Diesel Generator

[Oscarpop]

As part of my regular Friday daydreaming session, I am planning our circumnavigation and compiling my mental list of things to buy.

One of the musts ( for us anyway ) is a diesel generator.

Now, you can get a quiet, compact generator for about 2k if you get a non marine one .

If you buy a marine one you pay over twice that.

Is this just one of those " add the word marine, and treble the price" situations, or is there more to it?

As I see it, when we are cruising the caribbean, I figure that a small Honda, Kubota diesel generator for domestic use will be easier to acquire spares for.

Opinions please

 

[nimbusgb]

A permanently installed water cooled diesel marine generator will be a much better bet than a normal suitcase style genset.

 

[Talbot]

The major differences between the marine diesel and an industrial diesel unit are

size

noise

The small marine generators are much more compact than an industrial diesel generator. They are also designed for use and secured such that they are useable at sea.

The noise of a generator is a major source of annoyance in a quiet anchorage. The marine generator is water cooled and encapsulated in a sound deadening box.

Obviously a suitcase petrol (especially honda) can be very quiet, but you then have to carry another fuel in quantity.

However, do NOT consider a saltwater direct cooled one / make sure in has a fresh water cooled system.

 

[Tranona]

It is not really anything to do with "marine" - just they they are two different animals and if you want your genny to give you reliable long term service installed in a boat it costs. If you just want a short term supply and are happy to just stick it on deck when you need it, you can use something designed for portable land use.

Horses for courses. Weigh up what you think you need and make your decision - just don't expect the cheap one to do the same job as the proper one.

 

[KellysEye]

Running a Honda genaerator on deck will drive boats near you mad, it does us. As you are going long distance cruising it's best to fit a generator inside the boat if you have space or make sure the boat you buy does/or has one. If you have a 240v generator then you can buy industrial kit which lasts longer than boat kit, such a a 240 volt fridge and watermaker. We used our generator for two hours a day for the kit above and cups of tea, toast ,hot drinks for night watches (flask) and battery charging.

Bear in mind you will be using it for years. 3,000 rpm gererators are lifed for 400 to 600 hours. With repairs they can last 1,000 hours. 1,500 rpm generators are lifed for 8,000 hours. The yellow Jersey for reliability and least repairs is Norhern Lights followed closely by Westerbeke which has a worldwide dealer network if spares are needed.

 

[greenalien]

You don't give any idea how much power you hope to get from your generator, or what your actual budget is, or whether or not you have room inside your boat to create a permanent installation. Give us a few more details and you might just get better advice!

 

[mocruising]

I am afraid I disagree with Kellyseye I have a 3000rpm set and there is a maintenance schedule that goes up to 5000 hours. Mine has run 2500 and is still going strong with only minor problems.

 

[ccscott49]

I am afraid I disagree with Kellyseye I have a 3000rpm set and there is a maintenance schedule that goes up to 5000 hours. Mine has run 2500 and is still going strong with only minor problems.

Mine has done 3400 hours and now needs a new cylinder and piston, (loss of compression) not bad really for a single cylinder farymann, running at 3000 rpm. I could rebore the thing, but the cost of rebore and piston/rings, is almost as much as a new cylinder and piston/rings, 157 quid, so just not worth it, mind you a full gasket set is 150 quid!!
I'm repairing it now, but have gone the 1500 rpm route and bought a westerbeke 6BTD. So the wee one will be my standby genny.

 

[Stork_III]

Running a Honda genaerator on deck will drive boats near you mad, it does us. As you are going long distance cruising it's best to fit a generator inside the boat if you have space or make sure the boat you buy does/or has one. If you have a 240v generator then you can buy industrial kit which lasts longer than boat kit, such a a 240 volt fridge and watermaker. We used our generator for two hours a day for the kit above and cups of tea, toast ,hot drinks for night watches (flask) and battery charging.

Bear in mind you will be using it for years. 3,000 rpm gererators are lifed for 400 to 600 hours. With repairs they can last 1,000 hours. 1,500 rpm generators are lifed for 8,000 hours. The yellow Jersey for reliability and least repairs is Norhern Lights followed closely by Westerbeke which has a worldwide dealer network if spares are needed.

There is currently a Westerbeke 7.5KW @ 60% discount in HR Parts Bargain Corner, if interested.