First you need to determine what your
electrical needs or load will be.
Cooking, AC ,
battery charging,
lighting, etc. but remember that with a generator of a proper size you can multi task many of these at the same time. If running solely on what you get out of your alternator/battery or even solar/battery you are more limited. Sure with proper battery bank you can often use all of these things but requires
learning proper sequencing and staging of all these loads (and teaching everyone on board) to avoid battery depletion.
Yes gender require
fuel and
maintenance. But this forum is full of threads from people wanting to know how to deal with issues with their
batteries and
solar hardware.
There is no free lunch.
Some tell you there is no need for a genset at all. Some people live more frugally and don’t care if they sleep without AC and other modern convinces. In fact many choose this lifestyle just because of it - not in spite of it.
Many people of the world live in one room “homes” with no electricity at all. It can be done. Question is do YOU and your
boat mates all want the same level of standards.
Myself I did many boat trips to the out islands in open boats with camping
gear and a Coleman
stove. Then later in a cuddly
cabin with no electricity. Then as I got older and moved up in boat size I expected and wanted more.
Many say they are just fine with hatched open and letting the
wind blow through. Sleep like a rock.
Been there done that and not any longer. I’m sure if I asked my wife if she would like to spend two weeks
anchoring out in the
Bahamas in July-August with me she would say. “ Maybe you should see if you can get a guys trip arranged. But no thanks”.
Boating needs to be fun. Decide what is fun to you.