290 Dancer: Aftermarket Generator Install

[DiMisa1977]

I found a great deal on a 290, but it doesn't have a Genny on it. I am in S. Florida, so the Genny is a must. The nice thing is it keeps my initial purchase cost down, then I can add when things balance out.

My question is "any pitfalls or advice on adding a genny?"

 

[thunderbird1]

Installing a genset is not trivial, so be prepared to pay significant labor charges. In addition to drilling holes in the hull, the entire engine had to be removed from my boat to make room for a Westerbeke 5Kw generator. Moreover, there are important marine electrical standards which your mechanic must follow.

I suggest you ask your service folks how many generators they have installed before giving a green light. You don't want someone drilling a hole in the wrong place due to lack of experience.

 

[DiMisa1977]

I would bring it to my marine max, sea ray service dept.

 

[MLauman]

If you're going to buy a new one, INSIST that it be one of the newer low-CO models. Might be a couple hundred more dollars but the peace of mind is worth many times that.

 

[DiMisa1977]

yeah, the dealer told me it was lo-co...so lo, you could put your mouth over the exhaust and not choke (seriously, that was his sales pitch) hehe

 

[osd9]

yeah, the dealer told me it was lo-co...so lo, you could put your mouth over the exhaust and not choke (seriously, that was his sales pitch) hehe

You gotta love salesman.....ask him to show you.....and send us some pictures too.... :grin:

 

[fwebster]

If the boat is in south Fla and has no generator, you may be the only buyer until spring and then the buyer will have freight charges to get the boat to Minnesota or Wisconsin......if this is the one trade hard and you should steal the boat.

Expect to pay $6500+ for the generator install, so make the whole deal make sense. And, if the added generator does not look like a factory installation and the wiring is not factory, it will kill your resale value.

 

[Stray Cat]

We were faced with the same decision on our 300 last year.

Compare the difference between a 290 with the factory installed gen vs. the 290 without. Chances are a lot of things are going to need moved in the bilge. The factory likes to place things where a vacancy exists. This was the case on the 300. The batteries would require being moved, plus an extra battery needed to be added for the gen set.

After visiting the factory in Knoxville, we were glad to have ordered the boat with it installed from the factory.

 

[DiMisa1977]

If the boat is in south Fla and has no generator, you may be the only buyer until spring and then the buyer will have freight charges to get the boat to Minnesota or Wisconsin......if this is the one trade hard and you should steal the boat.

Expect to pay $6500+ for the generator install, so make the whole deal make sense. And, if the added generator does not look like a factory installation and the wiring is not factory, it will kill your resale value.

i have a feeling after frieght, the baby can still be stolen.

the genny install is something i could always do at a later date i guess.

will the frdige at least work out at sea?

 

[Stray Cat]

Turn the fridge on along with the DC breaker and you will be chillin.

 

[DiMisa1977]

cool, i guess on hot summer days or night, i can send the little lady down below and she can put her face and feet in the fridge to cool off.

 

[Nehalennia II]

cool, i guess on hot summer days or night, i can send the little lady down below and she can put her face and feet in the fridge to cool off.

Yeah but then next Fall you may in looking for a new wife :smt021 . Get the genset....it's cheaper

 

[DiMisa1977]

cool, i guess on hot summer days or night, i can send the little lady down below and she can put her face and feet in the fridge to cool off.

Yeah but then next Fall you may in looking for a new wife :smt021 . Get the genset....it's cheaper

well, she's still just a girlfriend so, maybe it's an option. hehe

JK

 

[Nehalennia II]

cool, i guess on hot summer days or night, i can send the little lady down below and she can put her face and feet in the fridge to cool off.

Yeah but then next Fall you may in looking for a new wife :smt021 . Get the genset....it's cheaper

well, she's still just a girlfriend so, maybe it's an option. hehe

JK

Yeah tell her that and let us know what she says :smt009
Just kiddin'

 

[DiMisa1977]

it's all in good fun. she is a 10...

 

[sbw1]

If the boat is in south Fla and has no generator, you may be the only buyer until spring and then the buyer will have freight charges to get the boat to Minnesota or Wisconsin......if this is the one trade hard and you should steal the boat.

Expect to pay $6500+ for the generator install, so make the whole deal make sense. And, if the added generator does not look like a factory installation and the wiring is not factory, it will kill your resale value.

i have a feeling after frieght, the baby can still be stolen.

the genny install is something i could always do at a later date i guess.

will the frdige at least work out at sea?

In west Michigan a marina that does quite a bit of this sort of work estimates that gennys cost around $12,000 to install, all parts included.

 

[never monday]

Here, 12K would be outrageous. I'm about to put a Westerbeke 3.0 in a Regal with twin V-6's. I estimated it out around $7K complete.