Wind Generators

[Up-Side-Down]

Can anybody provide me with some simple, reliable data, from first hand experience, around wind generator performance on an inland waterways boat:

 

a) Make and model of generator 

b) approximate cost

c) typical output in different conditions

d) total kW generated in a year

c) would you buy a wind generator again based on your experience?

 

Thanks in anticipation that there is someone out there with some records and data!

[LadyG]

Did you try the search function?  I think there have been previous posts.

My understanding, (and the reason I use two solar panels and the engine alternator to generate electricity) :-

They are noisy and vibrate.

The are no use in storm force winds or no winds.

Note1  the canals tend to be in a valley, so not necessarily exposed to prevailing winds.

Note2 I have seen hundreds of NB with solar, I have never seen a NB with a wind generator.

 

Edited April 18 by LadyG

[David Mack]

3 minutes ago, LadyG said:

Note2 I have seen hundreds of NB with solar, I have never seen a NB with a wind generator.

You used to see a few boats with wind generators, but they quickly fell out of fashion once solar became available.

[DaveP]

a) Make and model of generator - Istabreeze 400

b) approximate cost - £200 (10 years ago)

c) typical output in different conditions - Below Force 4 - nowt.  Force 4-5 - a bit. Force 6 - not bad. 

d) total kW generated in a year - naff all: probably about 400Wh.

c) would you buy a wind generator again based on your experience? Absolutely not.

 

It's best use was as a marker in London, says two things a) Don't breast up unless you like noise and vibration, b) Ah, there's the boat (after a night in the pub).

 

If I had a mooring on some windswept moorland, then possibly, but otherwise I'd rather invest in chocolate teapots.

 

 

[WulfNut]

I did a bunch of research on these years ago.  My conclusion was that for folks out at sea they are great ( D400 ) almost essential.  But inland due to turbulence they do nothing.  The two scenarios involve a boat.   But one is in the middle of the ocean days away from fuel but plenty of wind,  the other is a bicycle ride away from fuel and very little wind.  My conclusion was even a cheap one would never cover its cost compared with popping some diesel in the boat and moving it whenever possible.  

[Hudds Lad]

I've seen a handful of them whilst out and about over the years, can honestly say i've never actually seen one spinning.

 

We once cruised by some offside moorings where a couple of the boaters were up a ladder butchering the trees to enable them to mount one high up on a cut-off tree trunk. When we came back past a few days later the work was done, and oddly enough the generator was not spinning.

[MarineHeatingSolutions]

The Rutland (Marlec) 504 and 914i are the standard units you'll see most on the system. They aren't especially cheap once you factor in the mounting poles and regulators—you are looking at anywhere from £400 to over £1,000 for a full setup.

In terms of performance, they really only come into their own during the winter months. From November to February, when solar output is essentially zero in the UK, a wind generator can provide a steady 24/7 trickle charge that is vital for keeping a battery bank healthy. However, for the rest of the year, the total yield is usually very low compared to what you’d get from an equivalent investment in solar panels.

The main practical issue on a narrowboat is the vibration. If the turbine is mounted directly to the steel hull, the resonance can be very intrusive inside the cabin. Unless you have a particularly exposed mooring or a specific need for winter battery maintenance, most people find that additional solar is a much quieter and more efficient way to spend their budget.

[plato]

My first boat had a Rutland wind genny fitted. 
The vibration and noise inside was terrible. 

I never did manage to make any meaningful changes to make it less noisy. 
not enough windy places on the cut to make it viable. 
if you had a permanent mooring in an exposed location and could site it on the bank, it might be worthwhile. 
Invest the money in lithium batteries, solar and properly installed high output alternator. 
 

[MtB]

12 hours ago, MarineHeatingSolutions said:

From November to February, when solar output is essentially zero in the UK, a wind generator can provide a steady 24/7 trickle charge that is vital for keeping a battery bank healthy.

 

Possibly, on an unoccupied boat. Just about. 

 

But on a liveaboard chewing through 100Ah a day, less than useless. 

 

 

[GUMPY]

9 hours ago, MtB said:

 

Possibly, on an unoccupied boat. Just about. 

 

But on a liveaboard chewing through 100Ah a day, less than useless. 

 

 

Not even on an unoccupied boat.

I had one on my Yot moored on the East coast out in the estuary so perfect location.

Did it keep battery charged? Did it bollox.

Worse than useless.

A solar panel would have done a better job.

[mrsmelly]

On 18/04/2026 at 10:49, DaveP said:

a) Make and model of generator - Istabreeze 400

b) approximate cost - £200 (10 years ago)

c) typical output in different conditions - Below Force 4 - nowt.  Force 4-5 - a bit. Force 6 - not bad. 

d) total kW generated in a year - naff all: probably about 400Wh.

c) would you buy a wind generator again based on your experience? Absolutely not.

 

It's best use was as a marker in London, says two things a) Don't breast up unless you like noise and vibration, b) Ah, there's the boat (after a night in the pub).

 

If I had a mooring on some windswept moorland, then possibly, but otherwise I'd rather invest in chocolate teapots.

 

 

Precisely this. Years ago and before solar took hold I used to see them fitted and one day saw a friend had a decent make one laid at the side of his mooring and asked why it wasnt in use, he said I could take it for free but basicaly it was a waste of space so I declined lol. When he left the mooring at a boatyard he left the wind gen. 

[Jen-in-Wellies]

Solar panels have crashed in price over the last couple of decades. The first 80W panel I bought in 2008 cost £400. The 430W panel I bought in 2025 cost £60! That's a 36 times reduction in cost per Watt. It's why people don't bother with small wind turbines and rarely with solar thermal water heating these days. Panels are so cheap from mass far East production that it is almost always easier just to throw more panels at the problem. 

[mrsmelly]

2 hours ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

Solar panels have crashed in price over the last couple of decades. The first 80W panel I bought in 2008 cost £400. The 430W panel I bought in 2025 cost £60! That's a 36 times reduction in cost per Watt. It's why people don't bother with small wind turbines and rarely with solar thermal water heating these days. Panels are so cheap from mass far East production that it is almost always easier just to throw more panels at the problem. 

Indeedy, I remember being chuffed to nuts getting 100 watt panels for £400. 

[Ally]

We had one for a bit, we gave it away! Noisy, only useful in exactly the right conditions. I'd only reconsider if we could mount one permanently on an appropriate mooring (where it was open countryside) but I'd never have one on the boat again.  It failed to brake from inside once in quite high winds, all we could do was actually take it down, so walking down the roof towards a spinning turbine to try to drop the pole, in high wind..........*Shudder* 

Edited April 19 by Ally

[Up-Side-Down]

I guess I'm not too surprised by what has turned to be a very sensible and logical approach to wind generators especially in the light of what solar now costs. Thank you everyone who has replied.

 

However, I did expect some pretty strong and emotive posts in favour of wind generators knowing that in the past people have expended quite large sums of money on various models that, for a while at least, sat proudly on their boat roofs!

 

After three years of living totally (and comfortably) off-grid, using just solar, I find I'm short of my total annual requirements by 30kW: an issue (which will come as no surprise) that rears its ugly head in December. Wind would probably fill that particular gap but I doubt I could in any way justify the capital cost.

 

So I simply borrow that 30kW from a fellow boater on  my moorings and pay her back with (considerable) interest over the summer months!!

[wakey_wake]

A relevant question on my mind, supposing I could get a cheap unwanted turbine -

 

When you're not using it, where do you store it? I imagine they don't fold up in a reversible way.

 

Even for going under low bridges, it seems to be a liability.

[Up-Side-Down]

Many moons ago someone gave me an Ampair 100 wind generator. Lumpy water sailors say they're the bees knees, very well built, etc, etc.. With just a 100W of output in a gale, the rag and stick brigade clearly don't have high expectations (or electrical requirements) I guess!

 

I stuck it on a 10ft scaffolding pole, with a hinged mounting at the base, and three steel stay cables like tent guy ropes. It made a little electricity and a lot of noise and vibration! It could be folded down and laid flat on the roof but an aluminium pole would have made the exercise a whole lot easier (and safer).

 

My experience confirms everything said above but this was in the days before PV panels become cheap and available. I guess I'd be looking at a minimum of 500W today.

[Ally]

8 hours ago, wakey_wake said:

A relevant question on my mind, supposing I could get a cheap unwanted turbine -

 

When you're not using it, where do you store it? I imagine they don't fold up in a reversible way.

 

Even for going under low bridges, it seems to be a liability.

Mounted on a pole that drops flat along the roof when cruising.

 

[wakey_wake]

13 hours ago, Ally said:

Mounted on a pole that drops flat along the roof when cruising.

'Flat' meaning the rotor facing down, nacelle and tail sticking up around 2 feet?

Most bridges around here are tall, but I've been places with low bridges and try to plan as if I might again.

I guess it would demount and fit in the well deck for that? Still it sounds like a liability.

 

ETA: for cruising from home base, maybe best left at the mooring

Edited April 30 by wakey_wake
ETA

[Tony Brooks]

21 minutes ago, wakey_wake said:

'Flat' meaning the rotor facing down, nacelle and tail sticking up around 2 feet?

Most bridges around here are tall, but I've been places with low bridges and try to plan as if I might again.

I guess it would demount and fit in the well deck for that? Still it sounds like a liability.

 

ETA: for cruising from home base, maybe best left at the mooring

 

I think that the tail fin on some can be folded to parallel with the rotor, that reduces the air draft.

[Up-Side-Down]

45 minutes ago, wakey_wake said:

'Flat' meaning the rotor facing down, nacelle and tail sticking up around 2 feet?

Most bridges around here are tall, but I've been places with low bridges and try to plan as if I might again.

I guess it would demount and fit in the well deck for that? Still it sounds like a liability.

 

ETA: for cruising from home base, maybe best left at the mooring

Yes and yes!!

[Ally]

11 hours ago, wakey_wake said:

'Flat' meaning the rotor facing down, nacelle and tail sticking up around 2 feet?

Most bridges around here are tall, but I've been places with low bridges and try to plan as if I might again.

I guess it would demount and fit in the well deck for that? Still it sounds like a liability.

 

ETA: for cruising from home base, maybe best left at the mooring

Yes, bulk depending on model, but actually....best left on the home mooring for ever!.....or someone else's....😉

[ditchcrawler]

Passed this today, wind genny, what I think are self tracking solar panels and a Peltier stack on the stove chimney  

[Up-Side-Down]

9 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

Passed this today, wind genny, what I think are self tracking solar panels and a Peltier stack on the stove chimney  

The peltier stack is an interesting observation. Any thoughts or comments from anybody ..........?

[ditchcrawler]

1 hour ago, Up-Side-Down said:

The peltier stack is an interesting observation. Any thoughts or comments from anybody ..........?

He said it was fun but he wouldn't bother again. He likes playing I think