If you think that your sailboat has no connection with the elements of land then you probably might not have been much on a boat. How do you think sailboats generate electricity? Well, it is definitely not Poseidon or the Anemoi who gives you a nudge to help you sail, definitely in parts the weather has a lot to do with it but yes, science takes the frontier position. You need electricity to even make a few of the most basic things work and so it is necessary to understand the modes through which your boat works, especially focusing on the sailboat electrical system design.

A marine converter is necessary for electricity on your boat as it converts high voltage AC to low voltage DC. So, you need to know the three main power sources:

  • Shore-Power provides electricity directly to your boat through a heavy-duty cable which you plug into a socket from your boat to a connection on the shore or dock.
  • Engine-Generated Power provides electricity to your boat by running your engine through an alternator, or by running your generator if it has already been preinstalled.
  • Renewable Energy can be in the form of solar power, wind power, hydropower or even water power.

Sources of power of a sailboat on board:

  • The alternator is the fastest and most widely used means of generating power on board. It is a standard on all engines. When the engine is running, it allows the batteries to be recharged. You can install a large alternator by swapping the original model if you require high energy on board. The only problem is that it has a loud engine noise.
  • A wind turbine converts wind into electricity through an alternator. It can be installed on a mast or gantry. Depending on the number of blades, it will take at least 6 knots of wind for the propeller to start turning. It produces 60 and 400 watts of energy on average. It requires minimum wind and can take up huge space on small boats.
  • Solar Panels convert solar energy into electricity. The power depends on its surface area but mainly depends on the amount of sunlight and the inclination of the panels. They can be flexible, right, semi-rigid or they can be fixed or even removed but requires some desk space for the panels to fit in.
  • The hydro-generator uses the displacement of the boat to produce electricity. Being environment-friendly and high-performance feature makes it efficient.  It is easy to install and takes up little space and it can produce about 60 watts of energy. But the problems are loss of speed, it costs a lot, creates drag in sailing, and only works when it is sailing.
  • A generating set provided in large boats is fast and reliable. It helps to provide electricity to most equipment, even including the intensive ones such as television, air-conditioner, amongst other things. But it is very polluting and noisy.
  • The fuel cell is lightweight and takes up little space. It produces electricity through a chemical reaction but requires fuel and is very costly.

So, choose the power source which fits you the best and sail away.