Sailboat Water Turbine Doubles Energy Production

Watt&Sea Hydrogenerators produce power with a water turbine housed in a computer-optimized hydrodynamic design.

Once a sailboat has left the docks, is totally isolated from utility (grid) power. The production of energy on any boat is crucial to powering communications, navigation lighting and other energy consuming devices. Operating diesel engines and generators are costly, noisy and are environmentally unsanitary.

The clean energy solution is the Watt&Sea Hydrogenerator, which easily deploys off the back of the cruising or racing vessel efficiently generating power for energy independence.

The principle is simple: using the speed of the sailing boat to turn an immersed propeller and produce electricity. The high-tech sleek hydrodynamic design of the Hydrogenerator produces high output power with very low drag and noise while being lightweight and easy to deploy. Energy production begins at 3 kn of speed and the energy cost produced is a competitive solution.

The energy production is typically twice that of solar panel and wind generator alternative energy solution allowing reduction in battery bank size and fuel storage reducing vessel weight and increasing performance.

The unit is lightweight, compact and easy to install on the boats transom. Deployment and recovery is easy taking only seconds thanks to its unique lifting system (similar to a rudder). It is maintenance free, generating 240 amp-hours day @ 5 knots. It weighs 17.7 lbs and comes complete with an external automatic regulator.

These hydrogenerators are currently available and sold through e Marine Systems, a supplier of marine renewable energy equipment.