficient design, it might work OK. I wouldn't plan on carrying the turbine with me on the boat. If you could leave it somewhere & hook-up to it when you get there, it would be more practical.
8 knots isn't too fast. 20 miles at 8 knots is about 2 hours transit time. Two 1/2 HP motors would work. Human powered catamarans have gone much faster than 8 knots & one man is about 1/2 HP or 375 Watts.
If the motors and propellers are efficient, then a total of 600 Watts might do it, assuming two passengers.
Let's say the turbine generates 200 Watts. Then you'd have to recharge for about 6 hours.
I've assumed 100% efficiency throughout. The true efficiencies are pretty high with good equipment, but not 100%; so figure 7 or 8 hours of recharging.
Experimental model wind-turbine boat
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