Rich,

For what it’s worth after having used one of these Honda EU2000i’s for the past week & change:

You wrote:

These new inverter generators are… small and quiet, though… I suspect that they get noisy when loaded.

– You’re right, they get noisier under a big load, easily twice as loud as when running under light load.

This one has a 30A outlet.

– That model is the same as the one without the 30A outlet, only $100-200 more expensive. The main purpose of that outlet is to facilitate doubling the unit up with a second, identical generator for double the power. Whichever plug you get, the unit is limited to a 20-amp maximum output. If you have an adapter for your shore power cord, you can simply use it with the regular outlets and save the $100-200 price increase.

I’ve considered buying one to run the microwave, make hot water, and charge batteries.

– Yep, that’s what they do and they do it well, but I doubt it will power more than one of those things at a time.

I still have to run the diesel at least an hour each day for the refrigerator however.

– Too bad. I’m sure you know running a diesel so often with almost no load will shorten its life. Good reason for 12V-powered fridge compressor motors, which can be supported with a portable generator instead of your main engine.

Where to mount the darn thing.

– If you’re sure it must be permanently mounted.

I don’t want to put it back on the doghouse.

– Understandable. It seems like that would block the helmsman’s view to the point of being dangerous.

Stowing a gas powered generator below deck is out of the question.

– Really? Why?

I’ve considered glassing in a wet locker behind the helmsman’s seat where the space is otherwise unusable.

– Do you mean on top of the aft cockpit combing or inset inside of it? Either way, very interesting. In fact, now that I’ve gone out and looked at it, I really like that idea. The generator could fit nicely back there. In fact, I may do something like that myself!

I don’t want to run it in the cockpit because of the noise and danger of drawing carbon monoxide into the cabin.

– It’s going to make noise and exhaust fumes wherever you run it. If it’s in the cockpit when you’re belowdecks, you hardly notice the noise, and the fumes blow away off the stern of the boat at anchor. Running it anywhere else on the boat is what will funnel exhaust fumes belowdecks.

I could probably put a box just behind the mast under the boom. This would require shutting the deck hatches whenever its run.

– Unless you were to rout the exhaust over the side… But I like your aft cockpit combing idea much better.

Just some thoughts,

Tor
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Silver Heels, P-424 #17
http://www.SilverHeels.us
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Post generated from Pearson424 Forum using Mail2Forum

Rich,

I understand, and it’s sure not worth feeing insecure about. You’d just be worrying about it all the time.

My own feeling is that gasoline can be stored safely inside or out. Certainly it’s not to be treated casually in any case. But I really like your idea of the generator living on the aft cockpit combing. I’m going to look at that some more. Since I don’t want to mess with the pushpit that’s there, my generator would necessarily overlap the inboard edge of the combing, the side of the unit protruding a bit into the area of the helmsman seat’s back. Maybe I could make some kind of backrest to compensate for that, and even incorporate it into the genset’s platform. Anyway I don’t sit there much.

So, you got me thinking.

Tor
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Silver Heels, P-424 #17
http://www.SilverHeels.us
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Are you talking about putting a hatch into the stern of the boat (or the stern area of the combing) for the generator or just setting it up on the combing itself?

-p

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Post generated from Pearson424 Forum using Mail2Forum

Pat,

I’m talking about mounting it above-deck, on top of the aft combing for general use in port (with a stock fabric weather cover when it’s idle), and stowing it away in a locker during passages. I’m still not clear on which approach Rich meant when he wrote that he had “considered glassing in a wet locker behind the helmsman’s seat where the space is otherwise unusable.” It sounds like he means inside the combing, but I’m not sure.

Tor
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Silver Heels, P-424 #17
http://www.SilverHeels.us
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Rich,

It depends on the size of your battery charger. The puny Xantrex 20-amp DC charger that came with my boat doesn’t draw much AC current at all, a few amps. The Honda EU2000i easily runs that and the AC water heater simultaneously. Of course, it has to power up to do it – i.e., run harder and louder than when just charging batteries – but it’s still comfortably within its capacity.

Tor
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Silver Heels, P-424 #17
http://www.SilverHeels.us
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Rich,

I think the generator locker in the combing is a good idea, but a bigger project than I care to tackle right now. Got enough going as it is. Besides, I built in a series of hanger bars, a rope rack, up into that space to hang the many coils of spare line I carry. It turned my lazarette into a decently organized rope locker, which I desperately needed.

I don’t think I’ll set up my EU2000 on top of the combing after all. It makes spatial sense, but would place the unit up where its full volume would transmit out into the anchorage. Sitting on the aft starboard corner seat as it does now, the high cockpit combing provides a helpful sound baffle.

Tor
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Silver Heels, P-424 #17
http://www.SilverHeels.us
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Tor-
A carbon monoxide detector might be a good idea.
Quent

Well FWIW I went over to a home depot to pick up the Honda unit and all they had were other makes.

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Post generated from Pearson424 Forum using Mail2Forum

Why am I not surprised?

On Mon, Jul 13, 2009 at 9:27 AM, Thatcher A. Stone < ([email][/email])> wrote:

Thatcher,

I tend to research and shop for these things online. It often saves me a lot of time and money. All things considered, including weight, noise level and worldwide servicing, the Honda EU2000i seemed to make the most sense for me. As of a couple of weeks ago, the best prices I found were from http://www.steadypower.com ($874, including shipping & insurance, no sales tax) and http://www.WanaGenerators.com ($875, including shipping, no sales tax, but not sure if there’s an additional charge for shipping insurance). One other, http://www.wisesales.com, seemed to be cheapest at $869 (shipping included, no sales tax), but then they tack on another $15 for insurance just as you’re completing your order. Seemed kind of sneaky to me, the way they did it.

Good luck,

Tor
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Silver Heels, P-424 #17
http://www.SilverHeels.us
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