Which portable generator is best and why?

[oldsaltoz]

Having had a few generators on board over the years, my advise would be.

Look for a gen set that runs at half the revs of the little suite case jobs. ie, 1500 RPM not 3000.

More reliable, stable and better all round.

We set ours up in the one of the 3 forward hatches (cat) with a flexible exhaust that extends down between the hulls, nice and quiet and no vibration or fumes.

Good luck and fair winds.

 

[tommydortez]

Having had a few generators on board over the years, my advise would be.

Look for a gen set that runs at half the revs of the little suite case jobs. ie, 1500 RPM not 3000.

More reliable, stable and better all round.

We set ours up in the one of the 3 forward hatches (cat) with a flexible exhaust that extends down between the hulls, nice and quiet and no vibration or fumes.

Good luck and fair winds.

i guess its more reliable because it runs at lower RPM? oh well, im sure i'll live with this one

Hope its too hot and beautiful down on that East coast...

 

[nigelmercier]

Rigger Mortice has not made any friends yet"... from your profile hehe

Why are you having a go at him? You have resurrected an old thread, which is not desirable. By pointing this out, it should reduce the number of replies to the OP.

Have started a thread in Feedback forum requesting a lock or warning: http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?396099-Request-lock-on-resurrecting-old-threads

 

[tommydortez]

Why are you having a go at him? You have resurrected an old thread, which is not desirable. By pointing this out, it should reduce the number of replies to the OP.

im not having a "go" at anyone? why are you contributing to an old thread if you don't agree with people resurrecting them? isn't that like complaining about someone speeding whilst speeding... i understand why rigorMortis would have a problem with anyone resurrecting anything... cough, cough

 

[nigelmercier]

Damage is done now. If you want to comment on an old thread, the best way is to use Reply with Quote (which keeps a link) then copy the text, then cancel. Start a new thread with the text you copied, trimming as required.

 

[tommydortez]

Damage is done now. If you want to comment on an old thread, the best way is to use Reply with Quote (which keeps a link) then copy the text, then cancel. Start a new thread with the text you copied, trimming as required.

why are you still contributing to this old thread?

why are you telling me how to use a forum? Do you personally police the entire YBW forum?

 

[nigelmercier]

why are you still contributing to this old thread?

why are you telling me how to use a forum? Do you personally police the entire YBW forum?

Why don't you learn some manners?

 

[tommydortez]

Why don't you learn some manners?

im assuming your using attack, as your form of defense, in regards to your ridiculous comments in the first place.

That aside, i'll ensure i follow all your instructions on how, what, where and when to post in the YBW forum.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

im assuming your using attack, as your form of defense, in regards to your ridiculous comments in the first place.

That aside, i'll ensure i follow all your instructions on how, what, where and when to post in the YBW forum.

Ummmmm. You were attacking me with silly comments when I pointed out that an old thread had been resurrected.

If you like reading product recommendations which are nearly three years old, and therefore possibly out of date, that is up to you. But don't complain when somebody points out that it is an old thread and it may be helpful if they realise that before reading too much of a fairly long thread.

 

[Tamer11]

...is it better to run appliances individually directly plugged into the generator or get an adaptor and plug the generator into the shore power?

 

[Mistroma]

...is it better to run appliances individually directly plugged into the generator or get an adaptor and plug the generator into the shore power?

Might have been better to start a new thread than revive a 9 year old one about choosing a generator.

How many things are you going to be connecting, does your boat already have wiring with an RCD, how frequently will you use the generator etc. ?

It is very easy to make an adaptor to connect a suitcase generator to the boat's AC system and very cheap. You can buy something like this for £12 or make one for about half the cost if you already have a plug and wire.

I find it convenient as I can turn on any mains device when the generator is running. I only need to consider the total load but am used to that anyway as there's always an approx. 4kW limit on shorepower and I just lower my expectations with a generator. e.g. Run hot water 1,100W and battery charger 800W max. and I'm close to 1.9kW

I usually use the generator to run the battery charger but turn it off to run the micro-wave and back on for toaster and charger.

None of these problems if you only want to run a single device. However, no flexibility either and I find it preferable to connect the generator via shorepower connector.

 

[RichardS]

...is it better to run appliances individually directly plugged into the generator or get an adaptor and plug the generator into the shore power?

It usually much easier to connect the gennie into the boat's shore power circuit. You can then use it for battery charging, immersion heater etc

Richard

 

[sarabande]

Honda 2000 ei; inverter, very quiet. Kawasaki 2kw, ditto. Not cheap, and like hens teeth on ebay.

 

[Mistroma]

Tamer11 is only asking about connecting a generator and OP has probably lost interest as it's been 9 years since the original question was raised.

 

[roaringgirl]

For topping up batteries, how about some PV? For heating water, use the kettle. I am dismayed on an almost daily basis by someone in the anchorage firing up their genny.

 

[Bouba]

I have a 2kva Honda suitcase, and at very low consumption it is indeed quiet. But it’s extremely noisy on a boat with any load whatsoever. A generator sitting on your garden a little distance from your house is tolerable but on a boat (please don’t run it in the boat) the sound is amplified. I made a sound box but that had no effect. If you truly have no neighbors on anchor or on the shore then it’s ok. It’s a lovely machine but it’s not quiet it is completely antisocial

 

[LadyInBed]

I am dismayed on an almost daily basis by someone in the anchorage firing up their genny

How else am I going to fire up my electric blanket ?
And before you say, my hot water bottle is keeping my feet warm ?

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I have the Honda 2KW.
Owned for 6 yrs, I have never serviced it as yet. ?.
I only use it on extreme occasions and it does ok with the jet washer.
Each season i wonder if it will start after 8-9 months away from the boat and it’s never failed even with old fuel.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

Who sells the "Kipor"?.

I'm considering a generator and have been looking at the "Clarke" models from Machine Mart. Appreciate the Honda models are tops but at double the price I'm wondering if they really deserve the mark-up.

Double the mark-up halve the problems??

 

[rotrax]

There is - or was - a very good Kipor agent in Thame, Oxfordshire.

We bought a 2600 Kipor from them after visiting and talking to the parts/warranty man. They had not sold many spares, but had sold lots of gennies. The cold start lever, a small plastic piece, was the most troublesome.

We had four years faultless sevice.

The Honda patent has long run out, so they are copies, but not knockoffs as in infringing patents.

It was, IIRC, £465.00.

A fair bit less than the Honda 2000. Substantialy so, in fact.

Sold when I installed a diesel genset to a forum member, who, I trust, is getting good service from it.