Why do diesel gen sets have such a bad reputation

mocruising said:
I was going to add this to the recent thread on power audits but I though it deserved a thread on its own. There were a few knocks of diesel gen sets on that thread.

We have a 6 Kva set in a sound shield in the engine compartment that separates exhaust gasses and cooling water. Last summer during July and August we ran it almost every evening between 2000 and say 0200, we were either in a Greek harbour or at anchor. We have had guests on the boat who don't even realise its running. I often appologise to people who we are tied up alongside and say ""Ï hope the generator did not disturb you last night" 90% of people reply we did not even know there was one running. No one has ever actually complained.

We try and anchor as far away from motor yachts as possible, especially older yachts as the size of the sets perhaps not in a sound shield can be a problem.

We have a power hungry boat and have not gone down the eco route, we would have to tow a barge astern covered in solar panels to keep up. We often see liveaboards with twin wind generators and so many solar panels that the windage must be a problem in anything but light airs. The gen set burns about 2 L an hours and we run the water maker,(Not in harbour) turn the bread maker on and charge the batteries and sleep in the cool.

I suppose what I am trying to say is diesel gen sets don't have to be noisy and upset the neighbours. Ours was fitted 13 years ago and has done 2000+ hours with only minor problems.
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Good job you don't anchor near me in an otherwise-silent anchorage. Cos I'll be round in the dinghy with 25hp outboard to ask/insist that you turn it off. If you say ooh no it's silent i can hardly hear it (which is believable because you're upwind of it at anchor) then i'll wham around your boat until you agree to turn it off, and the whole boat will wake up, and it won't be because of your blimmin generator.
 
tcm said:
Good job you don't anchor near me in an otherwise-silent anchorage. Cos I'll be round in the dinghy with 25hp outboard to ask/insist that you turn it off. If you say ooh no it's silent i can hardly hear it (which is believable because you're upwind of it at anchor) then i'll wham around your boat until you agree to turn it off, and the whole boat will wake up, and it won't be because of your blimmin generator.
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I with your sentiments on this TCM.

It is amazing here seems to be a small section of the population that genuinely believe their gensets aren't intrusive!
 
Noise from boats

It's nice in an anchorage when it's really still and quiet, wish it was that way all the time. But it's not, so I learn to live with it and accept that I don't have any special rights to total peace and quiet.

To those with a noisy generator I think, bet they wish they could afford a quieter one.

To those with a noisy wind generator I think, bet they wish they had a nice quiet one.

To those with an above waterline discharge from air con/fridge/freezer I think, bet they wished they could afford a decent installation.

To those who are having a party complete with loud music I think, poor lot have only two weeks holiday so let them be.

To those charging batteries with the main engine I think, bet they wish they didn,t have to run it at such a light load.

To those with big noisy outboards I think at least they will soon be far away from us.

If I find myself getting uptight about another boats noise I tell myself to get a life and then put on some headphones and listen to some music, or else I just up and away.

As far as boats having all mod cons fitted, making it like a second home, consider that it may be the only way they can get their family to join in the fun of boating. Most blokes only want a cold beer facility and all the other mod cons are fitted as "family" requirements.

One positive thing to consider is that at least your not going deaf!!!!:)
 
I have owned two installed gen sets and after a few years found neither up to the everyday use of live-aboard. I now have 680W of solar and the last time the gen set failed I removed it entirely rather than have it repaired. Here in the Caribbean the sun is plenty strong enough for solar, the trade wind keeps the mozies away and anyway sliding insect screens are effective.
 
Second home

For some of us it is the family home! :-)

Lucky you! Had a quick flash through your blog, and the real lucky ones are your kids, what a great way to grow up. :)
 
DaiB said:
It's nice in an anchorage when it's really still and quiet, wish it was that way all the time. But it's not, so I learn to live with it and accept that I don't have any special rights to total peace and quiet.

To those with a noisy generator I think, bet they wish they could afford a quieter one.

To those with a noisy wind generator I think, bet they wish they had a nice quiet one.

To those with an above waterline discharge from air con/fridge/freezer I think, bet they wished they could afford a decent installation.

To those who are having a party complete with loud music I think, poor lot have only two weeks holiday so let them be.

To those charging batteries with the main engine I think, bet they wish they didn,t have to run it at such a light load.

To those with big noisy outboards I think at least they will soon be far away from us.

If I find myself getting uptight about another boats noise I tell myself to get a life and then put on some headphones and listen to some music, or else I just up and away.

As far as boats having all mod cons fitted, making it like a second home, consider that it may be the only way they can get their family to join in the fun of boating. Most blokes only want a cold beer facility and all the other mod cons are fitted as "family" requirements.

One positive thing to consider is that at least your not going deaf!!!!:)
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Great Post!!

TCM - Really? Bring it on. I'll bet buzzing my boat because my generator is running doesn't turn out like you think it's going to!!
 
DaiB said:
It's nice in an anchorage when it's really still and quiet, wish it was that way all the time. But it's not, so I learn to live with it and accept that I don't have any special rights to total peace and quiet.

To those with a noisy generator I think, bet they wish they could afford a quieter one.

To those with a noisy wind generator I think, bet they wish they had a nice quiet one.

To those with an above waterline discharge from air con/fridge/freezer I think, bet they wished they could afford a decent installation.

To those who are having a party complete with loud music I think, poor lot have only two weeks holiday so let them be.

To those charging batteries with the main engine I think, bet they wish they didn,t have to run it at such a light load.

To those with big noisy outboards I think at least they will soon be far away from us.

If I find myself getting uptight about another boats noise I tell myself to get a life and then put on some headphones and listen to some music, or else I just up and away.

As far as boats having all mod cons fitted, making it like a second home, consider that it may be the only way they can get their family to join in the fun of boating. Most blokes only want a cold beer facility and all the other mod cons are fitted as "family" requirements.

One positive thing to consider is that at least your not going deaf!!!!:)
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One of the best responses on any thread
Rob
 
DaiB said:
If I find myself getting uptight about another boats noise I tell myself to get a life...........
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An excellent attitude I reckon - it's not that unusual for the behaviour of others to get on our nerves but generally, in the grand scheme of things, it's rarely worth going to war over - usually it's better just to bite your lip and move on.

Richard
 
Oh dear!
Now I'm really for it! I have TWO generators! One 6kw and one 4kw, the 4kw has been very well used and is now in need of new cylinder and piston. The 6 is secondhand and 1500 rpm, I'm fitting it with water seperator exhaust and see how it goes. I wanted a 1500, 6 to run watermaker, washing machinbe and charge all at the smae time, I also have 360w of solar which helkps. I admit to not running my gennies at night, no need, run them when needed during the day and try to make sure I dont disturb folk. The 3000 rpm gennies are fairly noisy but not too much and with sensible silencing can be much quieter. You should try and be good nieghbours, but different strokes for different folks, we have lots of power hungry bells and whistles, but we liveaboard and it is our only home and TCM you have a short memory!
 
The ONLY noise from our generator is the water splash from the exhaust and hopefully by fitting the water gas separator that should also go. Far more noisy are the wind generators running continuously not just for the hour or two of a gen set. We are still trying to find a suitable separator but at 300 euros, ouch! Anyone know where I can find one for less?
 
ccscott49 said:
Oh dear!
Now I'm really for it! I have TWO generators! One 6kw and one 4kw, the 4kw has been very well used and is now in need of new cylinder and piston. The 6 is secondhand and 1500 rpm, I'm fitting it with water seperator exhaust and see how it goes. I wanted a 1500, 6 to run watermaker, washing machinbe and charge all at the smae time, I also have 360w of solar which helkps. I admit to not running my gennies at night, no need, run them when needed during the day and try to make sure I dont disturb folk. The 3000 rpm gennies are fairly noisy but not too much and with sensible silencing can be much quieter. You should try and be good nieghbours, but different strokes for different folks, we have lots of power hungry bells and whistles, but we liveaboard and it is our only home and TCM you have a short memory!
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Yeah, but the OP is talking bout running it in otherwise-silent anchorages till 2am! Hope all ok wiv u and yours btw?
 
tcm said:
Yeah, but the OP is talking bout running it in otherwise-silent anchorages till 2am! Hope all ok wiv u and yours btw?
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Doing great old friend!! In Corfu, but thinking of an atlantic crossing in a year or so. I wouldnt want to hear a genny running all night myself.
 
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