Aquair water towed generator - experiences? looking for a propeller..

[J Neeves]

LVM, aquaXaerogen sold out to ITT. I believe ITT have now discontinued the aquagen side of the unit, probably because there was not a large enough market. But as Andrew says - these units make lots of power (more so than the wind gen side). The props are very simple - and as long as you know the dimensions would be easy to have knocked up.

The LVM units were a bit of a fiddle to swap round, but worth it in water mode for that amount of power.

I hanker after the WattandSea unit - but it costs, far, too much.

edit We pull in the line when 'at speed' hence the leather welding gloves, its not that difficult. But because we did not feed back and reverse the line we ended up with this tightly wound anaconda that we then fed back to try to untangle (heaving to in big seas is not a bunch of laughs and leaving the line out till calmer water means you might be doing something else or meet someone crossing too close).

But I would not do it without decent gloves.

further edit - not sure why they could not have had a bigger set of prop blades for slower boats?

close edit

Jonathan

 

[Ric]

BTW, if anybody has an Aquagen and needs a set of "fast" blades, I would like to swap them for a spare set of "slow" blades.

 

[Oldhairy]

(P.S. OldHairy - your technique must be a bit risky as it sounds as if the towed line is completely detached while recovering it, and it's heavy to hold when moving and easily dropped. I used almost the same method of untangling the rope as Duncan99210, except I streamed it from the inboard end after detaching from the generator and securing the propeller, which was spliced on, aboard).

I slow down to about 2kts during recovery, at that speed it is quite manageable, use both hands of cause.
If you keep in mind the replacement cost you will be well motivated to not let go.

 

[TQA]

I have no need of this (and boat too slow) so it is out of interest only, but does this technique not mean that you are entirely dependent on holding on to the line whilst paying out the on board end and recovering the propeller as both ends are free?

Do you heave to whilst doing this?

No idea of the forces involved if moving.

I would leave it attached and pull it in wearing gloves. At 6 knots it came in twisted and kinked but if I was storing it I would secure the propeller disconnect the line from the generator and feed it out over the stern and tow it till the twists went. Retrieval at 2 - 3 knots did not cause much twisting.