chrisb
New member
i have the technical imfo. do any of you have personal experienc of this generator- htat is reliability ease of use.
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duogen
- Thread starter chrisb
- Start date
Talbot
Active member
There were some praiseworthy comments from the yacht fitted in the last Arc. For what its worth, I will be fitting one myself before I leave (plus large solar panel)
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Twister_Ken
Well-known member
Our hero, Stingo, has one and if he can tear himself away from Brazilian hotties for a few moments he many be prevailed upon to comment - favourably I suspect.
<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>
<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>
stiknstring
Member
I fitted one earlier this year in Plymouth prior to taking the boat down to Las Palmas for the start of the ARC. Ran it in wind mode for successful first 600 miles - gave plenty of power.
From Corunna onwards put it in water mode- and problem encountered which was simply that the installer had installed it wrong way round (180 degrees), so it kept yawing from side to side and popping up out of the water. A quick call back to Duogen, five minutes turning it around and it has worked faultlessly since then. Quite heavy to retrieve and the retrieval line was just a tad too short - again easily and cheaply rectified. Produces alot of power - arguably more than advertised.
One word of advice and that is that Duogen (Eclectic Energy) have not built up a database of installation engineers around the country so make sure you get a competent electrician and boat engineer as he/she will have to cut holes in your pride and joy. Similarily, they have not a good knowledge about the plethora of different boats they are likely to get fitted onto. In my case, the transom slope was an issue and I know now that I should have had the extra long tower. In wind mode, the blades are just that too close for comfort.
Finally, the brackets that brace the tower are a little too flimsy in my view - they set up quite alot of vibration until we installed an extra brace that steadied it up. It is now largely noiseless and hugely efficient. I don't have experience of any other water/wind generators, but I can only say it has performed extremely well since fitting and provides huge amounts of energy. We have so far tested it over 1700NM, so feel we would have found problems by now if there were any. I would advise buying the spares kit - very well packaged and marked up, cheap and comprehensive - and only about £70.
If you do fit it, take care finding an experienced installer and good luck!
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From Corunna onwards put it in water mode- and problem encountered which was simply that the installer had installed it wrong way round (180 degrees), so it kept yawing from side to side and popping up out of the water. A quick call back to Duogen, five minutes turning it around and it has worked faultlessly since then. Quite heavy to retrieve and the retrieval line was just a tad too short - again easily and cheaply rectified. Produces alot of power - arguably more than advertised.
One word of advice and that is that Duogen (Eclectic Energy) have not built up a database of installation engineers around the country so make sure you get a competent electrician and boat engineer as he/she will have to cut holes in your pride and joy. Similarily, they have not a good knowledge about the plethora of different boats they are likely to get fitted onto. In my case, the transom slope was an issue and I know now that I should have had the extra long tower. In wind mode, the blades are just that too close for comfort.
Finally, the brackets that brace the tower are a little too flimsy in my view - they set up quite alot of vibration until we installed an extra brace that steadied it up. It is now largely noiseless and hugely efficient. I don't have experience of any other water/wind generators, but I can only say it has performed extremely well since fitting and provides huge amounts of energy. We have so far tested it over 1700NM, so feel we would have found problems by now if there were any. I would advise buying the spares kit - very well packaged and marked up, cheap and comprehensive - and only about £70.
If you do fit it, take care finding an experienced installer and good luck!
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JerryHawkins
Member
See my reply on LiveAboard forum. nm
nm
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nm
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Stingo
Well-known member
I've done over 5000 miles with mine in water mode and over 12 months at anchor or in a marina in wind mode. There have been two minor problems, but Pete from DuoGen sorted them out very promptly.
I sold my Aquair 100 and replaced it with a DuoGen. One of my better decisions because despite it being "heavy" to lift out of water mode, it's near impossible to retrieve and Aquair 100 in water mode.
With the benifit of hindsight, DuoGen would still be my choice of power generation.
<hr width=100% size=1><font color=blue><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.stingo.co.uk>http://www.stingo.co.uk</A> - now showing on a computer near you</font color=blue>
I sold my Aquair 100 and replaced it with a DuoGen. One of my better decisions because despite it being "heavy" to lift out of water mode, it's near impossible to retrieve and Aquair 100 in water mode.
With the benifit of hindsight, DuoGen would still be my choice of power generation.
<hr width=100% size=1><font color=blue><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.stingo.co.uk>http://www.stingo.co.uk</A> - now showing on a computer near you</font color=blue>
stormeagle
New member
I fitted Duogen to my Oyster 39 in the med this season. Its one of the few bits of kit that does exactly what its very nice makers claim. Back up service is second to none.
Having previously nearly had a nervous breakdown, plus enormous expense with the dreaded 'Windhunter', it was wonderful to deal with honest and competent people.
Don't leave home without it!
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Having previously nearly had a nervous breakdown, plus enormous expense with the dreaded 'Windhunter', it was wonderful to deal with honest and competent people.
Don't leave home without it!
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