Leave Generator Running....

My blower is specifically not rated for continuous use, I can only use it for pre engine crank. Not sure why.

The inline exhaust blowers that come standard on most Sea Rays are not intended for continuous use. I switched mine out for squirrel cage blowers. Much quieter and they are designed to run full time.
 
The inline exhaust blowers that come standard on most Sea Rays are not intended for continuous use. I switched mine out for squirrel cage blowers. Much quieter and they are designed to run full time.


Jim,
do you have a link to the squirrel cage blowers you used?....

thanks....
cliff
 
Thanks guys.... I do have the 1 CO hardwired in the cabin. I might add anther one if i spend it on the hook and leave Gen running.
if that is the original detector it is no longer serviceable.. C/O monitors are only good for about 5 to 7 years
 
You have to ask yourself , is it worth dying for ? You people think these things are cruise ships or your home when there not.
Some do everything wrong and die, some do everything right and die.
Some just live to enjoy the day
 
One thing I have seen, especially in a raft up, some have gensts and some have the hatches open. Everyone needs a CO detector, especially in a raft up. The CO doesn't have to come from your boat.

As for keeping the genset on all night, When the boat gets unplugged it's on until it gets plugged back in. I get the silence thing, but I like all the convinces of home. So it stays on for days sometimes.
 
In my 450 Sundancer, I have a diesel genny and it's running from the time i unplug at the dock until i return (usually a couple days later).
 
One thing I have seen, especially in a raft up, some have gensts and some have the hatches open. Everyone needs a CO detector, especially in a raft up. The CO doesn't have to come from your boat.

As for keeping the genset on all night, When the boat gets unplugged it's on until it gets plugged back in. I get the silence thing, but I like all the convinces of home. So it stays on for days sometimes.

Another tip for rafting up: know where everyone’s gen exhausts are and raft accordingly. Many boats exhaust starboard, but mine is port. Last raft we had face to face exhausts. My CO detector went off in the night. We ventilated and turned them all off. Come to find out, humidity can also set off a CO detector erroneously. Which is why we had the gens running. The next night was less humid and we ran the gens again. No detectors went off. No problems. Oh, and I have two: hard wired and battery.
 
Gas generator question. With those that run them for a long time do you have any idea how much they use an hour. I track run time on mine and when I fill up, the tank used for the generator takes more fuel. Based on fuel used and generator run time I think mine uses about 3/4 to 1 GPH.
 
if that is the original detector it is no longer serviceable.. C/O monitors are only good for about 5 to 7 years
Exactly what i am experiencing, all 3 of my detectos are i assume shot as they go off constantly! Does anyone have a replacement part number - the OEM hardwired ones.
chris
 
A couple died last month, left their inboard gas generator running at the dock. They had no working CO detector. CO is a nasty gas. It's very difficult to to quickly remove from someone exposed to it.

I used to send my detectors in for factory refurb but looks like I'll need to switch to a newer type.

Here is a link to Fireboy and info about their CO detector end of life program.
http://www.fireboy-xintex.com/marine-carbon-monoxide-detector-end-of-life/
 
Gas generator question. With those that run them for a long time do you have any idea how much they use an hour. I track run time on mine and when I fill up, the tank used for the generator takes more fuel. Based on fuel used and generator run time I think mine uses about 3/4 to 1 GPH.
My Westerbeke 5kw uses 3/4 gallons per hour.
 
I’ve never run it overnight while sleeping because I haven’t had the need too so why waste the fuel. Mine seems to burn about half a gallon an hour.
But with working carbon monoxide detectors I wouldn’t hesitate to do so.
I probably would want to have a battery operated one as a back up to the three hard wired ones though just for peace of mind if I were going to sleep with it on.
It’s cheap insurance.
I have hard wired smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on each floor at home and supplement with separate battery operated ones there too for the same reason.
I have often run my genny all day while on the hook and never had a detector go off.
My exhaust is on the starboard side so when having other boats raft up to me I have the larger one where people will be sitting in the cockpit tie up on my port side. I usually have my kids small boat on my starboard side and they hang out in my cockpit so fumes aren’t a problem for them.
A little common sense goes a long way.
 
Last year I brought up the idea of a portable generator on the swimstep and I created a firestorm from everyone. I ended up not doing it but did install a co detector in the cabin just for safety sake along with a smoke detector. I have a 50 watt solar charger that I use to keep batteries topped off works great, but I am not running a bunch of appliances in my 77 searay sda 240 sundancer just the fridge with a inverter.(just added a one cup coffee maker miniture size)
 
We have 5, one hardwired and one digital readout at each sleeping berth and one in the cockpit.

Check the manufactures recommended replacement to see if they are still good. Most marine CO alarms are 5 years.

MM
 
IMG_2098.JPG
Under what load?
It's hard to know what the average load is. When we use it, the a/c is always on. I add the water heater to increase load but that shuts off once the water is warm. The engines help with that as you know. The microwave uses lots of power, but for a short of time. Taking showers uses lots of power too, but for a short time. That leaves the ice maker, and battery charger which is minimal load. About the only constant load is the a/c and charger. With that usage we burn about 3/4 gph.
 

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