For those who love to be out in the ocean, nothing beats the experience of sailing as they travel the deep and pristine waters without the need to use loud motors or fuel. It is a liberating feeling to be in the middle of the ocean as you navigate the power of the wind in your sails. As much freedom and peace as sailing provides, it is not absolute.
When sailing in open waters, most sailors rely on electricity for various purposes. They need electricity for refrigeration, lighting and using appliances and electronics and ensure their safety. The need for electricity to power different appliances typically involves using batteries. Regardless of their overall capacity, all types of batteries run out of power, so you need to charge them.
If you are already circumventing fossil fuel-powered motors and using wind energy to power your boat, you can use the same renewable energy source to keep your batteries charged.
Wind-powered generators are becoming an increasingly common tool for sailors. Naturally, the number of products in the market to meet the demand is also increasing. If you are looking for the best wind generators for sailboats, you might be stumped by the number of products available to choose from.
Not all wind generators for sailboats are made the same and not every sailor’s requirements are alike. Hence, we have created this guide to help you find the best wind generator for your sailboat. After conducting hours of research and putting products to the test, we have shortlisted the five best wind generators for sailboats you can choose from.
Products Reviewed in This Article
Last update on 2023-03-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Wind Generators for Sailboats Reviews
Our Top Pick Happybuy 100W 12V Lantern Wind Turbine Generator
Happybuy is one of the few manufacturers that has established a strong position for itself in the industry to meet sailors’ demands for a reliable source of electricity on the sea. When you think of wind turbines, the usual turbines with blades facing the wind come to one’s mind. That is not the case with the Lantern Wind Turbine Generator by Happybuy.
Red Lantern might not look like it at first glance, but it is a very powerful wind turbine generator that generates 100W power output, thanks to its blades made with a sturdy aluminum alloy. These five blades give it an iconic lantern-like design with their aerodynamic shape, which allows them to generate an incredible amount of energy with minimal power loss. The surface of the blades is coated with a special compound that makes it highly resistant to the weather effects and moisture – something that comes in incredibly handy when you are out on the sea for extended periods.
The flange has an ergonomic design, making installation a breeze. The turbine is very efficient in turning the generator. The generator uses a three-phase permanent magnet AC to create a substantial amount of energy to charge your 12V batteries with ease. The vertical axis wind turbine means that it does not require facing a favorable wind direction for operational efficiency. This is a versatile device that you can use for your sailboat and even install it for urban use. The high quality material used for its construction will ensure a long lasting and effective solution to meet your boat’s power needs.
PROS
- Beautiful, aerodynamic design
- Easy and convenient installation
- Wide range of possible applications
- Ideal size for use on a sailboat
CONS
- Does not come with an installation kit
Yaetek 400W 24V DC Wind Turbine Generator
If you’re planning on cruising on a larger sailboat, which requires substantial electricity supply for charging the large batteries, you might want to look for something that packs more of a punch than a 100W wind turbine. Yaetek 400W is a powerful 24V DC Wind Turbine Generator that might be worth taking a look at to meet the high power output demands of your sailboat.
One of the larger and more powerful entries we have in this guide, Yaetek 400W is no joke. You can tell just by the size of its blades. The four-foot diameter of the wind turbine blades consists of three blades made using carbon fiber material. The use of carbon fiber allows the turbine to be lightweight while being able to capture a decent amount of wind to create a good amount of spin for the generator.
The battery capacity ranges from 200 to 400AH, which is more than enough to charge the batteries of your sailboat and power the appliances and electronics you need out in the ocean. Due to its large diameter, the wind turbine is also capable of generating plenty of electricity even at slow wind speeds.
This is a highly convenient gear for installing on your boat since it is simple to set up. Once it is set up, the whole framework is quite sturdy and minimizes the amount of vibration and noise produced. This is an efficient device to have onboard to power all the electronics on your sailboat. It also accentuates the look of your sailboat with its elegant finish.
PROS
- Low startup speed and high wind power utilization
- Lightweight wind turbine generator
- Does not create a lot of noise when operating at its full potential
- Very easy to maintain
- Highly durable overall set up
CONS
- Does not come with a tower; so you have to buy a tower separately
Pamico Spiral Vertical 400W 12V Wind Turbine Windmill Generator
As far as looks go, Pamico Spiral Vertical might be the best wind generator for sailboats. The elegant looking and high quality FRP blades exude class due to their spiral shape and vertical axis wind turbine design. The spiral shape of the blades on the Pamico Wind Turbine Windmill is not there just to create a beautiful turbine. It is one of the more powerful entries we have on this guide.
The spiral blades are actually a one-piece design made using molded FRP. The material is durable, reliable, does not corrode and has the capabilities required to perform well against strong winds. The single-piece design ensures greater rotational stability for the wind turbine at high rotation speeds to produce electricity.
The aerodynamic design of the blades allows the wind turbine to start turning even at low wind speeds to maximize the generator’s ability to harness the power of the wind. The lightweight and compact size add to the turbine’s ability to turn, while losing a minimum amount of kinetic energy. The wind turbine uses a three-phase permanent magnet coreless motor that makes the starting torque even smaller.
One of the things we really loved about the Pamico Spiral Vertical 400W 12V Wind Turbine generator was the fact that it comes with a maximum RPM limit. The unique magnetic circuit limits the rotations to a maximum of 300RPM, regardless of wind speed. Its compact size also allows you to easily install it on your sailboat without worrying about it taking too much space.
PROS
- Low starting speed for the turbine
- Convenient flange design makes it easy to install and maintain
- Greater stability from the use of dual bearing design
- Versatile and powerful wind turbine
- Easy to maintain and clean
CONS
- Assembly can be a bit of a hassle
Cutting Edge Power Mini Wind Turbine
This product can cater to the wide range of requirements of sailors. Not everybody wants to have a wind power solution that can give them enough output to possibly power a small house. If you are looking for a convenient, portable, and highly compact wind turbine, the Cutting Edge Power Mini Wind Turbine is all you need.
This is a premium quality product with a strong build. You do not need to get a charge controller. Just connect it directly to any 12V DC battery and you are good to go. Made by Cutting Edge Power, this portable device uses the latest USB identification circuit to connect with a USB power source that will power most of your electronics on the sailboat.
Generating a modest 10W output at 5V and 2A, the device is not enough to charge large batteries for powering your refrigerator or high-powered lights, but this is the perfect tool for a smaller boat.
The high-performance blades are securely pressed and locked on through two screws. There are aerodynamic grooves on the blades that create a thin turbulent boundary layer right on the surface of the blades. This allows the blades to move seamlessly and minimize any loss of kinetic energy to give an efficient output. If you want something that barely has any weight and is ideal for just powering your smartphone and other devices, this is an affordable solution.
PROS
- Highly compact and portable
- UV-resistant and water-resistant
- Small rotor diameter makes it easy to install anywhere on the sailboat
CONS
- Only provides a minimum power output that can vary due to change in wind speeds
Happybuy 300W 24V DC Wind Turbine Generator
By far, the happiest we have been when it comes to the best wind generators for sailboats is with the Happybuy 300W 24V DC Wind Turbine Generator. This piece of gear offers a well balanced solution to meet your power needs when you are out in the open ocean cruising on your sailboat. The 6 blades on the turbine allow the device to give you a powerful performance and maximize the kinetic energy from the wind.
The lightweight design allows the 6 blades to turn the turbine and generator efficiently even in low wind speed conditions. The lower rotation of its blades also reduces the noise the wind turbine produces. The Happybuy Wind Turbine has a standard vertical axis set up that is able to better harness the turbulent air flow and it can produce a massive 300W output – incredible for something of its size.
Safety is also a concern for a lot of sailors, especially when they have a high output turbine onboard. The Happybuy Wind Turbine comes with a built-in electromagnetic braking system that protects the integrity of the wind turbine and keeps the overall setup from heating up. The limiter also enables greater control over the current and voltage it produces.
PROS
- Good looking design
- Low startup wind speed
- Highly durable in harsh conditions of the sea
- Convenient and easy to set up and install
CONS
- Charge controller does not have an option to dump the load
Best Wind Generators for Sailboats Final Thoughts
A wind turbine on a sailboat is a smart investment, considering the needs of sailors in this day and age. We have featured a variety of wind turbines that you can install on your sailboat so you get a decent amount of charge for your batteries to keep all your electronics running seamlessly.
We are confident that the reviews of these wind generators will help you to make the perfect buying decision to meet your needs while cruising on your sailboat.
As a reminder of our top pick we recommend the Happybuy 100W 12V Lantern Wind Turbine Generator for your sailboat.
