Generator usage survey

Pilot

Pilot

Active Member
May 7, 2009
294
Chesapeake Bay
Boat Info
2009 370 Searay DA
V Drives
Engines
Twin 8.1's
I'm curious, How often do most folks run their generators? I know that people always says to run it once a week, under load, yes, to keep it in good running order. But I've heard a couple mechanics say that they recommend running them a lot more often.

One even said to just run it whenever the motor is running, and that its ok to keep it running the whole time your out cruising. If on the hook, run it all day and all night.

Any comments?

Thanks
 
+1
I'm with the Doc...

We use the A/C while underway. Folks in cooler climates may not need it. I understand in Canada it is "frowned upon" to run your genny at night while anchored...
 
We have over 1800 hours after 2 1/2 years. The first year, we ran it the entire time we were on the hook. That year added about 1000 hours. Too much. Last year, we didn't run it as much by percentage, but we went out a LOT last year. This year, we haven't been out on the hook as much, and I don't run it as much as the first year but probably more than the second year.

Now, if either of us want it on, we start it. That being said, we leave it off over night during cool spring, fall and winter nights. We also leave it off during most of the day unless it seems about the right time to charge the batteries - maybe after 6 hours of off time for another 3 hours of on time.

Our gas boat had 1850 hours on the generator, mostly by us, after 4 years of use. On that boat, the entertainment system was 100% DC. This boat need AC for TVs, and that does make a difference when we're out so much.

I think a happy medium would be 16 hours per day in summer, and more like 8 - 12 hours per day when it's cool out. That will keep us at about 600 hours per year or even less, hopefully.

For those who don't get to use their boats as much, I would definitely run it at least every month and run it under load. I can't imagine it making a difference if you leave it on for an hour or for 24. Once it's up to speed and warmed up and loaded, the additional consecutive hours can't add much that I can imagine.
 
I would agree that it should be run under load as often as possible, even if it's just to exercise it. Lack of use seems to create more problems.
 
I run mine once a week for around 30 minutes, and I load it as much as possible.

I was service manager for a very large hire company in Australia, and have seen first hand many times what no load to a generator does.


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I use it about twice a week for about 4-5 hours per trip. Its on while we are underway for the A/C. Really anytime we are not plugged in we run the genny.


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We run ours from when we leave the slip & only shut it down at night while we are on the hook. Everything in the galley is 110v & use the ac during the day. We did find out that the refrig & freezer can last 12 hrs before need to fire back up the genny. I don' have a sound shield, next investment. As they say use it or loose it!
 
Run it under load, every day that you are on the boat at least until it has attained its normal operating temp (on the Gen side). More is better. And again as you go to the dock.
 
Run it every time you drop the anchor. Boaters require ice, good food,music and take care of those batteries!
 
When out about 3 hours a day. We have a water maker and need 30 to 50 gallons of water per day.The batteries like it and it makes heat. We have a 40,000 buss heater that runs off the cooling system.It heats the boat upin 20 minutes whilemaking hot waterforour morning shower. We cook on the stovein the morning and when it rains we cook on the stove. Do not think I ccould stand it running at night when we sleep but if the temperature was 100F I probably could get used to it.
 
We are on the boat every weekend and average 16-20 hrs genny run time.

Yes, we run it while underway.
 
It goes on before shore power goes off, and goes off after shore power is back on.
 
80 hours in 4 years... I don't use it much... This year only about 3 hours so far. We don't sleep on the boat often, and most out are trips it is not needed...
 
I don't know the hours but we used to use it much more than we do now. I had an inverter installed when I bought the boat. I'm learning now how much the inverter can power before the batts need to be charged, then we fire up the genset to do that. When it's hot and we're on the boat for a weekend we usually run it during the day to keep the temps down in the cabin but shut it off at night. We're on the boat almost every week so it gets a fair amount of usage.
 
When we are anchoring out, we run the genny 2 hours in the morning and two hours in the evening, primarily to use the range, make hot water and maintain the charge on the inverter batteries (6 x L16). While the genny is on, we also run the watermaker to replenish our fresh water. Normally, our 120 volt gear runs on the inverter, and overnight we burn about 200 amp hours. This includes 2 fridges and 2 freezers, plus TV and small appliances. Running the genny all night is definitely frowned upon, and we will not raft with anyone that does. Recently, a new addition to our raft ran his genny all night, with the result our boat filled with diesel fumes and ruined our sleep. We will not travel with that clown again.
 
Doesn't sound like we exercise our genny enough!! Our boating is all done on the Rideau Canal and going through the locks requires the engines to be shut down. So running the genny when we leave the dock doesn't make much sense. Any of our overnights have been at the locks (mooring pass) so we almost always have shore power. Probably haven't put more than a couple hours on the genny this season (our first). Will definitely start exercising the genny more often ...
 
If living on the hook or underway, we typically run the generator eight hours a day.
Four hours in the morning during breakfast and showering.
Four hours in the evening while making dinner and watching TV and running the AC.
I haven't needed to run the AC overnight but, would without hesitation with extra CO detectors in the cabin next to everyone's bed and in the salon.
The most important thing I need to run is the battery charger and water heater.
If the gen is running, the battery charger and water heater is always on to provide a load.

My boat is mostly DC powered so this works great for us.

Mark.
 
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