Portable Generator and Regs

[smaarch]

I've been thinking of putting a small portable generator aboard my 30' boat for occasional use. Have only limited access to a dock and Imagine using it for tools, battery charging, etc.

I read lots of posts about folks using small honda or similar and i understand the concern for exhaust gases and a detector - I'd never use it while sleeping and without a hatch open.
I imagine placing it at the aft end of the cockpit.

so a few questions:
do the regs address this issue and if so how?
when not in use - where to safely stow it?
is there some sort of leak proof fuel cap available? of all the questions this is my primary concern.

any experience or concerns are welcome
Thanks

[marc2012]

I have a small honda tied down in the cockpit.Have had no problems.Leak proof,do not know but thanks to the #$%^&*( govt have some that are pour proof.marc

[Dockhead]

One of the biggest problems with carrying a small generator is the danger of gasoline fumes getting into your bilge. So you shouldn't really keep them in cockpit lockers or lazarettes which communicate with your bilge -- if they get knocked over and leak fuel you could have a real serious fire hazard.

That being said, I do keep my little Honda in the cabin sometimes. It has a really positive fuel cap vent shutoff and seems to be pretty leakproof. I keep it in the cabin and not the lazarette exactly so that it is in sight, so we'll see if it falls over. Otherwise, I keep it in the anchor locker or behind my transom platform, but those are bad places (damp, salty air) to keep machinery. So it's a bit of a devil's choice between dangerour or harmful to the equipment, even on a big boat like mine.

[swisscraft]

I made a wooden box - open on the top and mounted it into a lazarette for passage storage. The box is epoxied and should be gas proof on the bottom. I would catch any minor spill and it even protects the generator from other stuff stored in the lazarette. Its also easy now to lift the honda in and out the lazarette.

But the importend thing is to run the Honda 100% empty before storing it. I leave then the gas tank open for another hour or so. The Caribbean sun helps evaporates any left over drops of gasoline. Then ensure all is closed, Never had any gas smell or gas alarm sensor going on.

If you run a genset invest a few bucks into a C-Monoxid Alarm. Even a battery operated one from home depot is better than nothing.

Otherwise: Great little thing!