Installing a Genset in our 41DS

[Nodak7]

I have decided to install a Genset on our 41DS. Right now I am looking very seriously at a Kohler 6Kw Generator (6EKOD) and think it will fit our needs without breaking the bank. Has anyone installed a Kohler in a Hunter? If so please give me the benefit of your experience. Additionally, I understand that Hunter runs a 3 wire harness from the Lazerette to the Power Panel. Can anyone confirm this and, if so, can you give me a hint on where to find the ends. Lastly, for those of you that have Kohlers on board are you satisfied with their operation? How about noise levels in the boat while in operation? Anyone have a picture of their installation you would be willing to share? Thanks in advance for any suggestions or advice you can give me.

 

[seadaddler]

Have you tried contacting Hunter for any info on installing a Gen,a few years ago
I was able to get photo's for installing a below deck auto and it had all great info,but
that was when Eddie was with Hunter.
Nick

 

[SEMPERAVANTI41]

Having done a generator install myself on my 41DS be assured there was no wiring at all provided by Hunter on my model year 2007. I have attached the Hunter SOP for generator install and also wiring schematics. Please note that the SOP is for a Fischer Panda so Hunter uses 4 wires from the generator to the panel. Most generators will only need 3. Also the Fischer Panda does not require an air blower for cooling the generator end which the Kohler will need.

 

[Nodak7]

Having done a generator install myself on my 41DS be assured there was no wiring at all provided by Hunter on my model year 2007. I have attached the Hunter SOP for generator install and also wiring schematics. Please note that the SOP is for a Fischer Panda so Hunter uses 4 wires from the generator to the panel. Most generators will only need 3. Also the Fischer Panda does not require an air blower for cooling the generator end which the Kohler will need.

Thank you so much Semper. I had a chance to really get into the Lazerette and indeed I could find no wiring there for the Gen Set. Not a surprise. Unfortunately one other item that I did find was that the Lazerette may not be big enough for the Kohler. I have attached a picture of the Kohler "foot print" at the bottom of the Lazerette. (Excuse the dirt from the anchor) But as you can see it just barely makes it in there. I might be back to square one. My second choice was a NextGen 5.5 but they are to loud. The FP was way out of range as far as price.

Did you install a FP or another generator.

 

[seadaddler]

Jerry Clark has a Northern lights in his 356 and also added a noise insulting cover and
he loves it and he says he runs it at night for AC.
I have a FP 4200 and is pretty quiet and hardly can hear it outside the boat and have never had any complaints about hearing it in anchorage and I think it is very quiet compared to other gen when in a anchorage.
I never run it at night when sleeping because it is right next to our bed and we can feel the vibration,my yanmar makes way more noise than the Gen.
It was all installed by Hunter and has all kinds of auto switching built in.
Nick

 

[SEMPERAVANTI41]

I installed Mase 7.6. Was tight fit. Had to remove sound shield to be able to lower unit into lazerette, then re-assembled sound shield after generator was bolted down. Although generator has sound shield I added sound deadening material. Seadaddler is right, I can feel the vibrations when I lie in the bed.
I have attached a picture taken in aft cabin looking at fore and aft bulkhead. I cut an opening to be able to work on generator. Picture has generator sound shield and wall section removed.
I think the template of the Kohler is similar to the Mase. Why not check the dimensions of the Mase to see if the Kohler is the same?

 

[Nodak7]

I installed Mase 7.6. Was tight fit. Had to remove sound shield to be able to lower unit into lazerette, then re-assembled sound shield after generator was bolted down. Although generator has sound shield I added sound deadening material. Seadaddler is right, I can feel the vibrations when I lie in the bed.
I have attached a picture taken in aft cabin looking at fore and aft bulkhead. I cut an opening to be able to work on generator. Picture has generator sound shield and wall section removed.
I think the template of the Kohler is similar to the Mase. Why not check the dimensions of the Mase to see if the Kohler is the same?

Awesome Semper! Thanks for sharing the picture. I would assume that the generator ran everything in the boat without problems. They do not have similar footprints. Within inches of each other. I had not thought of opening up from the aft cabin.

 

[artboas]

I have decided to install a Genset on our 41DS. Right now I am looking very seriously at a Kohler 6Kw Generator (6EKOD) and think it will fit our needs without breaking the bank. Has anyone installed a Kohler in a Hunter? If so please give me the benefit of your experience. Additionally, I understand that Hunter runs a 3 wire harness from the Lazerette to the Power Panel. Can anyone confirm this and, if so, can you give me a hint on where to find the ends. Lastly, for those of you that have Kohlers on board are you satisfied with their operation? How about noise levels in the boat while in operation? Anyone have a picture of their installation you would be willing to share? Thanks in advance for any suggestions or advice you can give me.

I'd go with FP
This unit will be the quietest, and likely smallest footprint
It is the typical oem for hunter

 

[seadaddler]

I agree they are the quietest and small compact and been very happy with mine
Nick

 

[seadaddler]

Nodak7 how many ac units do you have and what are some
of prices you getting for other units.
Will you have the Gen installed by pro.
Nick

 

[SEMPERAVANTI41]

Nodak7 the Mase 7.6 will handle both a/c units and the battery charger on full load. It only has a problem if under this full load situation a hair dryer or other electrical resistance heating load is turned on.
Having a Mase 7.6 in my 41 and an FP in my 50, I think the Mase is a better unit if space is available. The FP is smaller, but part of the reason is that the Mase turns at 1800 rpm, while the FP turns at 3600 rpm.
If I were installing a generator again in the 41, I would properly go smaller in capacity and selectively control the load. I have found that at the dock with just 1 30 amp shore cord, if I reduce the load from the battery charger to it's lowest setting, I can still run both a/c units. This being said I could properly live with 4 or 5 kw generator. Also if you were to sequence the starting load of the a/c this would further reduce the electrical load.

 

[JamesG161]

Kohlers on board are you satisfied with their operation?

I have a 9kW Kohler and other than a loose fuse connector, it has worked perfectly.

Don't forget your battery charger in the sizing.
I just noticed my 100Amp charger did NOT fully charge my house batteries when I had AC, Frig, big TV, and AC fans running in 8 hours. Normally Genset will charge them + Frig in 1.5 hours to the float level.

Noise...
Sound insulate...

Service...
I service my Yanmar 16hp diesel every spring. Zinc, Air Filter, oil, oil filter, sea water impeller, and fuel filter.

It is under my forward birth. People have slept on it, and they say the slight hum rocked them to sleep.

They have a great OEM parts supplier...
http://www.colburnpower.com
I just got a spare V-Belt, Oil filters, air filter... etc.
The order was delayed because Kohler didn't ship the V-Belts timely. Best price too.
Jim...

 

[Nodak7]

Nodak7 how many ac units do you have and what are some
of prices you getting for other units.
Will you have the Gen installed by pro.
Nick

Nick,

I have 2 AC Units in the boat. One large one in the main saloon (16500) and the other in the aft cabin (6000 ?). At this time I am planning on installing it myself. I don't see anything that I cannot handle.

 

[Nodak7]

Here are the Units that I have researched listed in order of physical size. It became pretty obvious
Fischer Panda 6500 350# (Quiet and smallest) First choice - Smallest physical displacement.
Next Gen UCM2 5.5kW 290# (Noisy and small) Cheapest Unit marginal output
Northern Lights M673L3 6kW 377# Third choice fits but but most $$$
Fischer Panda 12 Mini 410#
Cummins Onan 6.0MDKBJ 429# Large and heavy
Kohler 6EKOD 490# Large and heavy (second choice but the extra 140# really hurts)
Westerbek 6kW WMD-6 490#Very Large & Heavy
Phasor K3-6.5kW 567# Extremely Heavy

 

[JamesG161]

Usually Hunter has a reserved spot for a genset as a dealership add on.
The Hunter research I did in late 2014, most had Northern Lights or Kohler and a few Onan.
mine is just forward of my compression post, starboard side. Its weight is offset by the Port side Galley.

Does your boat have a slight port or starboard list? The extra weight may be a blessing to boat performance.

I don't understand the weight per kilowatt difference unless the sustained Amp output is different for each unit.
The generator part or head is the key.
The motor runs at nearly constant RPM.
I would suggest a closer look the the sustained Amp output and fuel consumption at load.
Jim...

 

[seadaddler]

I added the Fisher Panda 4200 on my 2007 H-36 and Hunter only offered the FP
at the time and the dealer wanted to do the install but I had Hunter install at the factory.
It is very quiet and small compared to other Gen and people do think my FP is very quiet
compared to others and it is right next to our rear berth where we sleep and does vibrate
more than noise and have never run it when sleeping.
Best thing we ever added so we can run AC here in Florida and usually cool the boat down all day until time to sleep and than have many fans while we sleep.
Nick

 

[SEMPERAVANTI41]

I think weight is important in the install on the 41DS, as the generator is far to the port side of the boat. I checked the weight of the Mase I installed, 432#. It has made my boat take a slight list to port.