Which portable generator is best and why?

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. :)
 
oldsaltoz said:
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. :)
Click to expand...

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...
 
Last edited:
nigelmercier said:
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.
Click to expand...

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 said:
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.
Click to expand...

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?
 
tommydortez said:
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.
Click to expand...

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If you like reading product recommendations which are nearly three years old, and therefore possibly out of date, that is up to you.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.
 
...is it better to run appliances individually directly plugged into the generator or get an adaptor and plug the generator into the shore power?
 
Tamer11 said:
...is it better to run appliances individually directly plugged into the generator or get an adaptor and plug the generator into the shore power?
Click to expand...
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.
 
Last edited:
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
 
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.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top