The
generator on our
boat needs a bottom end
rebuild and I've been debating whether to bother or to just get rid of it and free up space in the
engine room. It's an old 8kw
westerbeke 3-cylinder and while it probably was very useful decades ago the
equipment it's meant to
power is mostly decomissioned or in need of replacement. Our plan is to
cruise locally in the
Puget sound and desolation sound and
work up to bigger adventures in a few years.
* She had two
marine air heat
pump systems, the aft one is long gone and the
salon one is there but needs
work and I'm debating whether to
repair it or install the latest
marine air or just free up space and declutter. We have a
diesel furnace as well for heat.
* We're not keeping the washer/dryer
* Previous owner had a dive
compressor, we're not divers and removed it
* Our
engine has two alternators and the
battery banks aren't huge, I'd love to have more but I'm still looking for where to physically put them. Motoring for two hours seems to charge the
batteries nicely.
* We have an
inverter but haven't really needed it's output yet and it doesn't
power much, just an outlet or two.
* Most importantly, the
water maker is old and has been decomissioned for a while, I suspect recomissioning it will not be cheaper or easier than installing a more modern and probably better and more efficient one. We don't likely need a
water maker for a few years yet but that alone gives me pause, I can see us using a
generator to power a
water maker some day.
*
Refrigeration is engine
compressor / 12v
pump / 120v pump but needs servicing and
repair, again it seems running the engine would do the trick but I could imagine the convenience at
anchor with the generator
In the end I'm debating where to put the effort and
money. We don't have
wind or
solar yet, the
battery banks aren't huge, but some day a
water maker is in the cards. Should we
rebuild the generator as a matter of course or replace it with something more modern? Or is it really not worth the hassle if we don't "require"
air conditioning and heat pump and a
washing machine?
I'm also a bit nervous about how the generator will come out for rebuild or replacement or
removal. I think I can get it out on pieces but having to take apart a brand new one to get it in there doesn't sound great.