Engine & Alternator or Generator

[40FOT]

Hello Folks

I have recently bought a used 43' Bruce Roberts currently configured with a 40hp engine (no alternator & no hot water exchanger) with a diesel generator to provide 240v (UK).

Load on the boat is basic...Some minor low power kitchen appliances and a freezer.

The engine has some 4000hrs on it and has been serviced regularly and still performs really well.

My question is would you swap out the engine and generator for a new engine with alternator, heat exchanger (for hot water) and inverters for the 240v?

Usage will be blue water cruising in the future and so there is a potential requirement for a water maker.

Cheers

40FOT

[valhalla360]

If they run well and no sign that they will die soon, don't waste the money on replacement.

That said, if you only have some minor power needs get some solar. Maybe get a small alternator for the propulsion engine as a cheap emergency backup (are you sure it has no alternator?)

Sitting at anchor with the main engine running under no load just to charge the batteries is a 20-30yr old method. Yes, there are still some boats doing it but it's fading as an approach to electricity generation with the proliferation of cheap solar.

[Terra Nova]

Just add a heat exchanger and alternator.