Generator size

[mcanderson]

As I narrow down the short list and have a couple of good leads one issue that has been brought to my attention is generator size.

The boats we are looking at are in the 12-14m range, sports cruiser, hard tops and will be based in the South of France.

Essential are aircon, full size fridge, cockpit grill. Most have electric hobs and ice makers as well as aircon units of circa 30 000btu.

Size of generators vary from 4Kva to 12Kva.

What do you all think, I have has it suggested that 4Kva will not be enough, but without knowing the exact specs of the electrical demand I am trying to think if I should be setting a line in the sand.

As ever, thanks.

 

[jfm]

4kva is 17amps at 230v. 2.5tons of airco is perhaps 12-14 amps in cooling mode depending on the installed gear, and if there is a significant <1 power factor in the airco motors the genset might "see" say 16 amps. And there will be a spike on starting the airco compressor unless you fit a soft start/inverter back up

So 4kva is borderline at best (you'd perhaps have to turn airco off to use cooker, and you never know when the imm heater will cut in) and useless at worst. It's quite annoying to have to lift locker lids or whatever to keep resetting trip switches when you're trying to chill in the afternoon

Hence a line in the sand on 12-14m with 2.5tons of airco is perhaps 6kva, and 7-8-9.5 would be great. All imho!

 

[mcanderson]

jfm - thanks. I have asked for some more detail on the front runner.

 

[Portofino]

As I narrow down the short list and have a couple of good leads one issue that has been brought to my attention is generator size.

The boats we are looking at are in the 12-14m range, sports cruiser, hard tops and will be based in the South of France.

Essential are aircon, full size fridge, cockpit grill. Most have electric hobs and ice makers as well as aircon units of circa 30 000btu.

Size of generators vary from 4Kva to 12Kva.

What do you all think, I have has it suggested that 4Kva will not be enough, but without knowing the exact specs of the electrical demand I am trying to think if I should be setting a line in the sand.

As ever, thanks.

Hmm -
Those bits on your list are either standard or bolt on,s .
If you bolt on ( read that as install ) then that piece is new going forwards .
IMHO I would short list first
Sea keeping -to keep passengers happy - and not restrict when you go out
Speed - it is the SoF and you can get around arguably safer in the sence beat the weather -if you want to
Relaibilty - has to be std shafts - Cat ,Cummins, MAN ,MTU any pair of these
Sun pad + large cockpit - cos its an outdoor life really .
A/C -mostly run on shore power -so geny size issue no a top priority above all this mentioned

 

[mcanderson]

Portofino,

Thank you for your thoughts. All the options I list come from the factory fit, so I suspect the standard gen fit should be able to handle the load, but some of the adds and replies I have are a little 'lost in translation'

I concur with seakeeping, speed and livability all being very high on the must have list.

From what I have read, been told and experienced myself on a short demonstration trip - Cranchi appear to be well designed for Med life. They are quick circa 30+ kts and have very good living areas. I don't really want a flybridge as most around the 12-14m range look too tall for the lengths and those that look right suffer below decks with head room. I'm 6'2" and sick of ducking on boats.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Portofino]

I too rate Cranchi high -my guardiene -who looks after loads of boats and is a bit of a Riva specialist does too !
It might be worth popping along to La Rague and speaking to the engineers @ Arie D Boom re VP IPS issues / service /costs -before commiting , if IPS is in the frame ?You can walk into the engine shed -
"Yard walking -" looking at hull shapes - ie what's underwater in my view is more important than the bit you see at shows and dock walking .
Good look with your search

 

[Portofino]

I too rate Cranchi high -my guardiene -who looks after loads of boats and is a bit of a Riva specialist does too !
It might be worth popping along to La Rague and speaking to the engineers @ Arie D Boom re VP IPS issues / service /costs -before commiting , if IPS is in the frame ?You can walk into the engine shed -
"Yard walking -" looking at hull shapes - ie what's underwater in my view is more important than the bit you see at shows and dock walking .
Good look with your search
Cranchi :encouragement:

 

[mcanderson]

Wandering/cooling down after a run at Beaulieu Sur Mer has given me lots of opportunity to see what I like the look of what I don't. That combined with looking (spying on) every sports cruiser that ever anchors anywhere near us has also helped me narrow down what appears to work and what doesn't. IPS is very much in the frame as it is becoming more and more popular and it must be for a reason. Also the additional room you gain is impressive. Yes shafts are simplier and there is a lot less to go wrong, but there are less and less boats fitted with them in the range I am looking at.