Is the hydrogenerator a safety device?
Many sailors see a hydrogenerator primarily as a means of generating electricity while you sail. The discussion often revolves around ampere-hours, charging power and energy balances.
However, the most important function of a hydrogenerator may lie elsewhere. It is a safety device!
In a modern sailboat, electricity is no longer a just convenience feature. It is a critical part of the boat’s safety system. When you look at this starting point honestly, a hydrogenerator appears above all as a safety device.
Safety starts with electricity
Autopilots keep the boat on course. AIS systems help detect approaching traffic. Navigation instruments, satellite communications, radars, all depend on a functioning electrical system. One of the most electricity-dependent appliances is the refrigerator.
Think about what happens when the power goes out. When the battery charge level drops to a critical level, the crew need to start making life-preserving compromises on which devices will be used and which not.
Your engine can also produce electricity, but diesel is not an infinite resource. Would you rather have the reserve for critical motoring maneuvers or spend it to keep provisions from spoiling?
Hydrogenerators as a part of the energy-production lineup of your boat
The biggest advantage of a hydrogenerator is its ability to produce energy whenever the boat is moving. Unlike solar panels and wind generators, the hydrogenerator output does not depend on availability of sunlight, or direction of the wind. Energy is generated as the boat moves, directly in proportion with speed and that’s it.
While mostly used when sailing, a hydrogenerator can also step up to the challenge in case you need to motor along and the alternator is malfunctioning, adding an important safety redundancy.
Adding multiple ways to generate power is in itself a safety decision.
Investing in safety
A hydrogenerator is often evaluated through its purchase price. The discussion focuses on how quickly the investment pays for itself compared to solar panels or fuel.
However, from a safety perspective, the question is different. What is the value of reliable electricity production when a boat encounters bad weather, a long stretch of open sea or a technical failure? What is the value of a functioning AIS system, autopilot or satellite communication system in the middle of the night on a busy shipping route?
A hydrogenerator should not be seen as just an energy solution. It is part of the boat’s safety system, just like life jackets, emergency communication devices or reliable anchoring equipment.
Is the hydrogenerator a safety device?