Small air cooled generators, installations, handling. Examples anyone?

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by Franziska

So I think it will have to be an on deck box in the cockpit after all.

Have you considered getting rid of the generator? Get a few solar panels instead, and maybe an extra battery or two. No more gasoline to haul around either!!!

There is always something a little too heavy on the boat, no matter how strong you are. For me, it was the 4 stroke outboard I had to lift from the stern rail to the dinghy transom. I bought the biggest outboard I could lift...mistake! At other times its been anchors (with chain attached), or trying to move my steel cradle. I'm sure we each have our own heavy item to wrestle. On the other hand, working with heavy things keeps us strong and fit.

[dakno]

For my 1k Honda I had a bracket made at a local fab shop that hangs from the pushpit behind the transom so that at anchor all fumes trail downwind od cockpit, cabin. It runs my 5k ac in my small boat.

[Franziska]

@Hamburking
Jep, thought about it but like the option to have a hot freshwater shower and a warm cabin occasionally.
Still there are options to downsize. See my last post above.

@Dakno
5kW air-condition run by a 1kW Honda? That would be really cool (pun intendet).
Still sounds to good to be true to me.
Or did I misunderstood you?

[Tayana42]

Franziska, for what it’s worth, we keep our Honda EU2000i on deck near the mast. It is lashed to a handrail and some pad eyes. When not in use it is covered with a Sunbrella cover my wife made.

It has been on deck for more than 5 years now on our monohull with no apparent problems. No rust, starts immediately, runs smoothly. We sail mostly coastal never more than a couple of hundred miles offshore and can pick our weather so we rarely get solid water on deck. Lots of spry though and so far to not been a problem.

[Franziska]

Great answer.

I'll keep it.

For now it will move in the cockpit.
Liferaft will move under the arch and Dinghy from under the arch onto the transom.

[Mike Banks]

I do not know how big your deck space is on your cat on the stern area--but on my tri I used the genset on deck only, with a cover for it that protected it from rain and vented at either end. The cover was made from plywood lined with sound proofing and glassed over, the rear and front punched louvered stainless steel sheeting, which kept out rain but allowed air inside and exhaust to escape easily. A rope passed over the top of this cover and held it down--the edges of it where it sat on the deck were covered in split white rubber hose to stop it sliding around.

The rest of the time it was stowed in the aft cabin, and yes, getting it out and up the steps on the end of a rope was a pain, and the cover took up space too, although it doubled as a rope bin on occasions.

If I were ever to use a genset below decks--a but risky, I would have a separate dry
and rock-wool insulated exhaust system for it which fitted on to an extension pipe WELDED to the existing exhaust outlet via proper exhaust flexible pipe--so there was no chance whatsoever of exhaust fumes remaining below deck--in addition to the other precautions you have already taken. On top of this pipe would have to be mounted a mushroom ventilator or something similar to prevent water entering, and to shut it off when not in use.

Re-fueling a petrol engine below decks sounds dangerous to me. If it is to be a permanent thing--diesel is the way to go.


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[Franziska]

Just a comic style picture of the new arrangement.
I'll built a vented box for the genny.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[Franziska]

Current status.

[FionaJC]

Originally Posted by Franziska

@Fiona
thats a thought, bigger inverter on the small genset.
Still I am afraid it will not pump out enough current (even at 110V or 220V) to run a 2kW inverter which could run the 2kW space heater.
It's a question of what goes in can come out. Higher voltage does not mean more watts.
At the moment I have the genset to produce hot water, charging the batteries and occasionally run the space heater.

Mind you, thinking of getting a Diesel heater (despite not using Diesel for anything else).
Than I would only need the big genny for the future RO watermaker.
So maybe the plan would be:

*Keep big genset for now
*Buy and install Diesel heater
*Swap the 2kW genset for 1kW
*Get a Power Survivor 40E as watermaker

We do not use a microwave and are used to use little water +rain collection adds also occasionally.

Thanks for your post, it gave me thoughts to think.
Ive decided;
Keep the 2Kw genset for the following reasons;
If I fit a bigger inverter I will need 166amps off my battery for long periods

So Ill keep the 1Kw inverter for my drills and vacuum cleaner. The 2 Kw genny will give me charge, heat and hot water,.

I love my new 5kw diesel heater (£150 from china, sold 3 eberspachers and bought 2 cheap china versions - brilliant but not easy to fit, ask me!).

I don't need a water-maker (sufficient Gin & tonic stocks)

I have a 1kw genny and a strong son for heavy lift, mast access etc. (he still loves sailing with me but his new G/F doesn't -I think). Other half thinks I am the weight lifter - Do I look like one?

[Cpt Pat]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Hey guys, thanks for the thoughts.

If I pull myself together I manage just about to lift it vertically up under calm weather conditions.

It gets more tricky when there is a swell and that the tiller gets in the way does not help.
Unfortunately my boom does not reach over it neither.
To add more I need to wrestle it 1m forward.

So I think it will have to be an on deck box in the cockpit after all.
The issue I have with that is that I am afraid to have it "live" outside, might turn into a rust bucket quickly.
Maybe I should source an oversized watertight bag for it and spray it frequently with WD40 or similar.

Just thinking aloud in this thread.

Hmmmm, sometimes it would be nice to be the green skinned Hulk :-)... not.

Don't ever spray it with WD40 while, or just before, it's running. The propellant in WD40 is flammable! See this vid of a WD40 flame thrower:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOfDwOSDLYM

I run my Honda 1,000 watt generator until it is out of fuel, and then store it below in the cabin. I run it in the cockpit with a lanyard to hold it vertical. It has to be adjusted for vertical when the vessel is heeled - it won't tolerate more than about 20 degrees of tilt.

[knockabout]

sounds like you have got it sorted / leave it where it is / the lower down the better

[LooseGoose]

I saw a post recently where they stored the Honda on deck inside a weatherproof but heavy duty manufactured plastic doghouse!!!!!