Forgen 500 - advice/opinions please

[i_sail]

I am thinking of fitting a Forgen 500. The company that make them have just bought out a new model that claims to generate 50% more power charging capacity. The company state they sold loads of these at the boatshow, and I have no reason to doubt this.

I am running LED cabin lights, an LED nav light, VHF radio and depth/speed log on a 20 foot trailer sailer that is moored on a buoy in Chichester Harbour (I don't trailer the boat, I leave her in the water). I sail her probably on average 1 day during the week and 2 days during the weekend, most weeks of the year. I rarely go into a marina so shore power not an option for me to charge my battery. My battery is a single 12 volt AGM Energy 85.

I know having looked through the forum that many forumites do not like the Forgen, prefering to fit a Rutland 503/504 on a small boat, or use a solar panel. However I have thought long and hard regarding this and feel that the Rutland will not suit my boat (will be very difficult to fit stays that will be effective and may make the boat top heavy and also will be hard to get it high enough to be safe in the cockpit) and I also feel that the Forgen will be more effective than a solar panel. I may fit a solar panel as an addition next season.

Anyway, bearing all this in mind, does anybody have any opinions? Is the Forgen a "no no" at any cost? Is it moderately OK? Has anybody used the new 50% improved model? Any suggestions on a better option?

Any help before I spend £400 odd of my hard earnt tax paid cash would be very gratefully received!

 

[maxi77]

I used to have one of these and always found whilst on a mooring it kept my battery topped up, and that was the old version. It was not always enough in a marina where the wind was much less due to harbour walls etc.

I think others give more output, but it was certainly maintainance free and never made any noise.

 

[VicS]

I am in a similar position to you. A small boat on a mooring in Chichester, seldom visiting marinas.

IMHO the Forgens are an excellent choice for a small boat but they only start generating at fairly high wind speeds and are expensive for the output they do give.

Only using my boat at most alternate weekends my power requirements may not be so high although I have conventional lights not LEDs and use an Autohelm most of the time while sailing.

I opted for a small (5 watt) solar panel permanently mounted and that has been adequate but If I wanted more I would consider a Forgen vs another solar panel.

On the basis that a longer period of use would likely include one or two nights in a marina I might consider a basic shorepower system just to run a battery charger

 

[npf1]

A few years back, I bought a new Forgen 1000, which I kept for 1 winter before replacing it with a decent solar panel. Now the batteries are always charged, summer and winter, when I go to the boat. With the Forgen they were not. I have a large battery bank and the boat is kept on a river mooring.

IMHO, a good solar panel - one of the ones that work OK in overcast conditions (not all do) - is much better.

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
replacing it with a decent solar panel

[/ QUOTE ] But what size of solar panel?

 

[npf1]

I'm referring to a 32W Unisolar flexible panel, which cost less than half the price of the Forgen.

Oh ... to be fair to the Forgen, it's proably worth adding that mine was installed about 5ft higher than the deck. I'm pretty sure the output would have been better had it been higher up, such as on the mast. On numerous occasions mine was not rotating when a mast mounted one on a boat nearby was whizzing away.

 

[QuietFlight]

Have my boat on a swinging mooring, hardly touch marinas. My Forgen keeps the No2 battery in tip top nick, maintance free and quiet. Fit it and forget. I also did not wanta helicopter on the back of my boat! The condition of the battery is now in far better condition, as the Forgen trickle charges the battery which allows it to achieve a higher level of hold than with the shore power fed charger. They are well made and easy to fit, no regulater needed either. Very cost effective. For a small boat mounted of the back of the cockpit with the special fitting bracket it works a treat. I have no conection with the manufacturer, just s satisfied customer.

 

[seumask]

I also have a old forgen 500 on a swing moring in Chi Harbour and with the usage pattern you outline I would compliment it with a Solar panel which we do when we stay on the boat during our usual summer 2 week holiday.