AC and a 40ft cat

[RoadRacer]

Hey Scott,

Can you please provide a little more opinion on the 3.5kw generator install? fuel consumption? space? Is it loud in the adjoining cab?
I'm considering putting one in the Normandie.

Chuck

[Scott730]

Chuck
I installed a NexGen 3.5 in the starboard engine hold just behind the saildrive above the muffler (I glassed in a shelf to support it). It just fits with the sound shield. At half load it consumes about .20 gallons of diesel per hour. You can hear it in the starboard berth and my wife thinks it is loud. So when we run it during the night we sleep in the port berth. It is great while we are cruising and we almost never need to run it for the night for A/C, just a few hour in the early evening is enough to cool the boat for the night and charge the batteries. Remember, you don't want to put in a generator that is larger than you need, a generator is happiest running at 70 to 80 percent of load.
Out of all the things I've add to my boat the generator and water maker are the most appreciated while cruising. The A/C is most appreciated while in a marina.
Hope this helps.

Scott

[RoadRacer]

Thanks for the details Scott. We're doing the sea trial and handover this weekend...can't wait!

Chuck

[Scott730]

Chuck
Hope to see you cruising the East Coast soon! Let me know if your planning to come to florida soon.

Scott

[dksalvador]

I have a 43 Robertson and Caine. We have two 16000 btu units. Redundancy is a bonus. We recently added a 6 KW Northern lights, which has more than enough power for both units, a battery charger, and a water maker. You could use two 12000 BTU units, which is what my previous boat, a Lagoon 37 had. I have had Crusair units on both boats and found them to be very reliable.

[jbinbi]

Would the following scenario work:

Assume you use the A/C only starting at twilight to cool and dry the air.

Can you just have a unit in the main cabin, run for 4-5 hours till bedtime.

Would the air dry / cool down enough in the lower cabins since the cool air drops?

Or would this be a situation of having too small a unit. When you size units, I would think that you would need something much larger if you are going to use during the heat of the day rather than when it is 20 deg cooler and no direct sun than at nite.

Does this scenario make sense? thanks.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Talbot

While you are at anchor, you have a very valid point. However, if you are in a marina, there is a higher percentage chance that the boat is "hidden" from the cooling breezes. .

We have been at this marina for a coupla weeks - fist time in a marina for this long!!! (The price is right!)

Yes, the wind isnt as good. We are stern in to get the best of it 20-30 deg off the bow.

We bought a BIG bladed fan that makes the Hellas look like a joke. The big fan is rated at 50watts (240 v) where an airconditioner is 1,000 watts or more. So 5% of the power.



Mark