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Awilson275 · 21-01-2018, 09:43

The Farymann 4.3 is a single cylinder lightweight (175.) salt water cooled generator that sells for approx 4600. new. It is possible to buy a rebuilt Northern Lights which is heavier (375) three cyl. low speed for approx 1000 more. The literature says the Farymann is noisy and vibrates a lot. Does anyone have any thoughts or advice. I would appreciate all comments. Size is an issue as this would go on a 43. Bristol. Andy

john61ct · 21-01-2018, 11:32

So many good things said about NL, and these units last forever if setup properly and maintained well.

Just be very sure about the "reconditioner"

**a64pilot** · 21-01-2018, 12:13

A big issue is size and weight,
I went with a Nexgen and not a NL because of that. If you intend to run a generator a lot, then figure out how to get over the size and weigh issue and go with a NL.
If you intend to run your generator once or maybe twice a week, then go with a smaller, lighter one, cause noise and vibration are not so important.

Awilson275 · 21-01-2018, 13:37

How much vibration and noise ? Can it be made quiet ? I have seen a Bristol 43.3 with a NL and it was shoe horned in but looked workable. The Farymann is about 5 inches thinner and half the weight. Thanks

**a64pilot** · 21-01-2018, 14:12

I don’t know, I have double isolated my Nexgen and it’s in a sound enclosure. It does have a louder exhaust than most built ins, but I have a very short exhaust run, a 3.5 Nexgen is odd in that it runs not at 3600, but something like 2850, higher than 1800 obviously, but not near 3600 either.
If you do the prep work and mount it on a very solid foundation, and if you then mount the sound enclosure on another set of engine mounts, and if it’s like a Nexgen, then it can be very quiet and vibration free. You can’t hear it if the AC is on for example.
However no matter what you do it’s not likely to be as quiet or as vibration free as a NL.

My Nexgen is also a single cylinder engine generator, but it runs I believe at a lower RPM than most singles. I am not familiar with a Farryman.

**a64pilot** · 21-01-2018, 14:15

However I would be very careful with what reconditioned means, I would want something in writing stating what was done, and a warranty.
To many reconditioned means washed and spray painted.

Mr O · 22-01-2018, 10:43

There’s a Fischer Panda Fc4000 genset on my boat. Probably a 2000 or 2001 model farymann with exhaust water separator, insulated enclosure inside the insulated engine room. Very quiet outside! In fact, another skipper commented on how quiet it was as he rowed by in his dinghy. However, the vibration is annoying inside the boat. Not pleasant to be inside when it’s running. Rattled everything.

Cadence · 22-01-2018, 10:49

I'd have to agree with a64pilot as far as the term reconditioned.

rthompsona · 22-01-2018, 12:24

We have a Entec 4200D from 1996 which uses the 18W Farryman Diesel . It is not quiet, but the boat was designed with a sound deadening enclosure, so it is not that noticeable.

When we bought the new to us boat, the generator needed some work. (New shut off solenoid, fuel pump, hoses). We found that many local mechanics considered it to be idiosyncratic and did not want to work on it. However, we received good support from the manufacturer and it turns out that is it is really easy to work on.

The only oddball problem we have discovered is that the valve adjustment can slip. and then engine will then not start.

I have not had a repeat of that problem since I used some locktyte on the adjuster. But I keep some feeler gauges on board just in case.

mvmorningstar · 22-01-2018, 13:29

Very noisy, 3600 rpm is same as a lawnmower. I had a westerbeke/ferryman that had these issues in spite of a sound box. Get an 1800rpm and listen only to the distant purr. I have a kohler 6kw now.

Awilson275 · 22-01-2018, 13:35

These are great responses. This is the information I was looking for. Thanks.

dneve · 22-01-2018, 17:27

I have the Nexgen 5.5 kw which runs my ac, bat charger, water heater, etc with very little vibration. It is in a sound shield with exhaust fan routed outside to keep heat down.
With the ac running, we sleep in the v berth with no problem. Block is Kabota
so parts, filters available. The NL weight may cause your boat to list.

ericoh88 · 22-01-2018, 18:55

When I bought the boat, the entec farymann came with the ss sound shield. At 3,600 rpm it shook the whole boat. Things get loose and the genset has problem running for more than an hour to power the air cond and not able to take a load more than 50%. I replaced it with Kohler without sound shield which run quieter and runs at 3,600 rpm.