Portable Generator

[BigDog98]

Also regardless from what generator I decide to purchase , most only have 1 30 amp plug for the shore power but I need 2 hooks ups , 1 shore power hookup is just to power the ac unit and the other is for the other electronics , so with that being said can I get a y splitter that splits from 2 shore power cords into one shore power hook up? I won't be running both at the same time , maybe ac and battery charger will always run at the same time and with the battery charger always running I can power all other electronics from the battery without having to worry that the battery while die on me.

 

[StarTed]

I'd go for the smallest one that will work for you because of the weight and fuel consumption.

If they had been around when I bought my Honda I think I'd have gone for the 75# one. My Honda is just 48# and is very portable and sips gas. However, I think you need more output than My Honda can put out.

 

[JoLin]

Dennis, I boat on L.I. and have had an AC-equipped boat (previous 27 Four Winns and current Carver) for 5 years. I have never needed to use the A/C when I anchored out, away from shore power. Every Spring I consider buying a genny, and every Fall I realize I didn't need it. Not even considering it this year. It's just one more 'device' that I'd need to feed and care for.

- When at anchor, the breeze through the open hatches keeps us cool. Don't need A/C.
- I have an alcohol/electric cooktop and cook with alcohol. Works fine. I've also used a propane camp stove, which also works great. In additon to the regular coffee maker, I have a percolator that sits on the cooktop to make coffee when I'm away from the dock.
- We pre-load and pre-chill the fridge. Then turn it down/off when at anchor. We rely primarily on a cooler. A Coleman 'Extreme' keeps stuff cold for a couple days.
- Run the engine for 20 minutes to heat water, then shower. The same or less time than you'd need to run a genny to heat water with AC current.
- A generator is unwelcome noise in an otherwise peaceful setting. I wouldn't want to hear mine, either.

Before you buy any genny, you should know the specs on your A/C unit, then buy the lightest one that'll power it. I can't see anyone humping a 100-lb genny on and off a moving swim platform. You need to know 'starting' amps. That'll tell you what you need to buy

My .02

 

[BigDog98]

Dennis, I boat on L.I. and have had an AC-equipped boat (previous 27 Four Winns and current Carver) for 5 years. I have never needed to use the A/C when I anchored out, away from shore power. Every Spring I consider buying a genny, and every Fall I realize I didn't need it. Not even considering it this year. It's just one more 'device' that I'd need to feed and care for.

- When at anchor, the breeze through the open hatches keeps us cool. Don't need A/C.
- I have an alcohol/electric cooktop and cook with alcohol. Works fine. I've also used a propane camp stove, which also works great.
- We pre-load and pre-chill the fridge. Then turn it down/off when at anchor. We rely primarily on a cooler. A Coleman 'Extreme' keeps stuff cold for a couple days.
- Run the engine for 20 minutes to heat water, then shower. The same or less time than you'd need to run a genny to heat water with AC current.

Before you buy any genny, you should know the specs on your A/C unit, then buy the lightest one that'll power it. I can't see anyone humping a 100-lb genny on and off a moving swim platform. You need to know 'starting' amps. That'll tell you what you need to buy

My .02

I appreciate the input , my main use for the AC unit is not mainly for summer use but i usually boat till December for fishing and at times go offshore so i would be using the heat function more then the cool and also my dock has its own ConEd electric box and i get billed based on how much electricity i use. I think in the long run it would be cheaper to put in 10 bucks of gas instead of paying the electricity bill and at that point i would be spoiling myself and i would just hook up everything to the shorepower including the hook up for the tv and internet. Also with all this sandy stuff and flooding a genny would be a good idea to have in general. Killing 2 birds with one stone. That is at least my opinion.

 

[BigDog98]

Dennis, I boat on L.I. and have had an AC-equipped boat (previous 27 Four Winns and current Carver) for 5 years. I have never needed to use the A/C when I anchored out, away from shore power. Every Spring I consider buying a genny, and every Fall I realize I didn't need it. Not even considering it this year. It's just one more 'device' that I'd need to feed and care for.

- When at anchor, the breeze through the open hatches keeps us cool. Don't need A/C.
- I have an alcohol/electric cooktop and cook with alcohol. Works fine. I've also used a propane camp stove, which also works great.
- We pre-load and pre-chill the fridge. Then turn it down/off when at anchor. We rely primarily on a cooler. A Coleman 'Extreme' keeps stuff cold for a couple days.
- Run the engine for 20 minutes to heat water, then shower. The same or less time than you'd need to run a genny to heat water with AC current.
- A generator is unwelcome noise in an otherwise peaceful setting. I wouldn't want to hear mine, either.

Before you buy any genny, you should know the specs on your A/C unit, then buy the lightest one that'll power it. I can't see anyone humping a 100-lb genny on and off a moving swim platform. You need to know 'starting' amps. That'll tell you what you need to buy

My .02

With a camper canvas and the cabin door open with the heat of full blast i think i can make it toasty on those cold days in the cockpit.

 

[H20Rat]

So one other generator to consider... I've got one of these and love it! Only drawback for your use case would be 2000 watts max, but I do know it is enough to run the roof AC on my RV, if I start the fan first and then kick in the compressor.

Generac IX series. More or less a Honda clone, possibly a little quieter. Generac also makes probably double as many generators as Honda, and has done it for far, far longer. If you dig some, the IX series is only partially made by Generac, some is chinese, but overall it still seems to be a fairly high quality unit.

http://www.generac.com/all-products/...-series/ix2000

 

[JoLin]

With a camper canvas and the cabin door open with the heat of full blast i think i can make it toasty on those cold days in the cockpit.

If you want to heat the boat in December you'll need to carry an auxiliary heater. Your A/C unit probably has reverse cycle heat. Heating efficiency drops as water temperature does. You'll get little or no heat out of it when the water temp drops below 50 degrees. If you're running a genny, an electric space heater or two will do the trick.

 

[plenty of fish]

I have a Champion 3100 and it works just great. I place it under the table on the afterdeck of my Bayliner 3870. When I am on the hook, I run it for 2-hours in the morning and 2-hours at night to keep the batteries charged.