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barnakiel · 26-10-2010, 12:27

This guy did not:

full story here:

VELUX5OCEANS | the ultimate solo challenge

Cheers,
barnie

mintyspilot · 26-10-2010, 12:36

That's why I like this type of WindGen - that outer ring gives some protection

**hummingway** · 26-10-2010, 12:46

I don't understand how removing seaweed from a rudder turned into putting your head into the blades of a wind gen but I wish him a speedy recovery.

shadow · 26-10-2010, 12:50

Crazy!! thanks for the share

Reckless · 26-10-2010, 13:49

Ouch, never put my head in a windgen, but I did step up into a ceiling fan once, wasn't paying attention as I climbed the ladder and was looking down talking to the wife. 6 stitches and a heck of a headache later, I learned to turn the fan off before I go up to change a lightbulb.

I can only imagine how this guy feels.

s/v 'Faith' · 26-10-2010, 13:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by mintyspilot

That's why I like this type of WindGen - that outer ring gives some protection

Do you have a 5 series Rutland? I looked for years for some reports from someone who has one.

**boatman61** · 26-10-2010, 14:01

I had a similar thing happen on my Westerly Longbow in Andratx, Majorca....
I had an Aerogen and it was mounted on the pushpit using the short pole that comes with it..... aabout 4.5ft from deck to bottom of the blades
I had been happily working round it for 18mths cruising down from the UK... no problems...
Anyway we wintered in Andratx, tied up bow on to the mole and a kedge running of the stern... this was the year they had a hurricane that caused havoc and 1 death in Palma and was the same storm that caused a big old Swedish ex fishing boat (which was doing trips for rehab of drug users, crim's etc) to break most of its stern lines an have the remaining cleat ripped out setting them out across the harbour with just the anchor off the bow as a brake... they got the engine going before hitting shore and proceeded to haul in anchor...
I meantime was up forward tending our lines when my missus yelled that they'd fouled our kedge and were dragging us to port at the stern...
Tied up next to us was a Dutch couple who we'd got to know pretty well... and had had a dig at us a few times re the Aerogen.... anyway before I could move aft Thomas had leapt across and dashed aft to the stbd stern cleat and started trying to undo the anchor plait... not a chance in hell with the strain on.... and in his efforts proceeded to stick his head into the blades.... awesome sight... they just shattered, split his scalp open about an inch back from his hairline... blood everywhere.
I whipped out my knife and did the fastest thing... I cut the rope and got lines onto the boats each side till we could lay another anchor off the stern... meanwhile Liz had Tom down below trying to do the temporary repairs to his head... ended up getting 16 stitches...
The Aerogen stayed in place for another two years till I sold the boat... no further casualties...

Unicorn Dreams · 26-10-2010, 14:26

I like mine where it's at, all the way at the top of the mizzen, kind of hard to bump into.
And mt procedure is to turn it off if going up the mast..

I think he needs to make his windgen mast a little taller, I wouldn't want one mounted that low that I could bump into it...

foggysail · 26-10-2010, 14:52

No, that is not something we wish to happen!

Fifteen years ago I designed a wind generator for my sailboat. I had a casting made, actually 12 of them. I designed a stationary armature with a rotating field consisting of custom neodymium iron boron magnets I had manufactured in China. The product had a 4 blade, 5' diameter propeller and a maximum output of around 12 amperes in 20+K wind.

My intent was to manufacture and sell them. I looked forward to selling many. One night I had a nighmare, someone could get killed with that blade!!! And no, it makes no sense to put a ring shield around a large blade, even that would not prevent physical harm. I gave up the idea completely! I was at risk of losing eveything I owned then and in the future.

Liability laws always seem to benefit those who injure themselves. Even if the instructions clearly state how high the rotor must be to avoid injury, somebody, somehow will always get it wrong.

There is a belief in this litigious country of ours, "that no mater what happens to anyone, it must be some one else's fault."

Lets see how long it takes this accident to generate a lawsuit.

Foggy

marc2012 · 26-10-2010, 15:13

Blame Darwin.marc

Bruce626 · 31-05-2011, 05:53

"I designed a wind generator for my sailboat." How about designing a mag-lev vertical axis unit that would perhaps mount over the davits? Use the 5' diameter and use blades that look like sails - generating 'lift' and boosting the flow over the following sail by using an open center. Perhaps it can be made quieter and will deliver power in lighter winds - from any wind direction.

Blue Stocking · 31-05-2011, 06:04

Saw a cormorant on a landing approach fly into one these things. Not pretty.

Bruce626 · 31-05-2011, 07:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Stocking

Saw a cormorant on a landing approach fly into one these things. Not pretty.

Perhaps a couple of small streamers would scare them off, or a plastic owl. Do you remember the name of the vertical axis wind turbine? I would like to get the specifications. Was ut quiet (up to the point of impact)? There has been precious little sun here in Cebu so far this year so solar panels would have been a colossal waste of money.