Generators

[petie]

I plan to take to the european canals next year and understand that mains electricity will not be usually available. It seems that a generator would be advantageous and wonder if any members have any advice as to what to go for? Should I just go for a battery charger or a more powerful unit one to drive a microwave?

 

[archiekaren]

look at the honda 2000 ( 2kw )
its ample to power a charger, lights, fridge, microwave, 1kw water heater, maybe not at all the same time.
i brought one and am well happy with it.
shop around on internet, should get one for about £700

 

[pheran]

Have a look at the Kipor. Its a Honda look-alike at about half the price. Still a decent bit of kit which several on here have bought.

 

[MaltaBob]

Honda seriously good! So much rubbish out there , only way to get a decent , quiet job, and the only generator to do what it says on the label! Don't be taken in on price - you get what you pay for at the end of the day ! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[gary111160]

I have a powerflow 2000, it runs everything on board, microwave, electric galley, kettle, hot water, battery charger, etc. Not all at once but thats no hardship. Paid £350 at last years Southampton boat show. Runs faultlessly fairly quiet to. I sit it on the bathing platform and not had any angry stares...yet! Think its the same as a kippor model but different name.

No link to company just a happy customer. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Gary

 

[No Regrets]

I'm with Dreamtime on this one, the Kipors etc are cheap chinese copies, which will have been scrapped years before the Honda is still chuntering away happily!

The Eu20i is a work of art. Quiet, clean and reliabe, light and attractive.

I bought one off Ebay a year ago, ran it with my boat and camper, and then sold it for a small profit.

That same genny will be worth the same next year too, when the Chinese crap is in the skip.

Used Honda gennys are appearing on Ebay at 10-20 years old, still working.... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[cliff]

I'm with pheran on this one. The Kipor are around 40% of the cost of an equivalent Honda and so far mine has proved very reliable and quiet. An acquaintance bought a Honda 20i and running both side by side on same loading we could not distinguish any difference in noise level. Once we increased the loading on the Kipor to ~2.3kw it was a little noisier however the Honda 20i only managed around 1.6kw before throwing in the towel.

When I was looking for a small gen I looked at the Hondas but was told by a Honda dealer to look at Kipor as they were as good as the Hondas and the Hondas were way over priced. - an honest salesman.
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>

 

[petie]

Many thanks for all responses. It looks like Honda for life or Kipor for shorter term.

 

[Geoffs]

There are other suppliers of inverter generators now, still cheap copies of Honda, no doubt.

here

and here

 

[ccscott49]

If a Kipor is 40% the cost of the Honda, then you can afford to have two, one every four years or so, so whats the problem?? You will probably only use a genny for 100 hours a year anyway! Take a long time to recoup the extra outlay of a Honda.
I'm with Cliff on this one.

 

[cliff]

[ QUOTE ]
Many thanks for all responses. It looks like Honda for life or Kipor for shorter term.

[/ QUOTE ]Why do you say that? Kipor have not been around for so long - 3~4 years IIRC - so it is too early to say how long they will last. I have already had mine apart (curiosity) and the build quality and finish on parts seemed fine. Judging by the workshop manual they are well designed machines if rather complex. Oh, did I mention spares are cheaper than Honda?

From what I read, those against the Kipor and other "cheap" suitcase generators are those that have Hondas - perhaps a bit of "sour grapes" having been ripped off by Honda when they could have a practically identical machine for 40% of the cost.

Before you buy either I suggest you find someone who has a Honda and someone who has a Kipor or other such machine and see if you can do a direct comparison yourself.

I know the chap who ran the comparison between his Honda and my Kipor was a little peeved at the fact he paid over 900 beer tokens for his Honda when he could have had a Kipor (more powerful but similar noise level (quiet...) for less than ½ the price he paid.

Having actually seem them running "side by side" I would not even consider a Honda unless they drop the price in-line with other similar machines.

Running a boat is a costly enough exercise without throwing money away on "labels" for the sake of it (snob value?)

For those interested - Kipor web site
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>

 

[Geoffs]

Agree totally, I've got a Kippor. The Trent Power and Evopower look an even better spec. More output, bigger fuel tanks.

 

[KevB]

Yep, I'm with the Kippor crowd. Good value generators and works well. I bought a new 2.6 kva about three years ago for less than £400.

 

[Nautorius]

I too had a Kipor 3000Ti and it was great. You may soon find it on Ebay as some scroat broke into the garage last night and took it! Also nicked a couple of boxes of beer, my Makita drill and Karcher pressure washer!

I will get another Kipor if the Insurance coughs up! For the amount I use it (and the cost of replacement) I will get the kipor rather than EU20i, although the EU20i is a great piece of kit!

Cheers

Paul /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif