what to do regards a generator

[lanerboy]

Well after a wonderful 3 days boating over the weekend I now want yet another item to add to the boat, we had a bbq on the flybridge griddle on sat afternoon and really enjoyed it and the wife said this will be nice in the summer whilst out at sea on the hook so I had to explain we could not use the griddle unless we are plugged into shore power as we don't have a genny

So now I am thinking of what to do regards solving the problem, I have looked at boat specific gennys and the price is horrific just to run a griddle, so what is the best way to solve this can I fit a diesel genny like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kipor-KDE...trial_Tools_Generators_ET&hash=item2c73ad9ac2 if I route the exhaust correctly out the side of the boat or is this a complete no no for reasons I don't know of

Or do I just get a 3kva portable suitcase type petrol genny and stick it on the bathing platform as and when I want to use it, this seems the cheaper and easier way to do it but its just the noise issue, just imagine what the yottis would say if I were to stick a genny on my bathing platform for half hour on a nice calm day in Lulworth cove

What have others done regards this issue, I have no air con so I don't need a huge power output, also does anyone know what kw the griddle will be on my flybridge on a phantom 40 I have looked in all my manuals but nothing there to help me out on this I would have thought no more than 3kw but I will stand corrected if wrong

cheers shawn

 

[LionsDen]

Hi Shaun - If you are going to install a generator in the lazarette it will need to be properly installed and fixed otherwise will possibly invalidate you warranty - Onan - Kohler or Fischer Panda is the way to go 4kw + Battery charger will use nearly 3kw etc etc

Alternativelly use a Honda portable on your bathing platform for the odd occasion you may need one.

Happy Sailing

Terry

 

[RogerRat]

Well after a wonderful 3 days boating over the weekend I now want yet another item to add to the boat, we had a bbq on the flybridge griddle on sat afternoon and really enjoyed it and the wife said this will be nice in the summer whilst out at sea on the hook so I had to explain we could not use the griddle unless we are plugged into shore power as we don't have a genny

So now I am thinking of what to do regards solving the problem, I have looked at boat specific gennys and the price is horrific just to run a griddle, so what is the best way to solve this can I fit a diesel genny like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kipor-KDE...trial_Tools_Generators_ET&hash=item2c73ad9ac2 if I route the exhaust correctly out the side of the boat or is this a complete no no for reasons I don't know of

Or do I just get a 3kva portable suitcase type petrol genny and stick it on the bathing platform as and when I want to use it, this seems the cheaper and easier way to do it but its just the noise issue, just imagine what the yottis would say if I were to stick a genny on my bathing platform for half hour on a nice calm day in Lulworth cove

What have others done regards this issue, I have no air con so I don't need a huge power output, also does anyone know what kw the griddle will be on my flybridge on a phantom 40 I have looked in all my manuals but nothing there to help me out on this I would have thought no more than 3kw but I will stand corrected if wrong

cheers shawn

This question gets asked a lot on the forum and a Kipor is a great little unit but is air cooled. So needs to be out on the swim platform, this is
ok-ish on the hook but not in a marina. The problem with these small units are that they are quiet enough on tick over but as soon as you put them under load, they rev up to become quite noisy. The BBQ on your boat will require about 2 Kwatts and really you need a 3Kw Kipor which actually quite large and heavy to man handle. I have a 2Kva one that you can borrow if you would like to see what I mean. They are excellent as a back up if you're extending your time away from a marina as you can charge batteries and boil a kettle if you don't have gas etc. Better to buy a smaller kettle to, around 1500 watts.

Also, don't forget, if you go down the Kipor / Honda route to get one that generates a full sine wave, or you can damage electronics or motors.

I would definitely recommend an inbuilt one for your Phantom. The Fischer Panda series, I had one on my Targa and it was excellent, giving 4.5 K watts very quietly. It is one of the smallest constant speed gennys' (no revving up) available. Not something to fit yourself tho, get it done properly as there is plumbing, sea cock, fuel supply and silencing and major electronics for the control panel etc.

But well worth it!

Have a look here:
http://www.fischerpanda.de/products/eng/713.htm

Enjoy. :encouragement:

RR

 

[westernman]

Before considering a Fischer Panda you might like to check through this thread:-

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f14/120volt-panda-generator-problems-77578.html

 

[MedMilo]

If all you want to do it have a barbie I wouldn't bother with a genny. I've got one of these and just use it on the swim platform - will even do a leg of lamb if you fancy it! Gets far better results than my electric griddle set up...

http://www.riversidegardencentre.co.uk/bbq/weber-q1000.html

 

[RogerRat]

Before considering a Fischer Panda you might like to check through this thread:-

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f14/120volt-panda-generator-problems-77578.html

Well there you go, I had one for 6 years. Needed one impeller and an oil change or two. Only ever missed a beat when the waterways got blocked with marine creatures last summer.

But it was a 240 volt version.

RR

 

[Whitelighter]

If you just want if fir the occasional BBQ etc why bit get some extra battery power and fit an inverter?

Would be cheaper, neater and quieter.

 

[hlb]

Well after a wonderful 3 days boating over the weekend I now want yet another item to add to the boat, we had a bbq on the flybridge griddle on sat afternoon and really enjoyed it and the wife said this will be nice in the summer whilst out at sea on the hook so I had to explain we could not use the griddle unless we are plugged into shore power as we don't have a genny

So now I am thinking of what to do regards solving the problem, I have looked at boat specific gennys and the price is horrific just to run a griddle, so what is the best way to solve this can I fit a diesel genny like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kipor-KDE...trial_Tools_Generators_ET&hash=item2c73ad9ac2 if I route the exhaust correctly out the side of the boat or is this a complete no no for reasons I don't know of

Or do I just get a 3kva portable suitcase type petrol genny and stick it on the bathing platform as and when I want to use it, this seems the cheaper and easier way to do it but its just the noise issue, just imagine what the yottis would say if I were to stick a genny on my bathing platform for half hour on a nice calm day in Lulworth cove

What have others done regards this issue, I have no air con so I don't need a huge power output, also does anyone know what kw the griddle will be on my flybridge on a phantom 40 I have looked in all my manuals but nothing there to help me out on this I would have thought no more than 3kw but I will stand corrected if wrong

cheers shawn

It is a problem, because folk wanted to go all electric. Electric is trouble some as it don't always work.

Gas is much better at working first time every time.

We boated year round, off the little Honda, It was parked up the other end of pontoon, no one there so no one to bother. TV and heating on. Cooking on gas.

Can not understand why folk want to spoil things that work, only to make it more difficult.

 

[crazy4557]

I'm in the middle of having a Kohler genset fitted on my Targa. I was offered a new one 'in the crate' albeit 8 years old so it was a good saving on a new one. The fitting costs mount up to have it done properly and mine will cost about £7500 all done. A few cheaper one's come up on fleabay that will save you a thousand or two but the fitting costs will remain similar despite the cost of the genset.
I would go the portable route for a season and see how much you need one. Other consideration is if you want to take your boat to the med you'll need one there for sure.

 

[martin]

I would ditto the idea of a Weber Q1000 we had one on the last boat, fantastic little bit of kit...cooked everything from fry up to roast beef and uses tiny little gas canisters so the whole thing fits in a carry bag. Should fit on top of the griddle with any luck.

 

[lanerboy]

I find it strange that most of us have 2 huge engines in the boat yet a seperate genny is required to run the 240v system why can the manufacturers not design something so we could use one engine to run the 240v electrics then most boats could come with a built in genny attached to one of the main engines straight from the factory

What is the reason for not doing this

 

[volvopaul]

Dig deep and buy a genny, if your going further south in a year or so you will need one for the aircon.

 

[superheat6k]

I find it strange that most of us have 2 huge engines in the boat yet a seperate genny is required to run the 240v system why can the manufacturers not design something so we could use one engine to run the 240v electrics then most boats could come with a built in genny attached to one of the main engines straight from the factory

What is the reason for not doing this

Indeed you would have all the power you need underway, but otherwise you would be running the propulsion engines close to tickover when anchored etc - 4 kva = approx 6HP allowing for losses, so a TAMD71 or KAD32 kicking out upward of 300 HP will not appreciate being run at such a trivial load. You would not be too popular in a quiet anchorage with one engine chugging away.

A compromise here would be to take Whitelighter's advice and fit an Inverter, extra Battery or two and perhaps an extra or more powerful 12v alternator, with an alternator controller to maximise output. Great for short bursts of high power, but less effective for several days at anchor.

 

[LionsDen]

I find it strange that most of us have 2 huge engines in the boat yet a seperate genny is required to run the 240v system why can the manufacturers not design something so we could use one engine to run the 240v electrics then most boats could come with a built in genny attached to one of the main engines straight from the factory

What is the reason for not doing this

Shaun - You would need to run one of the engines whilst the air-con is running 24/7 not very practical imho - jfm will no doubt back me up on that one

If you don't want to dig deep then install an invertor as others have said which would keep swmbo happy - Then sell the boat end off the season as you will no doubt be due an upgrade by then :encouragement:

 

[lanerboy]

I had a 2kva inverter on my old boat and this wouldnt even run the microwave, if i were to go down this inverter route can anyone suggest a decent inverter that would run a 2kw griddle for 20mins or so and how many more batteries would i need. This inverter method sounds like it could be quite an expensive way to do it though and would never be as powerfull as a genny

 

[lanerboy]

Shaun - You would need to run one of the engines whilst the air-con is running 24/7 not very practical imho - jfm will no doubt back me up on that one

If you don't want to dig deep then install an invertor as others have said which would keep swmbo happy - Then sell the boat end off the season as you will no doubt be due an upgrade by then :encouragement:

I should have bought a bigger boat with genny air con and passerelle ready for the med

I understand what your saying about air con but i dont have air con so running one engine for 20mins or so would not be that bad but obviously it must be a bad idea or the boat manufacturers would do it, and they dont

 

[LionsDen]

Shaun - I mis-read Pauls note above about air-con and thought you had it on your boat but no genny

Bigger boat is the way 2 go - For me a P54 is on my current future wish list :encouragement:

 

[dj43]

Why not change existing electric grill for a LPG one,

 

[Portofino]

Here is a little one
http://www.yachtsupplydepot.com/ele...sorlp1-3-5kw-marine-generator/prod_72247.html
I have a F/P 4.2 Kv with super silent exhaust -in a soundproof box .Silent ,just feel the vibrations slightly humming away
9 ys trouble free -but it gets pampered .
Came with the boat factory fit-just small/ compact .
In the Med it's easy to spend a great deal of time @ anchor or on visitors pontoon -with no shore power ,so it's kinda handy .We have no gas .

 

[Whitelighter]

4kw constant/8kw peak pure sign wave inverter.

£549

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/111188445210

You will need extra batteries, or bigger batteries to replace your existing ones but then you can charge from your engines. Seems a simpler and cheaper solution to a genny.

I'm sure there is some reason why you need a marine inverter but even at £1500 it's cheaper than a genny and much easier to install.

Lithium batteries are the way to go but they are still very expensive - super impressive though. I spend time in one boat that has them and the genny is rarely on.