Last but not the least. I wont bother you with rocket science or nuclear physic as I'm not an engineer. So I can tell you that when I engage the prop shaft driven alternator, I loose around half a

Dear All I truly agree with David, a Max Prop can be manipulated so that it will drive a prop shaft alternator and in fact not many people know that. I use a Max prop with an alternator fited by amel.

Hi again, Please check my photo folder: SV DARIEN for the new photos. Due to the wet weather the progress is very, very slow but you can find few 'interesting things' below the waterline once the

Dave you are missing the point either deliberately or not. IF you have an excess of HP from your sails and you are at hull speed and pushing the envelope on the displacement drag curve with say

Dave I agree. Anyone who has pushed a pinwheel through the air knows that it has more drag spinning than if you stop it and push. That is why I said I would post the site for "amusement" for some. I

David, I agree that if you are at hull speed and there is enough excess power being generated by the sails, that you could reach a point at which the shaft generator is not slowing the boat down.

Eric, My professional background is in aviation and props in the water and props in the air have some similarities. Air and water are both fluids albeit water is a much denser medium. Also the laws

David,  I actually read a study where the results showed that there was less drag with the prop freewheeling, no alternator, like you said, rather than locked. I also agree that this goes against

We had a similar thing happen to us in our previous boat, a Caliber 40, on passage from the Canaries to the Caribbean. That engine was a Yanmar, but the cause may apply in your case, too. It turned

Please ask Kent to let this forum know what you find as the cause. Curious minds like to know. Thanks, Gary

Dave Bejamin, fortunately, we aren't physic and hydrodynamic engineers, but only Medical Doctors who crossed Atlantic Ocean 3 times and we stayed at mooring many weeks in Mediterranean and in

Not knowing what dinghy you have or davits the solution is to stop the dinghy moving (but i am sure you know this). Webbing ratchet straps would be my method and you can get them with stainless steel

YES and NO there is theory and there is practice.......on my O461 the boat IS faster by up to a knot (unless you are at hull speed with plenty of wind) if you let the prop free wheel and i know this

The problem is most likely to be one of fuel supply into the injectors as if it was a prop thing the incorrect pitch overloading the engine would generate black smoke.It could be an algae growth in

On our Santorin there is a definate reduction of speed when the shaft charger is switched on.   At slower boat speed it is not viable as it reduces a greater percentage of the boat speed but on

An extra thought, check the throttle cable. It may be that it is just not opening enough to allow the extra fuel through to the injectors to increase the revs. May be corroded, have streached or

The panels are 123 watts at 15 volts. The manufacturer claims 351 amps per week at 15 volts. The panels are 60 " long by 26" wide. I get about 70% of what the manufacturer claims. The panels don't get

Additional Thought: When you dive on the prop make sure the blades are freely rotating and not binding. Gary

Here are a couple of thoughts: 1. Prop Clean: I have seen enough prop growth in three weeks to affect RPM a lot. 2. Fuel Shut Off Valve: Verify that the fuel shut off valve in the quarter berth

HI, How big (wats) your solar panels are? We order  two 24V semiflex solar panel 2.2A each, for marine use  5mm thick. they do not get hot ( acording manifacturer SUNWARE ) Can we get abb. 50A