Cruisair? With small generator?

[Jamey Diggs]

My "new to me" 1999 doesn't have a generator or AC. Someone at the marina mentioned these Cruisair units work great with a portable gen. Has anybody tried this? Where do you operate the generator? I've heard many concerns around the dangers of generators on the boat.

 

[bobeast]

And a quiet Sunday morning is shattered by another "portable generator on a boat" thread. Let the fun begin...

I predict the ultimate outcome of this thread will be don't....just don't.

 

[zippinbye]

And a quiet Sunday morning is shattered by another "portable generator on a boat" thread. Let the fun begin...

I predict the ultimate outcome of this thread will be don't....just don't.

Doesn't that outcome become rather dependent on the specific generator? I'd think something like a Honda IU3000 would maintain the civility, while a $399 2-stroke Harbor Freight Chinese Special would make waves in the anchorage. I've heard the impacts of both those scenarios vs. a proper on board generator, both in campgrounds and on the water. When it comes down to being there or staying home due to a staggering investment, a modern, quiet inverter gen can be viable.

 

[PlayDate]

It's my turn to make the popcorn........

 

[Steve S]

 

[northern]

You can also use a portable non vented propane heater in a closed cabin to keep warm in the boat or put you charcoal BBQ in the boat. All as good as a generator on the front deck or swim platform. Dead is the end result.

 

[Jamey Diggs]

I wasn't trying to start a generator conversation...I was interested to see if anybody was familiar with the Crusair ACs.

 

[northern]

The smallest one seems to be 12 volt 3500 BTUs, that is equivalent to 1000 watts or having ten 120 volt 100 wat bulbs on at the same time. Your batteries would go dead quickly.

 

[bobeast]

Doesn't that outcome become rather dependent on the specific generator? I'd think something like a Honda IU3000 would maintain the civility, while a $399 2-stroke Harbor Freight Chinese Special would make waves in the anchorage. I've heard the impacts of both those scenarios vs. a proper on board generator, both in campgrounds and on the water. When it comes down to being there or staying home due to a staggering investment, a modern, quiet inverter gen can be viable.

The debate typically centers around two issues. Annoying your neighbors, which you touched on, and getting dead, which I don't recommend. This is the fun of which I spoke.

 

[Black Valkyrie]

The debate typically centers around two issues. Annoying your neighbors, which you touched on, and getting dead, which I don't recommend. This is the fun of which I spoke.

How do you "get dead"?

 

[Fly'n Family]

How do you "get dead"?

 

[aerobat77]

the genny will run it like any other electrical device as long the power consumtion of the cruiseair is lower than the generators output. take into account current spike at engaging the ac or tell us what exactly cruiseair you want to run by what exact generator.

 

[dwna1a]

Couple of slips down from me has one in the front hatch and it seem to work well in his small cabin. At the dock he runs on Shore power. He rarely goes out but does use a inverter (at his own risk)

 

[CliffA]

I used a carry-on Cruisair AC on a 215EC while on shore power.....it worked very well in that small cabin....

cliff

 

[northern]

Not an electrician but in rush current is high to start an eclectic motor. The watermaker is on 15 AMP breaker. A 2500 Watt inverter will not start it. AMP draw once running is 10. We use it with generator. Generator is 8KW. If we have load of more than 15 AMPs on generator when we start the watermaker the load items drops out for a moment then back on.

 

[Black Valkyrie]

Wow. Weird. How would that happen?

 

[MonacoMike]

Wow. Weird. How would that happen?

When a non-marine built fuel system dumps gas that may find its way to the bilge would be a possible answer. When a non-marine built generator with no spark protection sets off a gas leak in the vessel would be another...

But you already knew that, but others searching the web for information likely do not and need to know the dangers.

MM

 

[Black Valkyrie]

When a non-marine built fuel system dumps gas that may find its way to the bilge would be a possible answer. When a non-marine built generator with no spark protection sets off a gas leak in the vessel would be another...

But you already knew that, but others searching the web for information likely do not and need to know the dangers.

MM

Well, any Honda inverter series generator will have a spark arrestor and I have no idea how it would randomly dump gas into the bilge if it was on the swim grid or elsewhere on board.

Just sayin'....

 

[MonacoMike]

Well, any Honda inverter series generator will have a spark arrestor and I have no idea how it would randomly dump gas into the bilge if it was on the swim grid or elsewhere on board.

Just sayin'....

A spark arrestor muffler does nothing for electronic spark similar to an automotive alternator vs. a marine alternator.

MM

 

[Woody]

When a non-marine built fuel system dumps gas that may find its way to the bilge would be a possible answer. When a non-marine built generator with no spark protection sets off a gas leak in the vessel would be another...

But you already knew that, but others searching the web for information likely do not and need to know the dangers.

MM

If you really want the dangers to be known why don't you explain them? Why not start with the fact everything on a boat does not have to be ignition protected but components in the bilge do because of the explosion risk you stated. A warning to never run a portable in the bilge then could be understood.