Wind vs. Solar survey

After spending a week aboard IP40 Larking About in the Islands, I left with the impression that a wind machine is a GOOD idea. So this raises the question of which should you have, wind or solar or both?

Please vote above, and please reply with your thoughts, I would love to hear the debate. Thank you.

PS:
The wind machine John has is from eMarine.com and it is an AIR X.

Hayden

If looking at wind machines. Which would you select?

Rutland 914i
www.emarineinc.com/categories/Wind-Turbi...d-914i-Wind-Turbine/

Air X
www.emarineinc.com/categories/Wind-Turbi...ines/Air-X-400-Watt/

I've heard the Rutlands are noisy. Is that correct?

Hayden,

We're planning to get a wind generator before our trip in June. We currently have two 85w solar panels and find that they really don't add enough to keep us going. I'd like to swap them out for two or three 150's but I think the wind generator is a must have. I was seriously looking at the Air-X until I came across the SunForce 600 ( www.sunforceproducts.com/product_details.php?PRODUCT_ID=188 ). I think they're both made by the same company. I haven't seen any reviews on the 600 yet so I'm still up in the air (so to speak) about my choice. I've heard a lot of good about the Air-X, especially that it's very quiet. A guy on our dock has one and I can't hear it running from two slips away. I'll try to catch up with him and get a personal review.

Tom

So are you better having a single large controller that can handle your wind and solar or going with 2 separate controllers?

@Tom:
The Air X we were with for a week in the Islands was not too noisy but when it would shut down, then we would notice the quiet or now windGen. What was amazing is that this Air X put out 8-10 amps all night long, and not once during the week did we need to generate power to keep the freezer cold. It was all solar (2 120 panels) and one Air X. This is why I am now thinking of adding wind.

@Conrad
I would use two controllers, one like the solar boost 2000i for the panels and then what ever comes with the wind machine. The wind controllers have a switch that you can turn then off, no big deal, and they also have a shunt that measures their output. The systems are very easy.

My concern is:
#1. Start up wind speed, I would like it to be lower since we will be Bay to Maine more than Islands
#2. NOISE levels....I do not want noise!

Hayden