Marine Wind Turbines

A marine wind generator keeps batteries charged day and night, at anchor or on a mooring, when solar output drops. This collection includes Rutland 504, 913, 914i, 1200 and Furlmatic turbines; Ryse Energy AIR Breeze, AIR X, AIR Silent X, AIR 30, AIR 40 and AIR MAX; Silentwind Pro wind generators with controller; and Bornay turbines from 600W to 6000W for land-based and off-grid systems, in 12V, 24V and 48V versions.

How to choose a wind turbine generator

  • Marine or land: marine models are built for salt spray; land versions suit cabins and off-grid homes.
  • Battery voltage: pick the 12V, 24V or 48V version that matches your battery bank.
  • Wind and output: compare rated power and the wind speeds you actually see at your mooring or site.
  • Noise and mounting: on a sailboat, quiet blade designs and a solid mast or pole mount matter.

What is the best wind generator for a sailboat?

It depends on your average wind, battery bank and mounting space. Compare rated power side by side in our Wind Turbine Index.

Is the Rutland 913 still available?

Yes. The Rutland 913 wind generator is offered in 12V and 24V versions and as Mariners packages with an HRSi or HRDi controller.

Do I need a charge controller with a wind turbine?

Most turbines need a dedicated controller or a built-in regulator plus a stop switch. Read our wind turbine guide for system basics.

For low wind speed start-up, see the Rutland 913 wind generator, offered with HRSi or HRDi controllers.

For boats under 25 ft, the Rutland 504 wind charger is a lightweight 12V trickle charger.

For 48V battery banks, see the AIR Breeze 48V wind generator.

For replacement blades, bearings, boards and spares, see wind turbine parts.

New to wind power? Read how to choose and mount a wind turbine generator on a boat before you compare models.

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Marine wind turbine buying guide

A wind turbine charges your batteries day and night, at anchor or on a mooring, and works best as part of a hybrid system with solar panels and, where needed, a generator. Hybrid systems help when cloudy weather and wind arrive together, which is common in winter and on passages.

Marine wind turbine charging a sailboat battery bank

Marine vs land wind turbines

Marine wind turbines are built for salt spray: anodized metal housings and stronger seals protect the internals from corrosion. Land wind turbines suit cabins, water pumping and off-grid homes, where they can feed loads directly or charge a battery bank. Do not use a land model on a boat; salt air shortens its life.

Marine wind generator with anodized housing

Is wind power a good choice for you?

Start with the wind at your site. The turbine needs steady, clean air, away from and above cabins, radar arches and other obstructions. On ketches and yawls, the mizzen mast is often the best spot.

The power in the wind rises with the cube of wind speed. If the wind speed doubles, the available power rises eight times: a 10 mph wind has one eighth of the power of a 20 mph wind (10 x 10 x 10 = 1,000 versus 20 x 20 x 20 = 8,000). A site with gusty, variable wind can deliver twice the energy of a site with the same average speed and little variation, because short strong gusts carry a lot of power.

Wind turbine mounted on a boat mizzen mast

Land wind turbine for an off-grid cabin

Which model fits

  • The AIR X wind turbine is a 400 watt marine model, sold alone or with an e10 control panel and mounting kits.
  • The Rutland 913 is popular on sailboats for quiet running and low wind start-up.
  • For land-based hybrid systems with solar in non-corrosive locations, see the AIR 30.
  • On long passages, a hydrogenerator keeps charging from boat speed when sails shade the solar panels.

Mounting a wind turbine on a boat

Mounting is often the hardest part of the project. For turbines up to 400 watts, see our heavy duty mast poles in 9 ft and 11 ft lengths. The masts we manufacture can get our vibration-absorbing coating, available only from eMarine; see custom wind turbine masts for details.

Not sure which turbine or mount fits your boat? Contact us and our team will help you size a complete wind or wind and solar system.