Fixed V portable generator

idpnd said:
Important point here - I need a backup to the engine alternator for making some leccy at sea (charging batteries to keep the show on the road).

Has anyone used portables at sea?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Yep I have one year as we went out of Barmouth Harbour for the start of the three peaks yacht race my alternator packed up, we managed as far as Caenarfon with temp nav lights (often wondered why they were included in the equipment required) where my Cousin after a phone call had brought my generator from Home in Cumbria we sailed the rest of the race up to Fort William using the Generator which I kept on the side deck up to windward, which kept everything running charging through the mains charger, must say that I didn't think about the oil level, but if it gets low the motor stops anyway.
Mike
 
Pagetslady said:
we sailed the rest of the race up to Fort William using the Generator which I kept on the side deck up to windward, which kept everything running charging through the mains charger, must say that I didn't think about the oil level, but if it gets low the motor stops anyway.
Click to expand...

hey mike, thanks for the hands-on report, I am considering a small genset just for this very occasion; I suppose the oil sump would be ok in moderate conditions since my lump of steel doesn't really heel or bounce about that much..
 
idpnd said:
Important point here - I need a backup to the engine alternator for making some leccy at sea (charging batteries to keep the show on the road).

Has anyone used portables at sea?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Did 4 days engineless running the honda part time in the cockpit to try and shove some charge into tired batts. Though apart from the stress of most things on the boat being bust it was a perfect calm downwind passage from heaven. :cool:
 
Conachair said:
Did 4 days engineless running the honda part time in the cockpit to try and shove some charge into tired batts. Though apart from the stress of most things on the boat being bust it was a perfect calm downwind passage from heaven. :cool:
Click to expand...

Yes your blog went offline at some stage sadly.. Did you have a lot of swell? What were your breakages?
 
Cariadco said:
I'm the proud owner of a Mastervolt 8KVA gennerator, stuffed right at the back of the engine compartment. It's been nothing but a pain in the ****.
It was fitted by the previous owner in 2005 along with a Mastervolt smart charger and a 3 KVA invertor. The whole lot must have cost a bomb, probably over £10,000...!
It's only done 57 hours of running...!!!and about 10 of them hours are by me.
The head's been off already as a couple of valves got rusty and wouldn't shut. The cooler was full of gunk and loads of other little probs due to lack of running.

It's a lovely installation but has to be run regularly. I would never have one again. I'm even thinking of removing it to sell and use a suitcase gennerator. The weight saving alone would be beneficial.

One more point, as it's a 3000rpm machine, so it isn't exactly quiet when running even though the insulation 'suitcase' covers are very robust. I hate having to run it, when on a nice queyside like Gaios or Mourtos.
Click to expand...

I have a 4kw 3000rpm single cylinder Paguro unit with a Faryman engine and the only hours I ever put on it are ones where I run it just to run it... I know every nut and bolt on it having rebuilt it twice, and I can uninstall it from the boat in under 30 mins now that I have had so much practice. last time I took it out I rather enjoyed the extra space and reduced hassle and very nearly put it on eBay..

I thought I always wanted a generator, but now I have one, I wouldn't have another. Battery, alternator and inverter technology has come on so much I would spend the money and weight on solar panels, inverters and a small 2kw Honda suitcase genset to rot away in the bottom of the cockpit locker!
 
Cariadco said:
I'm the proud owner of a Mastervolt 8KVA gennerator, stuffed right at the back of the engine compartment. It's been nothing but a pain in the ****.
It was fitted by the previous owner in 2005 along with a Mastervolt smart charger and a 3 KVA invertor. The whole lot must have cost a bomb, probably over £10,000...!
It's only done 57 hours of running...!!!and about 10 of them hours are by me.
The head's been off already as a couple of valves got rusty and wouldn't shut. The cooler was full of gunk and loads of other little probs due to lack of running.

It's a lovely installation but has to be run regularly. I would never have one again. I'm even thinking of removing it to sell and use a suitcase gennerator. The weight saving alone would be beneficial.

One more point, as it's a 3000rpm machine, so it isn't exactly quiet when running even though the insulation 'suitcase' covers are very robust. I hate having to run it, when on a nice queyside like Gaios or Mourtos.
Click to expand...

EIGHT KW! Massively too big for your boat boyo!

Someone in Gouvia will do you a deal. Let's talk when I get there in Feb? Boat still over by the fence?

BTW, Mourtos has good shorepower. Why do you need to run your genny there?

Chas
 
Last edited:
Cariadco said:
I'm the proud owner of a Mastervolt 8KVA gennerator, stuffed right at the back of the engine compartment. It's been nothing but a pain in the ****.
It was fitted by the previous owner in 2005 along with a Mastervolt smart charger and a 3 KVA invertor. The whole lot must have cost a bomb, probably over £10,000...!
It's only done 57 hours of running...!!!and about 10 of them hours are by me.
The head's been off already as a couple of valves got rusty and wouldn't shut. The cooler was full of gunk and loads of other little probs due to lack of running.

It's a lovely installation but has to be run regularly. I would never have one again. I'm even thinking of removing it to sell and use a suitcase gennerator. The weight saving alone would be beneficial.

One more point, as it's a 3000rpm machine, so it isn't exactly quiet when running even though the insulation 'suitcase' covers are very robust. I hate having to run it, when on a nice queyside like Gaios or Mourtos.
Click to expand...

I would be interested in purchasing it!! we'll chat, But have to be in two weeks as I'm working now!
 
Are suitcase gennies safe on a boat?

I'm no sparks hence this may be dumb, but I've always worried about 240v on board via a suitcase genny because of what potential is there for earthing? On shorepower there's an earth back via the shorepower lead whereas in a fault situation where an appliance runs to earth what happens?
 
I know what that is

I have seen one of those at the last mongolian boatshow. Its a new 4D Echosounder transducer. It does not only show you on which rock in Italy you are but also the time zone in which it may or may not happen. Fit two of those and it also tells you whether daylight saving time is on or not.




Hamma said:
bigsub.jpg


Something like this?
Click to expand...
 
Cariadco said:
It's quoted as 8KVA at a PF of 0.8 and 6.4 KVA at unity PF.
So that's 6.4 KW's at 0.8 and 6.4 KWs at 1....!!!

Get your heads 'round that one......!

As for really selling it......Let me think about it, and have a real good look at what's involved in it's removal.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

No worries, I have a big jigsaw, with GRP cutting blade, we'd soon have it out!! I'll get it out, you put everything back together!! Deal?
By the way, I am serious, I need a bigger genny.
 
jfkal said:
Yeah and the Honda's are a lot quieter than the splish splash sputter of the costly inboard types.
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Mine doesnt splish, splash sputter, it has a silencer, water seperator and the water goes out below the waterline, you only "hear" the exhaust gases and thats very queit and I mean very.
I even sometimes if its a very queit anchorage and I have to run it during the day, hang an old wet towel over the side and let it dangle over the exhaust, the its all but silent.
 
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