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25-05-2016, 11:52
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 5
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How much power do I need?
We live in South Florida. Planning to live aboard and also go long distance cruise. We are about to purchase a 42" Dufour with no generator... I'm concerned about how much it's gonna cost (including labor) as I see no place to install it at all, only outside.
We gonna have 2 TVs and computers aboard. No A/C or water maker also... But we will soon need it.
The price is below the average asked for a 42" but I'm wondering if, at the end, it's gonna cost too much ($$ and hassle) There is a solar panel, they said it's enough for now, but for some reason the fridge wasn't working so we can't tell ... Any opinions Wil be very appreciated! Thank you
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25-05-2016, 11:54
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#2
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,351
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Re: How much power do I need?
Smallish genst will all total run about $7K, if you do it yourself. No idea if you pay someone else
Doesn't take all that much room.
Portable Honda, $1K, a whole lot more to this, I'm afraid you will need to know your energy consumption first before you can determine needs.
Have you lived in South Fl long?
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25-05-2016, 12:24
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Maryland, USA
Boat: 58' Sedan Bridge
Posts: 5,430
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Re: How much power do I need?
Was a genset a standard option for original builds? If so, do you know where
the builder put it? Or maybe somebody can tell you that?
-Chris
__________________
Chesapeake Bay, USA.
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25-05-2016, 12:25
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Annapolis, Bahamas
Boat: 1983 Gulfstar 36
Posts: 1,253
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Re: How much power do I need?
We have a 36 ft sailboat and are not real careful with our consumption while on the hook for 6 or 7 months at a time. Two Solar panels 135 watt each supply plenty of power for TV, stereo, computer and fridge. On the rare occasion you need some 120v ac for power tools or charging the Honda 2kw eco is easy. Installing a gen set on a boat that is not designed for one is simply not easy and not needed. We run phone chargers and TV & computer on a little 400 w inverter.
I will run the engine once or twice a week to get some hot water but it is easy to heat some on the stove as well.
__________________
Will & Muffin
Lucy the dog
"Yes, well.. perhaps some more wine" (Julia Child)
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25-05-2016, 12:42
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#5
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: May 2012
Location: New Orleans
Boat: We have a problem... A serious addiction issue.
Posts: 3,974
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Re: How much power do I need?
If I remember correctly it would have cost us about $6k to add AC to a 40' Jeneau. Plus another $8k for the generator. But this was with all the ducting and electrical already run in the boat (the factory installed it wether or not the option was selected by the buyer). This was a quote from a local certified yard (in New Orleans).
__________________
Greg
- If animals weren't meant to be eaten then they wouldn't be made of food.
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25-05-2016, 12:43
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 5
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Re: How much power do I need?
Only a few months.
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25-05-2016, 12:46
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 5
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Re: How much power do I need?
It's not standard... That's why the lack of space. Still great to sail, but I'm not sure if she's enough to live aboard.
There is not many storage places, the galley is small, but nothing that we can't handle (I think)
My biggest concern is about the generator.
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25-05-2016, 12:52
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 5
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Re: How much power do I need?
Where did you install the generator?
My first thought was to install close to the engine, but seems impossible...
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25-05-2016, 14:22
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#9
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,351
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How much power do I need?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailor2016
Only a few months.
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I thought so, you have the "Africa hot" to look forward to. Ever see the movie Biloxi blues ? Just wait, it's almost here, another month and you will understand.
AC, if you have shore power available will become a necessity I believe.
You can install a 16K AC yourself for about $2.5K. DIY I believe or having a high source of income is what is the norm on a boat.
It is expensive to have someone else do things, which is odd, cause you do not get rich by working on boats.
Sent from my iPad Pro using Cruisers Sailing Forum
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25-05-2016, 14:35
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#10
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,351
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Re: How much power do I need?
Understand unless your rich, generators are part time things, you don't run them continuously unless you can pay. It's not fuel, it's wear and tear that adds up.
If live aboard is the plan and living up north isn't an option for Summer, and you have a wife or girlfriend, I highly suggest a Marina and AC as an option as opposed to buying a generator.
Sent from my iPad Pro using Cruisers Sailing Forum
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25-05-2016, 14:41
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 5
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Re: How much power do I need?
Quote:
Originally Posted by a64pilot
I thought so, you have the "Africa hot" to look forward to. Ever see the movie Biloxi blues ? Just wait, it's almost here, another month and you will understand.
AC, if you have shore power available will become a necessity I believe.
You can install a 16K AC yourself for about $2.5K. DIY I believe or having a high source of income is what is the norm on a boat.
It is expensive to have someone else do things, which is odd, cause you do not get rich by working on boats.
Sent from my iPad Pro using Cruisers Sailing Forum
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Ohh I heard about it! You're so right.. In just a month, probably my only concern will be the A/C! Lol
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26-05-2016, 07:41
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Boat: Lagoon 380, 38', I Dream of Jeanne
Posts: 313
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Re: How much power do I need?
How much power do you need - MORE! Always More. Here's a summary: my refer eats 30 amps per day, freezer - 30 amps per day, stereo - roughly 5 amps per hour, radar - 5 amps per hour?, etc. I might average 100 amps per day.
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26-05-2016, 11:59
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Bahamas/Florida
Boat: Solaris Sunstar 36' catamaran
Posts: 2,686
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Re: How much power do I need?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailor2016
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Are you going to have it surveyed before purchase? That should answer a lot of questions for you, especially if you tell the surveyor what your plans are.
__________________
Sail Fast Live Slow
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26-05-2016, 14:05
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Port Charlotte, Florida
Boat: Irwin Citation 38
Posts: 9
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Re: How much power do I need?
You mentioned that you could not test the solar panels with the fridge because the fridge doesn't work….be suspicious ..refrigerators must have the voltage they are designed to operate on…. anything less is warm beer. Low battery voltage ie: a dead cell could easily send your fridge to the no cold zone.
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26-05-2016, 15:37
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Port Moresby,Papua New Guinea
Boat: FP Belize Maestro 43 and OPBs
Posts: 12,891
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Re: How much power do I need?
Quote:
Originally Posted by timbenner
How much power do you need - MORE! Always More. Here's a summary: my refer eats 30 amps per day, freezer - 30 amps per day, stereo - roughly 5 amps per hour, radar - 5 amps per hour?, etc. I might average 100 amps per day.
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Here we go again:
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post1933764
You average 100 Amp hours per day.
Your reefer, freezer etc will NEVER "eat 30 Amps".
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