Buyer's Guide - Bluewater gear
Bluewater dreams Three bluewater sailors tell Sam Fortescue about their top offshore kit ideas
D
istant shores and balmy waters are the stuff of bluewater dreams. Many of us have idly thought about escaping the rat race to explore. Perhaps fewer have actually managed to do it. But from our three case studies, one thing is clear: preparation is absolutely key. All three of those we interviewed had spent at least two years readying the boat. In the case of Hugh Mullens’ Oyster 565, the options were chosen with the yard and built in from the outset. At the other end of the scale, Elisa and Guillaume Guerrhit did much of the work on their Dufour 425 themselves in the years before setting off.
Top of everyone’s list, after sails, seems to be onboard power – or tackling a shortfall thereof. There are three classic avenues open here, and many blend elements of each: add renewable generation capacity, trim on board power consumption and invest in better fossil fuel capacity.
Wind power
D400 British-built machine with a top output of more than 600W, but good low-wind performance too. £1,852.10 plus £366 for the charge regulator. eclectic-energy.co.uk LE-300 Also built in the UK, this is a good value three-blader topping out at
BELOW (L-R)
The D400, the LE 300 and the Air Breeze wind turbines
300W. Costs £789.93 plus £207.95 for a Tristar charge controller leadingedgepower.com Rutland 1200 Marlec’s three-blader produces 40W at 10 knots of wind speed and tops out at 483W in a strong breeze. Price of £1,372.96 includes controller. marlec.co.uk Superwind 350 Super robust, proven unit with low wind start-up and 350W peak output. Expensive at £2,473.37 + £524.86 for the charge controller. mactramarine.co.uk Silentwind Pro Very capable, producing up to 420W, with low start-up speed. Blue carbon blades are designed to be near silent. Costs from €1,857.30, including the Bluetooth controller. silentwindprogenerator.com Air Breeze Sleek-looking three-blader with 250W top output. Needs no charge controller, but benefits from one. Price: £1,250 ecopowershop.com
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JULY 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting
