honda generator

[capecodcruiser]

I have a 1989 30'Sundancer. It does not have a generator and I would like to install a small one. I am thinking of finding a place to put one of the Honda I2000 units in the engine room. I have two 5.7's, so it is tight in there. I know the Honda is not remote controlled in any way, but it is quiet, air cooled, and would serve the purpose for those times when I would like to run some accesories on the hook. What do you all think, or what other suggestions are there? Thanks for your time.
David

 

[chuck1]

Boy are you asking for it.(Grin) You may want to do a quick search on the subject it has already been hashed over a few times.

 

[capecodcruiser]

I can handle it, especially since everyone seems fiesty the last few days. I will do a search, thanks.

 

[First Born]

edit: Here is an example of how one very similar post was answered:

http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7338&highlight=generator

And here is my standard portable generator disclaimer:

Please do not use a portable generator for several reasons. If you do decided to do so, please do so at your own risk (not because anyone on this board said that you were ok to do so). We get this question several times every year and pretty much everyone on this board feels that it is not safe to do it, those that do, do so because they have done research and they feel comfortable doing it the way that they have decided to do it.

 

[Four Suns]

Didn't someone just die from this about a month ago? I think the thing was sitting on the swim platform if I recall...

Post pictures dude... before... we'll take the "after" ones...

 

[barryg]

When I had my 25' Doral, it had air, but no generator. I had the portable Honda which I would only use when at anchor and never kept it in the engine room and made sure the exhaust was pointed away from the boat. It was a pain anyway you look at it, and one of the reasons I sold that boat and bought my 320.

 

[gredmer]

Didn't someone just die from this about a month ago? I think the thing was sitting on the swim platform if I recall...

Post pictures dude... before... we'll take the "after" ones...

Yup, July 5th on Frog Mortar Creek. He and others were seated in the cockpit and he felt sick so went below to lay down. He was dead in minutes.

The generator was on the platform and the fumes still accumulated in the cabin.

 

[fc3]

You can have someone install a Westerbeke 3KW genset for about $7,000. It's small and light (165 pounds) so it should work in most boats. It has a catalytic converter, so it's carbon monoxide emissions are greatly reduced.

The choices, as I see them are:

• Install the genset for about $7,000.
• Trade up to a boat with a genset.
• Forgo the genset until you are ready to trade up.
• Risk your life or someone else's to save seven grand by using a cheap @#$ substitute for a marine generator. (Need I state that this is a stupid choice?)

There were no lightweight generators available when I owned my 26 footer, so we held off until we traded up.

Best regards,
Frank

 

[GJarrett]

I know this has been beat to death but I would appreciate a sort of synopsis of explanation. Frank you partially answered my question when you posted that the Westlake has a catalytic convertor and so has reduced emissions; however I think that may be a (relatively) recent development and I'll bet there are a lot of gensets out there without cats. At any rate, reduced doesn't equal none, so there's still emissions.

Here's what I cannot figure out:
A portable generator on the swim platform while on the hook is dangerous because its exhaust can kill you. Okay, point made. However any genset has exhaust, and gensets don't come equipped with 50yd long exhaust pipe extensions to get theirs away from the boat, so they obviously also exhaust near the boat too. My question: what's the difference? I'm picturing a night on the hook in a slight breeze with a portable on the swim platform - what makes its exhaust come back into the cabin while a genset's exhaust (that exits in almost the exact same spot) goes "safely" away?

 

[osd9]

.........However any genset has exhaust, and gensets don't come equipped with 50yd long exhaust pipe extensions to get theirs away from the boat, so they obviously also exhaust near the boat too. My question: what's the difference? I'm picturing a night on the hook in a slight breeze with a portable on the swim platform - what makes its exhaust come back into the cabin while a genset's exhaust (that exits in almost the exact same spot) goes "safely" away?

Exactly....and that's why many here on CSR and other sites, do NOT advocate running ANY gasoline generator at night while asleep on the hook....that is not a portable genie specific issue.

The Honda portable on the swimplatform also has some other caveats such as: gasoline storage, spark, electirc in a wet environment, corrosion to non-marine specific components, etc.

As an aside....imagine you are on a camping trip, oh, say with a troop of boy scouts, and you bring along your honda portable to watch some event on TV, run the boom box, some lighting, etc. Would you leave the generator running all night while everyone were asleep in their tents....even if you placed it 50 feet away downwind?

 

[Air O'Nautical]

David,
All gas powered gens are very dangerous. Never leave one running overnight, its just not worth it.
I also had the "honda idea" with my last boat (a 27 footer). Just last week, I saw a raft-up party with three boats all powered with one honda on the BOW of the middle boat!! They had extension cords running all over the place. Wish I had my camera.
Sorry, a portable gen anywhere on a boat isn't a good idea. I know it seems ok and easy but, no.

As much as we all love air conditioning and all the comforts of home, its worth a overnight fee at a new yacht club while cruising.
Be safe,
Mark.

 

[RiverRat]

As an aside....imagine you are on a camping trip, oh, say with a troop of boy scouts, and you bring along your honda portable to watch some event on TV, run the boom box, some lighting, etc. Would you leave the generator running all night while everyone were asleep in their tents....even if you placed it 50 feet away downwind?

In this senario no I wouldn't because there wouldn't be a need for it other than to hear it run... But if there was a portable fridge there keeping the perishables fresh, and the scout masters tent had A/C and it was a 90 degree night... Yes you probably would.

 

[hack4alivin]

My boat came with the generator option. There is an automatic shutoff build into it when CO2 is detected. There is also a CO2 detector in the cabin.

On the only occasion that we slept out on the boat without being at a Marina on shore power, I tried to use the generator. I could not sleep! I had these images of the people that died last year at Parkside Marina while running the generator. Two were found sitting at the Cabin table playing cards. With that image in my head I could not keep the generator running while I went off to sleep, as I did want to wake up in the morning. Even after this well published accident in the summer of 07, there was another deaf in July of 08 in Middle River just across from the Marina of the first incident. In this case it was a portable generator mounted on the swim platform…. during the day

I will use the generator, but usually for short periods of time while anchored out, to run the A/C or the Microwave. I just can’t bring myself to running it all night while we go off to sleep. I would much rather wake up hot then the alterative.

I know this issue has been hacked to deaf by this and other threads, just adding my own personal experience.

Take care and be careful whatever you decide to do.

 

[gredmer]

I know this has been beat to death but I would appreciate a sort of synopsis of explanation. Frank you partially answered my question when you posted that the Westlake has a catalytic convertor and so has reduced emissions; however I think that may be a (relatively) recent development and I'll bet there are a lot of gensets out there without cats. At any rate, reduced doesn't equal none, so there's still emissions.

Here's what I cannot figure out:
A portable generator on the swim platform while on the hook is dangerous because its exhaust can kill you. Okay, point made. However any genset has exhaust, and gensets don't come equipped with 50yd long exhaust pipe extensions to get theirs away from the boat, so they obviously also exhaust near the boat too. My question: what's the difference? I'm picturing a night on the hook in a slight breeze with a portable on the swim platform - what makes its exhaust come back into the cabin while a genset's exhaust (that exits in almost the exact same spot) goes "safely" away?

In a one year span on Frog Mortar Creek (MD) 4 people died as a result of using generators. The aforementioned case where the portable was on the swim platform and another case where 3 died overnight asleep with the genny on. That case however they left it on all night while docked so the boat wasn't swinging on the hook.
The point is to use them wisely as these four didn't.

(Sorry, this is what Bill was referring to. We were typing at the same time)

 

[osd9]

..........

 

[Turtlesboat]

A generator while camping? a fridge? man I must have lived an underprivileged life. When I was in the boy scouts, they made us drink hot water and cook the dogs until they resembled burnt wood so we wouldn't die from food poisoning.

 

[Presentation]

You can have someone install a Westerbeke 3KW genset for about $7,000. ......

Just for reference, I agree with Franks post.

$7,000 assumes you DIY. If you self-install, this is a big project.

I had a 3.0 Westerbeke MPV installed this past winter (2007/2008) and it ran $8,500.

I shopped and shopped. Finally, I convinced the local Skipper Buds facility to do it at a reduced labor rate in the off season. I also summer slip rent and winter inside heated store with them. One benefit if having the local shop do it is then when issues come up they are close by. I did have some electrical gremlin inside the generator occur after a few hours of use and it was handled under warranty.

From memory:
Generator = $5,400
Various parts = $1,200 (thru-hull, strainer, exhaust, fuel filter, fuel line, ship to sore transfer switch, remote start, miscellanies parts) I had them use the existing isolated starting battery. Separate fuel line to the fuel tank.
Labor = $1,500 (off season discounted rate)
Wisconsin Sales tax = $400

Total = $8,500

Note: We have 3 CO detectors and I test them often. I have had them go off.

 

[tdappleman]

It's too bad they don't make a portable diesel generator - something similar to the Honda / Yamaha inverter generators. Maybe they do but I haven't been able to locate one. I know I've looked at the Westerbeke 3kw but just can't justify the expense plus I'm not sure I even have the room without significantly rearranging my engine area.

 

[Dave S]

One thing that has always bothered me is why the factory installed CO detector in the cabin doesn't have a CO readout (at least mine doesn't.) I don't have a genny and don't use a portable generator either but because I boat in winter with my camper canvas closed up I always have a CO detector in the cockpit with a digital readout. I watch that thing like a hawk and take some action to prevent CO buildup if I see the meter starting to go up. And I can do this long before the alarm goes off. It seems to me that if you are going to use your generator you ought to know if there is any CO build up in your cabin at all. If I had a genny, I would have a second CO detector with a digital readout in my cabin at all times.

 

[RiverRat]

A generator while camping? a fridge? man I must have lived an underprivileged life. When I was in the boy scouts, they made us drink hot water and cook the dogs until they resembled burnt wood so we wouldn't die from food poisoning.

Which is what almost killed me as a kid. My appendix burst after a campng trip, the doc told us after the operation that it looked like charcoal that was in there!!!

I Always use a small fridge when I go camping, most every weekend during the winter. I have some land and a small hunting cabin in the middle of nowhere with no electric or running water so I do use my honda gen there and yes it does run all night, actually it runs most of the time exept for refueling. But this is totally different than having one on a boat!