ELECTRIC BOATS MotorGuide Stealth (Outboards): UK importer Solar Gard, 3 Crumpfields Lane Redditch Worcs B97 5PN UK Minn Kota (Outboards): UK agent Thames Electic Launch Co PO BOX 3 Goring On Thames Reading RG8 0HQ UK Tel : +44 1491 873126 Fax : +44 1491 872217 TELC also supply the Lynch Electric motor which can be retrofitted to a standard diesel boat. It is 8x5 inches and 4kW, and can be supllied by 18 x 6V batteries. (48V unit I think). There is a Thames NRA (National Rivers Authority) patrol launch using it (they keep the diesel only for heavy towing or emergencies). Price of installation approx GBP 5000. HFL Diesel Electric Drive (shown at London Boat show on 27 ft fibreglass river cruiser) 800cc Mitsubisi Generator in acoustic cocoon. 380V 3 phase generator 12.5kW alternator 7.5kW electric motor on prop shaft Packages available from 6.5kW/3.7kW to 100kW/45kW generation/drive. Cost: around GBP 10000 HFL Marine HFL House Lockfield Avenue Enfield Middlesex EN3 7PX UK Tel: +44 181 805 9088 Fax: +44 181 805 2440 Other useful contacts maybe, European Fuel Cell Group, Electric Vehicle Development Group Ref 1853 33/34 Alfred Place London WC1E 7DP UK Tel: +44 181 940 0202 Fax: +44 181 831 9489 and a specialist motor manufacturer, previously associated with Lucas Electric Vehicles. (High efficiency at low cost due to no rare earth magnets. 2kW to 120kW motors.) Switched Reluctance Drives Ltd Springfield House Hyde Terrace Leeds LS2 9LN UK Tel: +44 532 443844 Fax: +44 532 423179 WIND GENERATORS Ole and Rasmus wind chargers The Ole is 12V max power: 300W generator, producing about 100W for a 6m/s wind. The Ramus is 220-380V, 2.2 -3kW, I think they suggest a 10 to 15m tower. Folkecenter for Renewable Energy Kammersgaardsvej 16 Sdr Ydby Hurup Thy, DK 7760 Denmark. Tel: +45 457 956555 ^L Rutland 910 Windcharger, 12V/24V versions. About 8A max output at 12V. Comments: common on boats in UK. Marlec Engineering Co Ltd, Unit K, Cavendish Courtyard, Sallow Rd, Corby, Northamptonshire, NN17 1DZ UK Tel: +44 1536 201588 Extra details on the Rutland, which I almost bought (but found using my petrol generator cost me only GBP 2 per week.) approx GBP 300 weight 13.7Kg Diameter 0.91m 12V and 24V versions Produces upto 8A * Produces approx 1A in a 10mph wind* Output starts at 4mph wind Mounts on 50mm pipe, 1.5m or more recommended. (* at 12V. These figures are out of date - I've seen material saying they have uprated the output by 50%) Marine is on anti vibration mounts, and with shorter tail, for less turning space, Furlmatic is heavier 17.3kg, and turns out of very high winds). LVM Aerogen 5, 25 and 3, 12V and 24 V versions. Output 5 upto 16A 3 upto 16A (but less efficient than the 5?) 25 upto 4A LVM Ltd 1 Royston Rd Baldock Hertfordshire SG7 6NT UK Tel: +44 1462 896095 No data just an address Aerodyn Windturbines PO BOX 2 Tonedale Works Wellington Somerset TA21 0AW UK Tel : +44 1823 666177 No data just an address Ampair Lumic 382b Ringwood Rd Parkstone Poole Dorset BH2 3LT UK Tel: +44 1202 749994 Two old messages from the live-aboard mailing list: >Finally, I may be in the minority but I'm not a fan of wind >generators. I had a Four Winds. It was extremely noisy. It looked >like hell. It was dangerous. It was expensive. It was difficult to >install. The amps it produced were not worth all the other >inconviences. It would have been MUCH better to put that money into >inconviences. It would have been MUCH better to put that money into >some good, efficient, quiet, safe solar panels. >So far my experience goes for the wind generator, I have an Aerogen 3, and >I have the idea, that it beats my solar panels easily, in 10 knots of wind, >it is producing 1 Amp and in 20 knot of wind 4 and in this summer of fresh >winds I have witnessed extended periods of 6 to 8 amps (while on the beat). >Aerogen is quiet and more efficient than my solar panels. So, you pays your money and you takes your chocice.