How much power do I need?

[Sailor2016]

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

[a64pilot]

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?

[ranger58sb]

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

[S/V Antares]

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.

[Stumble]

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).

[Sailor2016]

Only a few months.

[Sailor2016]

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.

[Sailor2016]

Where did you install the generator?
My first thought was to install close to the engine, but seems impossible...

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Sailor2016

Only a few months.

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.


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[a64pilot]

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.


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[Sailor2016]

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

Ohh I heard about it! You're so right.. In just a month, probably my only concern will be the A/C! Lol

[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.

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by Sailor2016

-----We are about to purchase a 42" Dufour -----

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.

[SeaWings 38]

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.

[StuM]

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.

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".