Generator ideas/best?

Ya just have to love a guy who is full of opinions but can't back them up himself. I will prepare a reply to Frank's post and submit it in the next few days.
 
In the mean time if someone dies of CO poisoning we won't call it fact just opinion that they're dead.

My dad past away 2 years ago due to complications caused by Co poisoning. Seems a wren built a nest in the water tank heater flue while the house set empty prior to my parents buying it. Their bedroom was directly over the basement and heater. Mom got to leave the house during the day but dad was retired and didn't drive so he spent most of the winter in the house.

After a couple trips to the doctors, high Co levels were found in his system and the gas company was called and they found the partial restriction. The loss of oxygen caused the onset of dementia and he died a year later.

Excuse me if I'm a little biased on the subject.
 
I still cannot edit my typing/posts on this website.

Answer: use Google Chrome and not Internet Explorer 11.
 
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Yes, but nowhere do they say anything about portable generators being the CO death cause.
3 in 2011, 3 in 2012, 4 in 2013 numbers that have been around from engine exhaust issues since boats have had motors.

Reality: A tool is as safe as the operator's knowledge of it's use and with the portable generators that does include more than just CO as stated by others.
I understand both Admin's statements on CSR "liability" with not saying OK to the portable generators but it seems to quickly go unprofessionally beyond that, a disappointment.
Knowing full well that the reasons for and way I occasionally use our portable generator, in now way do I put me or my crew at any more risk than untying the dock lines a getting underway.
Bottom line - know your equipment and it's limits of use.
 
Research all you want..........you will find that I already did before I first posted that info about 5 years ago. Post your responses but don't expect a reply........I don't do this to start a confrontation, only to be sure innocent readers don't take 1/2 truths and run to the generator store.
 
Every year it's the same argument with the same players. The OP has acknowledged our posts so I believe he is truly looking for direction and not stirring the pot.

First it's the pros and cons, then the back sided personal attacks, followed by more information, then the stand off.
We are nearing the stand off at this point.

MM has the beer, Mike has popcorn popping, I'll throw the reruns of I Love Lucy in the player.
Just remember what Jeff Foxworthy said,"It aint a fight unless you bring the whole family in on it". :smt043
 
Not that I want to stir this pot any more but personally I would also have some concerns about the beating from the additional vibration and impacts of running a 'non-marine' generator on the water.
Is the internal structure of the generator up to it? How far of a fall off the top of a swell can a 'residential' generator take before the suspension bottoms out and something internal snaps?

Just seems risky (TO ME).
 
This has been an interesting read to say the least. I had a boat with a gas generator (Onan 6.5K) and I would never sleep on the boat with the genset running. It wasn't in fear of CO, but fire or explosion from a newly formed gas leak etc. The boat I have now has a diesel genset, and will spend many a weekend with the genset running all night long.

I never once had any concerns about CO. Guess what I am installing in the spring time? Yep, a hard wired CO detector that will shut the genset down upon an alarm, in addition to the already installed FireBoy system (non CO). I can't believe that there could be any discussion about a portable gen on a boat, I don't fully trust any gas generator, my fore mentioned Onan ran great for many years, but not once did I ever leave it running over night.

I can see using a potable generator if you have to work on a boat that doesn't have access to shore power, but beyond that I couldn't even consider it. JMO. I always just thought it was inexperience and they would figure it out over time and get a safe marine genset. Again JMO.
 
Deja vu.....and yet I read every post! There's 10 minutes if my life wasted. Just glad its wasted in the sunshine. My brother sent me a pic from his patrol car this morning in Michigan and there's 2 feet of snow on the ground and he was stuck in a drift on his way to an emergency call. Sure don't miss that. See how I changed the subject there?? :grin: Can't wait for lunch.....pulled pork sandwiches today!
 
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Deja vu.....and yet I read every post! There's 10 minutes if my life wasted. Just glad its wasted in the sunshine. My brother sent me a pic from his patrol car this morning in Michigan and there's 2 feet of snow on the ground and he was stuck in a drift on his way to an emergency call. Sure don't miss that. See how I changes the subject there?? :grin: Can't wait for lunch.....pulled pork sandwiches today!
Lol made my morning
 
Deja vu.....and yet I read every post! There's 10 minutes if my life wasted. Just glad its wasted in the sunshine. My brother sent me a pic from his patrol car this morning in Michigan and there's 2 feet of snow on the ground and he was stuck in a drift on his way to an emergency call. Sure don't miss that. See how I changed the subject there?? :grin: Can't wait for lunch.....pulled pork sandwiches today!

that was smooth...
 
That's a good idea. Somewhere, there was an article on a mid-thirties size Sea Ray where they did just that. The boat performed as well as it did with gassers, and burned half the fuel. Considering that it never took off, I assume there must have been cost or reliability issues, or both.

This was done on a Mid 30's Cruiser, if I recall correctly it was done in Texas. They pulled two engines put in a single large gennerator with twin electric motors. It worked great. The house genny could be used for propulsion at low speeds. Just think if you genny burns a gallon an hour, and it could propel your boat at 8 knots, your milage would more than double.
 
If you need a nice used gen set give this guy a call! I bought a Westerbeke 8.5 BTGA for a few grand and had it professionally installed and it works like a charm
Mike Sullivan
928 654 5549
 
So what all the naysayers are saying is bonding the neutral and ground together and using a CO monitor are not good enough solutions for the two biggest problems if only used on the swim platform.Lets face it common sense is a big factor here on doing something like this. If you get the information you need to do it the safest way then have at it .You do what it takes to eliminate the given safety issues then you use common sense to determine if it is ok to use at that time. The CO problem is no different the using a propane device on board a boat and yet people do it all the time and there are thousands of products manufactured for boats to use.One bad valve on the top of a propane tank is enough to fill the bottom of your boat with propane just waiting to suffocate you or explode.The heated debate all boils down to the fact that you are not competent enough to do this safely and if you think you are then you are an idiot stating it nicely. Besides only bigger boats have the right to have generators.
 

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