Honda 2200i vs Fischer Panda Genset

[GulfportBarb]

Sorry to bring this up, I have searched the threads and need more clarification. We just found out our Fischer Panda PMS 4200 FCB 3.8kW generator on our new to us 2006 Jeanneau SO 37 needs a $4-6000 repair. The repair guy said we should just buy a new generator. ($12-15000). Yowser. We just bought this boat. Before we throw money at a new genset, can we buy a Honda 2200i and use it to run our Dometic 16,000 BTU AC while at anchor? Do we need a soft start for the AC unit? Do we need to buy 2 Hondas to run the AC?
It seems like a lot less money than a new FP genset. Thanks for your thoughts.

[hpeer]

I know there are AC units that will run off a Honda 2000. You could buy a Honda 2200 AND a new AC unit and have enough cash left over to buy new sails.

We are pretty simplistic, low consumption folks. We have some solar and a wind gen and a Honda 2000. We rarely run the Honda. No AC. We did not find it necessary to while on the hook in the Bahamas or Caribbean.

[sailjumanji]

Friend has a 2008 circa Dometic Turbo 16K BTU unit and March 3CP water circulating pump. He runs with a Honda 2000. It will not start or run on eco mode though. No soft start installed.

We have a 2018 Dometic DCU 18k BTU unit with Dometic Soft Start II, and a Dometic circulating pump. A Honda 2000 will not start it. A Honda 2200 will run it. First start it with eco mode turned off, and then switch to eco mode for rest of run. Honda will then handle compressor coming on and off, and will idle down when off. We run with air con fan on continuous. It does not have enough to run battery charger or other loads when air con compressor is on.

[Letterkenny]

You might need 2x Honda’s to get it working for or could go with a Harbor Freight 3500w predator that’s 100 pounds (Honda equivalent is like 150 pounds) that could work as well.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by GulfportBarb

Sorry to bring this up, I have searched the threads and need more clarification. We just found out our Fischer Panda PMS 4200 FCB 3.8kW generator on our new to us 2006 Jeanneau SO 37 needs a $4-6000 repair. The repair guy said we should just buy a new generator. ($12-15000). Yowser. We just bought this boat. Before we throw money at a new genset, can we buy a Honda 2200i and use it to run our Dometic 16,000 BTU AC while at anchor? Do we need a soft start for the AC unit? Do we need to buy 2 Hondas to run the AC?
It seems like a lot less money than a new FP genset. Thanks for your thoughts.

I gave up on my pos diesel genset and Got a Honda EU2200. It will run my 16,000 BTU air conditioner (there are lots of threads)

It did take addition of a soft start kit to the 16,000 unit ($200-300) and a hard start kit to the 9,000 (like $15 but the soft start works sooooo much nicer). Or course can only run 1 at a time, or the hot water heater, or the battery charger at more than about 20 amps. My ACs will both start in ECO mode.

Of course if you have the room you could get a Honda EU2200 + a companion and have 30 amp service

The other part of this is that you will most probably need to make-up a plug that jumps the Honda common and ground wires together (just look up or ask if unclear)

[Frankly]

I have an older Honda 2,000. It would not start a Dometic 12,000 BTU (low current Iwaki pump) until I installed a hard start (potential relay and capacitor). After I installed the hard start it will run in eco mode but not reliably start.


Frankly

[GulfportBarb]

We are also considering a Next Gen generator as a replacement. Living on the Gulf of Mexico gets very hot in the summer, upper 90s air and water temp. Without AC we will be miserable anchoring out in the summer.

[sailorboy1]

I my opinion it is waste of money, time, and space to install a 1 cylinder genset over a Honda. Mine only lasted a few years, was problem prone, LOUD, and expense to fix. Once I got my Honda the next time my genset had an issue i just gave up on it and that was 2 years. To me it is either a $1100 Honda or a $10-15k good 1800 rpm generator. A 1 cylinder is a waste.

[Letterkenny]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

I my opinion it is waste of money, time, and space to install a 1 cylinder genset over a Honda. Mine only lasted a few years, was problem prone, LOUD, and expense to fix. Once I got my Honda the next time my genset had an issue i just gave up on it and that was 2 years. To me it is either a $1100 Honda or a $10-15k good 1800 rpm generator. A 1 cylinder is a waste.

How do you store your Honda on board?

[smac999]

let me rephrase your question. because it comes up here alot.

"hello I can't afford to correctly, safely, and properly fix my boat.

I would like to use the incorrect cheap fix. risking the life of myself, my family, other boaters, and the coast gaurd employees having to come save me, possible voiding my boat insurance, and pissing off near by boats with the noise/ what do you guys think?

should I fix it correctly or do it the wrong way?

[Rohan]

Originally Posted by smac999

let me rephrase your question. because it comes up here alot.

"hello I can't afford to correctly, safely, and properly fix my boat.

Not all of us are millionaires. The question is more like "how do I keep from getting price gouged by marine generators that are so insanely expensive they cost about 10 times as much as a portable generator?"

[RickG]

We have 2,000 hours on our Honda eu2000. It starts our 12K BTU 2003 era Cruisair with a soft start kit. It is stored in the cockpit. We are in the Caribbean and hit the generator with CorrosionX every time I see a bit of corrosion. We had the generator on the swim platform for a while, but we saw a lot more corrosion there.

The Honda is okay to run over night with an external tank added. I'm not big fan of running the a/c all night. If it is unbearably hot with the addition of sun shades then we will cool things off during and after dinner. We only run a/c a couple of times a year in the Caribbean, usually on a windless hot day.

Cheers, RickG

[Letterkenny]

Originally Posted by smac999

let me rephrase your question. because it comes up here alot.

"hello I can't afford to correctly, safely, and properly fix my boat.

I would like to use the incorrect cheap fix. risking the life of myself, my family, other boaters, and the coast gaurd employees having to come save me, possible voiding my boat insurance, and pissing off near by boats with the noise/ what do you guys think?

should I fix it correctly or do it the wrong way?

Over react much?

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Letterkenny

How do you store your Honda on board?

Mounted on top of a stern locker behind the cockpit

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by smac999

let me rephrase your question. because it comes up here alot.

"hello I can't afford to correctly, safely, and properly fix my boat.

I would like to use the incorrect cheap fix. risking the life of myself, my family, other boaters, and the coast gaurd employees having to come save me, possible voiding my boat insurance, and pissing off near by boats with the noise/ what do you guys think?

should I fix it correctly or do it the wrong way?

Wow was that wrong!