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Marty's note: Over the past 10 years I have sold only two individual
blades for Rutland and a single blade for an Aerogen 6. To be fair, there are some Air out there that have been absolutely trouble free for years - but, and it's a big but - there is a lack of consistency and I have had turbines back two or three times, especially when they are in a windy location such as Tasmania. There are definately less failures in the more temperate zones. Okay for the Barrier Reef cruiser but not a lot of good for the more adventurous offshore types - or people living in Tassie using Air for home power. Another thing worthy of consideration is the
regulator. If something is going to go wrong with a mechanical
devise that has electronics involved, it will be the electronics
that fail - almost every time. The regulator for Rutland is external
to the turbine. What this means is that if you have the most vulnerable
part of the set up go bung on you - the electronics - you can
fix or replace the reg but leave the turbine up in the air and
still giving power. Nice and simple. With Air, the reg is built
in, so if you have a problem with the electronics, you have to
take the whole shebang down. This is a particularly accute pain
in the rear end for people who have mast head mounted their turbine
as they need a cherry picker to get it down, or land based people
who have the turbine on a 50' tower. A snippet for owners of the lastest Air Breeze wind generator, if it has been in the air for more than 5 months, Check your blades, there is a good chance they have been significantly degraded by the sun. See pic below Air Marine: This is a set of Air Breeze blades from a turbine I installed on a yacht in Tasmania last February. And this is only one example. With Rutland you can buy a single replacement blade in the event of a problem, whereas Air will sell as a "matched" set. I guess Rutland have more confidence in their consistency of quality control. "Made in the USA" it is claimed on the Air Breeze box. I reckon it would be worth popping the question to the manufacturer as to exactly what is "made" in the USA and what is made elsewhere - and where. For my money, being an offshore cruiser myself, I would put reliability over style and "claimed" output any day. The new boat I am building is named KISS, just in case you don't know what that stands for, it is - Keep It Simple Stupid. A good motto for the offshore cruiser and remote land dweller alike. |
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| The Rutland 913 is designed specifically
for marine use on coastal and ocean going yachts but is equally
at home on your home or campervan. The Rutland 913 has been a common
sight in marinas for many years, thousands are in use worldwide,
boat owners like it's no pretences look, its quiet, continuous and
very reliable operation. This latest marine model accumulates more
energy than any other comparable windcharger available, you'll always
see a Rutland spinning in the lightest of breezes! Below you will
see the performance specification and the dimensions of the Rutland
913. Rutland 913 Spec sheet |
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| Price: Call for current pricing Regulator to suit:$160.00 Switchable regulator for two battery banks (plus solar panel): $ 399.00 Spare blades: $33.00 each |
· Low wind speed start up of just 5 knots |
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Air
Breeze Marine Wind Generator. The Air Marine wind generator has been around for 13 years now. Unfortunately, despite all their previous bad experiences and many hassles with the Air range, the lastest turbines are a long way from being hassle free. If you are the type of yachtie who sits in a marina and does the odd coastal passage, always in striking distance of a service point, and want a turbine that looks "pretty" on your boat, then Air Breeze may be for you. Certainly the best looking wind generator currrently on the market. However, if you are a more serious cruiser who is looking for a wind generator you can put up and forget about for a few years, then, in our opinion, you will be better off to forego the "good looks" aspect of your wind turbine and go for something like a Rutland 913. Too many problems with these units so we no longer sell or recommend them. |
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Blade Diameter... 46"
(1170 mm) Replacement regulator when it packs up. About
$250.00 |
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Something to think about! Air Breeze blades after only a few months in the air |
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| And
more to think about! This slip ring came off an Air Breeze turbine after being installed only six weeks. |
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more to think about! This completely burnt out Air Breeze was a result of some heavy winds, nothing real serious, 50 knots in the gusts. The coating and insulators have completely burnt off the stator so you can rattle the windings. And this is not an isolated case. |
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See below for mounting kits for While stocks last
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 This is how it works |
| The Targa mount kit has been
specifically designed for mounting a wind generator on the Targa
bar of catamarans or, as shown here, on the Targa frame of a mono
hull. This will almost completely isolate your boat from vibration
transmission. Made from polished stainless steel, comes complete with rubber mounts and washers. Bolts are not supplied. |
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Whisper 500 (Ex 175)
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Specifications:
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See bargain box for more details.
The Whisper 500 (Ex 175), at 3200 watts rated
output, maintains its position as the big daddy of the range.
Whisper 500 is a serious power provider.
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Air 403 or Air X Wind Turbine Blades Genuine, manufacturer supplied, blades. |
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Air Breeze Wind Turbine Blades Genuine, manufacturer supplied, blades. |
Updated 02-04-2009