Annoying wind generator in marina…………………

[BigJoe]

Annoying wind generator in marina…………………

The chap on the boat, 3 down, has his wind generator turning full tilt, 24-7.

Every other bot has a securing lanyard, which stops the contraptions from rotating.

He has shore power, so can’t understand why he has the confounded device spinning making that whirring noise.

No sign of anyone on the boat, is there a protocol for these things in marinas ?

 

[little_roundtop]

I would suggest you complain to the marina, ask them to contact the owner and get him to secure his genny.

 

[snooks]

Securing the genny can knacker the bearings because they seize as they are designed to be constantly rotating. Which is why most blades are left free.

As for shore power, I hate to break it to you, but it's not infallible.

If like me they have a constant power drain like ultrasonic antifoul they need a backup incase the power trips off.

Most wind gens have a regulator which switches the gen to a slow speed when the batteries are charged, or if it's too windy it will free spin at speed, but it needs to be 40+ knots, then the noise is the last of your worries.

 

[bigwow]

then the noise is the last of your worries.

Not if you are the boat next door!

 

[macd]

My first reaction was that it must be an Air-X, but they self-brake when the batteries are full. If it is one of those and it's screaming, either his batteries aren't on a charger or the regulator's faulty.

A herring gull thrown into the blades might shut it up. Or perhaps best follow Snooks' advice.

 

[clyst]

I have no problem with gennys its the inconsiderate b***ers who remove their mainsail from the inmast reefing leaving the foil to "slam" and"bang" in the mast all winter.

 

[mjcoon]

A herring gull thrown into the blades might shut it up...

Or of course plastic carrier bags get blown along from time to time and might get caught. If this takes too long to occur, perhaps one could be flown like a kite on a doubled fishing line until it does the job, at which point the incriminating line is withdrawn. This is just a soothing mental exercise, of course, not something to be contemplated in actuality!

Mike.

 

[Seajet]

When my father sailed he was famous for going and securing annoying frapping halliards on neighbouring boats; this seems a modern version.

There is a boat ashore at my club with a Rutland wind charger; the boat has been left untouched for a year, and when I went to check her locks were secure last week the wingen was making so much noise I first thought someone was running a big engine nearby !

In that case it's shot bearings which are causing the racket.

In the OP's case he has a difficult decision; if he complains to the marina & they do nothing, he can't then secure the gen', as it will be obvious it was him.

Frankly if it was me I'd nip along in the dark and secure it ( watching not to lose fingers ); if the boat owner has to use kit which annoys others to keep his batteries topped up, then he shouldn't do it, tough.

I'd probably also leave a printed anonymous note explaining the thing is a noisy nuisance - to draw attention to the thing being secured -, and that the owner should check battery status before setting off.

 

[baggypipes]

noise

Read the marina 'rules & regulations' all marinas wev'e been in state, ' not cause noise & nuisance to other berth holders'. So if you talk with them maybe they will do something.

 

[SimbaDog]

Securing a rutland wind charger knackers the bearings as they are designed to spin & through moisture out, it also invalidates the warranty.
Anyone throwing something into mine or tying it off can expect immediate & painful retribution

 

[snooks]

Frankly if it was me I'd nip along in the dark and secure it ( watching not to lose fingers ); if the boat owner has to use kit which annoys others to keep his batteries topped up, then he shouldn't do it, tough.

I'd probably also leave a printed anonymous note explaining the thing is a noisy nuisance - to draw attention to the thing being secured -, and that the owner should check battery status before setting off.

So knowing now that by stopping the blades, you could damage the wind gen. You would still willfully vandalise someone else's boat just because it was making a noise?

Unbelievable

If you don't like the noise, get out of the marina

 

[Danny Jo]

Most wind gens have a regulator which switches the gen to a slow speed when the batteries are charged

Yes, but if the batteries aren't fully charged, it's still antisocial to have it running at night in a marina.

When I complained about this to the nice man that installed mine, he said, no problem, just install a switch that shorts the circuit. So now, when I am concerned that the noise might be a nuisance, I flip the switch. This slows the blades to a silent crawl and avoids damaging the bearings, not to mention my fingers.

I later discovered an additional benefit of this switch. If you have nervous crew on board it helps to switch off the genny when preparing for a passage - the wretched thing otherwise makes a F5 sound like a F7.

 

[Sandyman]

The two blade ones seem to make the most noise. I've got am old Aerogen with 5 blades and even in near hurricane winds you never hear it.

Recently in an F9 in the Biscay on a yacht with a two blade jobbie. In a gust it sounded like a gas-turbine flashing up. How peeps put up with that I will never know.

Suggest you put you problem into the hands of the marina. Make it their problem & let them deal with it. Direct action is only likely to have a come back on you and cause further problems.

 

[mjcoon]

So knowing now that by stopping the blades, you could damage the wind gen. You would still willfully vandalise someone else's boat just because it was making a noise?

Unbelievable

If you don't like the noise, get out of the marina

That's an appalling viewpoint, though no doubt held by ASBO-holders everywhere!

BTW Do you have a reference to these rotten designs that can be damaged by being stopped? That way we can all diss such engineers!

Mike.

 

[capnsensible]

That's an appalling viewpoint, though no doubt held by ASBO-holders everywhere!

BTW Do you have a reference to these rotten designs that can be damaged by being stopped? That way we can all diss such engineers!

Mike.

An apalling viewpoint, er, in your viewpoint....

I dont know why I am still surprised with the seeming total lack of noise tolerance by Brits. It seems unless some get total silence exactly when they reqire it, they will squeal loudly themselves.

Sailing a yacht in any breeze is hardly noiseless, let alone Marinas. Water makes a noise on the hull, wind blows through not just running but standing rigging too.

Boats come and go at all hours, people talk and heaven forbid put a radio on.

So there is always someone ready to take offence in their own interest. I like the advice that if its not for you, move on.

I have happily lived aboard, mostly in Marinas for 15 years. Very rarely will noise bother me, man made or natural. I have learnt to tune it out, like, I suppose, living near an airport (do that here as well!!) or a motorway.

Relax, the world has noise and you wont change it!!

 

[macd]

That's an appalling viewpoint.

I you're referring to the "If you don't like the noise, get out of the marina", I couldn't agree more (and not only because the OP might well have a long-term contract). Unless tongue-in-cheek, not the sort of sentiment I'd have expected from that source. It demeans him.

 

[snowleopard]

I have an Air Marine, the predecessor of the Air-X. It makes an appalling noise but it can be reduced to a silent 10 rpm by a shorting switch supplied with the kit. I would consider myself guilty if I accidentally left it 'on' while away from the boat for any length of time.

I consider use of any machine noisy enough to be a nuisance to other berthholders to be unacceptable for any more than short periods, whether it be a wind genny, diesel genny, cockpit speakers or barking dog.

 

[snooks]

I you're referring to the "If you don't like the noise, get out of the marina", I couldn't agree more (and not only because the OP might well have a long-term contract). Unless tongue-in-cheek, not the sort of sentiment I'd have expected from that source. It demeans him.

It was a twist on the phrase: if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Marinas aren't renowned for their tranquility, so if it wasn't the wind gen it would be a wheelie bag being pulled along the pontoon, wind in the rigging, tapping halyards, slapping water on the hull, ferries, traffic, yoofs etc.

Where does it stop?

I chose my Rutland because it was quiet and since having it we've had no complaints

 

[Tintin]

If you move to the countryside you've got to put up with the noise of farm animals, muck on the roads, farmyard smells. You know those will happen before you move there.

If you move to the city you can expect to have your car scratched and be woken by car alarms. You know that will happen before you move there.

If you keep your boat in a marina you know flapping halyards and wind gens will make noise, as will people coming past with trolleys at 3am. You know that will happen before you move there.

It's not as if they are having a party until 5am every night is it?

If you want peace and quiet find a nice secluded anchorage or mooring - they do exist honestly, and some insurers are happy for moorings in some locations to be used all year.

Or buy ear plugs - I use mine when its windy.

 

[Seajet]

For a start, I question the idea that securing a windgen will damage the bearings.

I commented about securing the blades before this was stated, but I question its' veracity.

Leaving it turning needlessly certainly will.

So if people are making an antisocial noise - or even worse, leaving something making such a noise while they are happily absent - I'm supposed to leave the berth I've organised and paid for am I ? Nonsense.

The odd bit of noise like a trolley going past is absolutely nothing like a wingen groaning in the wind; it's been stated this boat has shore power, if that isn't 100% reliable then tough, it's a boat not a cryogenic laboratory !

Suggesting it's OK to be antisocial is appalling.