Well, that's one cheap way of doing it!

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Spotted this on Apolloduck today....

272649_6.jpg


I'd be tempted to do this myself with I get sorted with a boat. OK so you have to lift the engine bay and fill the tank quite a lot, but saves a lot of money!

I presume there is a skin fitting on the side of the hull for exhaust - Presumably it wouldn't be very hot by the time it gets to the GRP?
 
There is one or two problems with doing this.

1. Filling the tank would require removal from the boat so disconnecting and reconnecting the exhaust
2. The Honda may not like the back pressure on the exhaust that the extension provides.
3. The danger of an exhaust leak, contributed by 1, doesn't bear thinking about.
4. A fuel leak on the genny will put petrol fumes in the bilge.
 
alt said:
Spotted this on Apolloduck today....


I'd be tempted to do this myself with I get sorted with a boat. OK so you have to lift the engine bay and fill the tank quite a lot, but saves a lot of money!

I presume there is a skin fitting on the side of the hull for exhaust - Presumably it wouldn't be very hot by the time it gets to the GRP?
Click to expand...

Think you'd need to use a skin fitting from an Eber/Webasto.
 
neale said:
There is one or two problems with doing this.

1. Filling the tank would require removal from the boat so disconnecting and reconnecting the exhaust
2. The Honda may not like the back pressure on the exhaust that the extension provides.
3. The danger of an exhaust leak, contributed by 1, doesn't bear thinking about.
4. A fuel leak on the genny will put petrol fumes in the bilge.
Click to expand...

1) Why? If main engine not running and no electrics going on/off, don't see the issue here?
2) Fair point - can't imagine much back pressure from it though, it's just a pipe with no restriction
3) Fair point re. exhaust leak!
4) Fair point
 
neale said:
There is one or two problems with doing this.

1. Filling the tank would require removal from the boat so disconnecting and reconnecting the exhaust
2. The Honda may not like the back pressure on the exhaust that the extension provides.
3. The danger of an exhaust leak, contributed by 1, doesn't bear thinking about.
4. A fuel leak on the genny will put petrol fumes in the bilge.
Click to expand...

With respect, if the genny is fitted sensibly, i don't think 3 and 4 are valid.

3. We all have engines, all of which have exhausts that could leak.

4. A leak from the fuel system on a petrol boat will have the same effect, we still have petrol boats.

1. Can be overcome by fitting the genny in a location where the tank can be filled in situ, that looks the case in the pic above.

2. A big enough exhaust hose should eliminate any undue back pressure.
 
We too have looked at this solution and in fact I have bought a Hyundai HY3000SEi as part of the original project.

I was considering making a gas proof locker which drains overboard to put the genset in, therefore doing away with the issues of exhaust gases and petrol fumes in the bilges. It would also ensure the exhaust is short and so reduce any backpressure effects.

I know the Hyundai isn't as quiet as the Honda but the Hyundai has the benefit of remote control starting and stopping.

Not sure if I will complete the project as we are still considering doing a JFM....... (selling the boat before it is a year old and buying a new one) :D
 
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When you put this type of generator on a boat they seem to be more noisey than you would imagine, at least ours was. It was an electric start 2.7Kw that did not seem to complain about the increased back pressure. However, without the seawater cooling bits and the noise reduction box, how come a marine generator costs at least 4k more for the same output. We have an outboard engine stored on board with a tank full of petrol, (and another tank for spare fuel) this has at least one of the isues of safety that has already been brought up re. leaks etc, not forgetting that some boats are running petrol engines as their main source of power. A friend of ours uses a standard petrol pull start generator that comes out from storage under the main berth and is stood on the after deck plugged into the shore power socket whilst in use. You would become unpopular if you used it in a quiet anchorage though.
 
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I think it is something I will consider. However i'll create a remote cut-off switch, so I only need to enter the engine bay to start the genny.

It's a cheap and cheerful way of getting 220v, and I don't need it that often to be fair (maybe 30 mins per weekend)
 
alt said:
1) Why? If main engine not running and no electrics going on/off, don't see the issue here?
Click to expand...

Filling any petrol tank in the confines of the boat, even in the cockpit, can potentially lead to fumes sinking into the bilge. How many times have boats on the river caught fire because tanks were being filled inside the boat? Admitedly, if you were installing the genny in a dedicated locker with a low down vent similart to a gas locker I would agree that it would be fine, otherwise I would only want to re fill it on the pontoon or bankside.

PaulGooch said:
With respect, if the genny is fitted sensibly, i don't think 3 and 4 are valid.

3. We all have engines, all of which have exhausts that could leak.

But the genny will more than likely be used when you are inside the boat and more susceptible to CO than if you were in the cockpit or on the flybridge running your engines. Plus the extra risk of a leaking exhaust caused by the need to keep disconneting and reconnecting to re fill the fuel tank. If you are thinking of doing this a good CO detector would be essential

4. A leak from the fuel system on a petrol boat will have the same effect, we still have petrol boats.

I agree but petrol boats have been designed with this in mind. The genny won't have and although the Honda is certainly made from quality materials there are other 'similar' gennys that are not. I have heard on more than one occasion of fuel leaks due to poor design/materials/workmanship. Just pointing out a potential issue.

1. Can be overcome by fitting the genny in a location where the tank can be filled in situ, that looks the case in the pic above.

I am not so sure. That looks to me like it is located in the engine roonm.
Click to expand...

jimmy_the_builder said:
Extending the exhaust a metre or two like this is quite common on site, to get the exhaust gas out of the building.

Cheers
Jimmy
Click to expand...

Interesting. I know Honda used to offer an exhaust extension kit but they stopped doing it because, as I understand, they were causing problems with back pressure
 
neale said:
But the genny will more than likely be used when you are inside the boat and more susceptible to CO than if you were in the cockpit or on the flybridge running your engines
Click to expand...

Us yachties regularly run engines with people down below, possibly even asleep (or trying to :) )

You may have a point about the petrol, but I think the possibility of exhaust leaks are a red herring here.

Pete
 
alt said:
Spotted this on Apolloduck today....

272649_6.jpg


I'd be tempted to do this myself with I get sorted with a boat. OK so you have to lift the engine bay and fill the tank quite a lot, but saves a lot of money!

I presume there is a skin fitting on the side of the hull for exhaust - Presumably it wouldn't be very hot by the time it gets to the GRP?
Click to expand...

OK - there has been some views of problems with this kind of installation. Boats with Petrol engines are supposed to run their ventilation for some minutes before starting - and I suppose this should eliminate the risk of fumes ?

exhaust pipe may be become very hot - but more than e.g. the exhaust of a heating (webasto/eberspaecher etc) ??

What about an seperate/external fuel tank ??

I presume this kind of installations are not meant to run whole night, but as someone said they would run the genset for maybe half an hour each week end ??

It is a cheap way, but to be considered what should be done to make it safe to have

???
 
I think some people have made it alot simpler and just stuck it on the bathing platform when in use, but as said elsewhere, what sounds Honda quiet (in a street market) sounds damn loud echoing across an anchorage.
Still, just cup your hand to your ear and answer "I cant hear you"
 
a carbon monoxide alarm would give you peace of mind and as for the noise most people would be considerate to others when at an anchorage and switch back to your battery and inverter system.i bought the kipor variety for camping and would not leave it running through the night but a great and economical source of on tap electric.humping a 50kg generator about is not something i would do frequently though.
 
Sorry for a bit of thread drift. But why so eager for a generator? Fine if the cooker is all electric. But if the cooker is gas I'm not really sure.

My father’s boat has a diesel generator and sure it gets used from time to time (probably a bit more this season as the domestic batteries are due for replacement). It’s a nice luxury alright but I think we could live without it.
 
Whopper said:
Sorry for a bit of thread drift. But why so eager for a generator? Fine if the cooker is all electric. But if the cooker is gas I'm not really sure.

My father’s boat has a diesel generator and sure it gets used from time to time (probably a bit more this season as the domestic batteries are due for replacement). It’s a nice luxury alright but I think we could live without it.
Click to expand...

The first time I had a boat with a generator I found it completely liberating. It's the difference between being able to stay at anchor or on a buoy for decent periods of time, or not. Charging batteries, providing hot water, boiling the kettle.

I actually briefly had an EU20i on the T40, but it's just too noisy. The fully-fitted Onan unit that I have now is fab and I absolutely wouldn't be without it.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
The problem with mild steel flexi is it ends up going rigid so will transfer all the noise of the motor to the hull.


Lynall
 
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