Bent

MALARKEY
Jo & Trevor Bush
Sun 11 Mar 2012 22:41
09:25S 122:11W
Position as at 22.00GMT 11/3
 
Our new water towed generator has proven to be a great piece of kit.........that is until today.
 
The deal is, you have to keep the boat speed under 8.5-9.0Kts or the turbine flys out of the water like a marlin doing acrobatics on its tail. And so you have to substitute high speed for high power. Thats ok cos it has produced loads of juice (16Amps @ 8Knts)......coping with all our electrical requirements including Jo watching the box all afternoon while off watch. Besides, we are cruising and not racing, so comfort comes first.
 
But when I say max speed 8.5Knts this equates to a average speed of about 7-7.5Knts to cope with bursts of speed down waves etc....... Therein lies our problem,... we didnt account for the squall that just came through. The wind speed increased to over 30Kts and before we could reef sufficiently, our boat speed was over 12kts and increasing.....oops. The water turbine was doing its nut bouncing on the top of the ocean surface. We got the boat slowed down eventually and retrieved the turbine only to find the half inch stainless steel bar with the weights and prop on the end, was bent like a banana. So thats that buggered then, well at least until we get to Tahiti to straighten it out. But it does give you some idea of the forces involved.......I would've, never thought it possible but hey ho, I've been wrong before.
 
So no TV for Jo now,....... well maybe just alittle........you've got to keep the crew happy.