Air Marine Wind Generator - very noisy

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Hi all,

I have recently fitted the American Air Marine Wind Generator for our forthcoming exodus to the Med and find that it is almost too noisy to use.
I know all wind gens are noisy to some extent but this model produces a whooshing? noise that can be heard from 100's of yards away.
So I can't use it at night or week-ends in the vicinity of other boats as I don't want to upset my neighbours and I can't leave it unnattended. So apart from out at sea its use seems very limited.

Does anyone else have any thoughts or experiences on this?


Thought for the day:
I'd rather be on a boat with a drink on the rocks than
in the drink with a boat on the rocks.

regards,

Hubie
 
Is this their new and improved model Air 403.X?
They claim the new model is less noisy.
In the past I have heard a lot of complaints about the noise level of the Air Marine generator and while it seems the most efficient wind generator, I have postponed buying a windgenerator for that reason.
 
I would recommend switching to Aerogen 4 or 6 if that is a possibility.
Air 403 is definitly among the most noisy ones.....

Jon
 
Harald,

The model I have is the "Air marine" which I think is a marinised Air 403. The new model "Air X" is supposedly quieter but I doubt it as the blades look identical.

I am thinking of replacing it with some other quieter means of generation. I just wish I'd known what a problem the noise was going to cause before I bought it.

Regards,

Hugh
 
Thanks Hugh, I'll keep watching the wind generation szene, not convinced yet.
Thought it would be nice in tradewind anchorages, but I think my generator is probably a lot more silent. This year I'm more cruising so I got a water generator, will see how ell this works.
 
I am considering fitting an Air Marine 403 but have had concerns about the noise. More so now after reading this. Anyone know anything about the KISS wind generator. I am in the USA at the moment and considering this one too. Supposed to be quiet and give 18 amps at 20 knots.
 
We have an Ampair wind/water generator and were told that in some marinas in the med, they are the only ones that were allowed. Can't comment on how noisy it is as we haven't fitted it yet but some boats near us have them and I have never noticed any noise at all.
 
Yes, I have one myself!

They are noisy.
But, is there any other make of generator which can generate the same power?
At least one and a half year ago, when I bought mine there wasn´t.

With the Airmarine I can sail forever - it´s output is big enough to supply me with all the power I need, fridge, autopilot, electronics and navigation lights.

The alternative would be to use the enging regulary for charging. How noisy is that? And smelly...and enviromental un-friendly...

But of course, I would´nt complain if it were quieter!
 
To be honest, wind generators of any sort are not the best way in the med, fine for the carribean, with the trades, but the wind in the med is just too fickle, for the meddy, solar is the way to go, the bigger the better, with a regulator, but they are expensive, they are cheaper in portugal, but still pretty expensive. Worth it I might add for cold beer!!!
 
If you want lots of silent power while sailing get a towed generator, they are great, work downwind and don't make any noise. For hot sunny days alongside go solar. Tyring to sleep either at sea or alongside with a wind generator going is awful and it always sounds like a gale is blowing.

Yoda
 
I also have one of these beauties on my mizzen.

Firstly a wind genny in the Med isn't a lot of use. You need solar panels due to the winds inconsistency.

Now the noise. Wait until there is no wind. Spin your blades by hand and mark with a chalk the blade that stops at the lowest point. Do this several times. If all the blades have an equal number of chalk marks the blades are balanced. If one has a greater number of marks it is unbalanced and it will generate both vibration and noise.

Next step, remove all blades and sand them very lightly with wet fine grade sand paper. This will remove tiny nodules that increase the noise. The smoother the finish the quieter the blades.

Reassemble and check balance.
 
Hi All,

Many thanks for your informative replies. I have decided to remove the beast and go for solar panels.

p.s. Anyone want a cheapish nearly new Air Marine generator?? (probably not)

Regards,

Hugh
 
hubie, it sounds like you might have an early model of the air marine, the later ones have a slightly different profile on the blades wich has made a difference. also check your blades are not fraying at the tips as that produces a horrendous amount of noise, hope this helps you out
 
We have been in the Caribbean for 2 years and yes we have an Air Marine 403.

Yes it is too noisy, but we have the solution.

It's drastic but it works.

Remove the 3 blades and bolt them together using 2 long bolts.

Carefully trim 50 mm off the 3 blades altogether to get an accurate and uniform length.

Separate and sand the dges to soften the cut edges.

This reduces the tip velocity by a large amount. Output will drop slightly, but as the noise is considerably less you will be able to leave the wind gen running for much longer and accordingly the charge to batteries will be greater.

I have done this and it works.

I was also given some magic tape by a live aboard friend.

It is called Prop Tape, and it is used in aviation to protect the leading edge of airplane propellors from stone damage. I applied the tape and the wind gen is now very quiet, and hence useable.

I do not know where the tape can be bought, but I suggest that you can experiment with any sticky back tape ( No not sellotape!).

Cut a strip about 25 mm wide and stick to the leading edges of the blades.

This will further reduce the blade speed but believe me the noise will be much reduced.

You will thank me for this...
Jim
 
Jim,

Thanks in advance, sounds drastic but I'm willing to give it a try.

Hugh
 
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