Adding portable generator

NCBrew

NCBrew

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Feb 22, 2010
73
Hunter Hunter Legend 35.5 9335 Albemarle Plantation, NC
How do I connect my portable general to my Hunter Legend 35.5.

Can I just plug it into a 115 v socket and only turn on what I need before it trips the breaker.

Has anyone added an onboard generator to their Hunter?

Thanks.
 
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Don S/V ILLusion

Don S/V ILLusion

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Sep 25, 2008
7,290
Alden 50 Sarasota, Florida
Your boat doesn’t know who, what or from where power is being received. With the proper plugs on an adequately sized cable, you can plug a shore power cable into a generator. Proper grounding is essential but not always simple with a genset with a floating ground. Proper ventilation is obviously also essential.

what you can run is then a function of generator capacity.
 
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D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,356
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
@Don S/V ILLusion states, plug the shore power cable into the generator. Backfeeding through an outlet is not a good idea.

While external generators are (too) widely used, ABYC Certified Electricians frown on them as will many of your neighbors in an anchorage.

Carbon Monoxide and gasoline storage are also an issue.
 
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sail sfbay

sail sfbay

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Feb 21, 2013
4,638
Hunter 46 Point Richmond, CA
You will need to buy a 30-amp electrical adapter that connects a 30-amp power cord from the generator to the boat shore power inlet. Same as on an RV. Suggest operating the portable generator on the dock and downwind and buy a LP/gasoline dual fuel portable generator like the $587 Champion Power Equipment 2500-Watt Gasoline/Propane Portable Inverter Generator Item #3629575 Model #100899.
 
T

twistedskipper

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Aug 12, 2018
163
Hunter 26 Carter Lake, Colorado
Just to reiterate what has been implied, in case it hasn’t come across clearly: you don’t generally plug a portable generator into a 120v outlet to provide power to your system. You plug the portable generator into a shore power inlet, with a suitable adapter if needed. So, your system just thinks you’re plugged into any other shore power system.
 
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B

Benny17441

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May 24, 2004
7,145
CC 30 South Florida
Google- " Pig Tail Adapter". You plug it in to a 15A or 20A output receptacle in the portable generator and the other end to the boat's Shore Power Inlet. By plugging into the shore power inlet the power will be distributed through the boat to light fixtures, outlets and appliances. Be aware of the capacity of the generator so it does not get overloaded by using too many things at once. The generators can bring 20A or 30A receptacles but that is just for convenience to adapt to different cable, but the actual power is limited to the generator's out put. To prevent Carbon Monoxide poisoning always run generators in the open preferably where the wind will blow the exhaust away from the boat. A pig tail adapter for a 30A shorepower inlet sells for around $48.
pig tail.jpg


The most popular portable generator among boaters is the Honda 2000; it is small, light, quiet and reliable with excellent weather proofing.
 
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Tally Ho

Tally Ho

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Jan 7, 2011
5,280
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
Benny17441 said:
Google- " Pig Tail Adapter". You plug it in to a 15A or 20A output receptacle in the portable generator and the other end to the boat's Shore Power Inlet. By plugging into the shore power inlet the power will be distributed through the boat to light fixtures, outlets and appliances. Be aware of the capacity of the generator so it does not get overloaded by using too many things at once. The generators can bring 20A or 30A receptacles but that is just for convenience to adapt to different cable, but the actual power is limited to the generator's out put. To prevent Carbon Monoxide poisoning always run generators in the open preferably where the wind will blow the exhaust away from the boat. A pig tail adapter for a 30A shorepower inlet sells for around $48. View attachment 202456

The most popular portable generator among boaters is the Honda 2000; it is small, light, quiet and reliable with excellent weather proofing.
Click to expand
I have something similar that picked up on Amazon. I use it to run 110 to the boat when on the hard. I can run a few power tools in the 110 outlets (shop vac, etc) and keep the batteries charged. I can even run a small electric space heater when it is really cold.

As noted, you really need to be aware that with 15 or 20 amps, and running it through an extension cord, you can over load the cord, or trip the breaker for the power outlet (or the generator in this case).

I don’t leave the power on unless I am at the boat, and start with all of the AC circuits off. If I have the space heater on, I have to be careful what else I try to run. Usually I need to turn off the heater if I want to use the shop vac for example.

89FB63CC-05FE-4909-B5BE-648F17B18B4A.png


Greg
 
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Benny17441

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May 24, 2004
7,145
CC 30 South Florida
A Honda Eu2000i portable generator puts out a maximum of 13.3 Amps irrespective of whether it has 20A outlets or a 30A outlet. Think of the type of outlets as mere adaptors for the convenience of providing access to diverse connectors and not as an indicator that it will produce more power than 13.3A. Certain appliances that use electric motors like A/C units and compressor driven refrigerators will require 5 to 10 times their rated running power just to get the compressors started. For these reasons the honda 2000 may have the output capacity to produce the running amps required by an air conditioner but that capacity is mute if it cannot get the compressor started. There are solutions like installing a "soft start capacitor " to the A/C unit but even that has certain limitations. It will vary from A/C unit to A/C unit but I have found the cutoff between 6,000 and 8,000 btu. Hope this helps.
 
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patrickfarley

patrickfarley

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Jan 10, 2011
327
Macgregor 25 675 Lake Lanier
The summer is Florida is very warm. I would like to cool the boat in the afternoon. I have a window AC that I could set up on the bow hatch. I have a generator but am afraid of dying.
If I placed the generator in the dingy and attached the dingy to the stern of the boat with a pvc pipe from each corner to the dingy and ran an extension cord through the pvc pipe and plugged in the AC directly would I survive? The pvc pipes would be 10' long and I would be at anchor.
I would cover the generator if rain was coming. No cords would hit the water. Cool the boat in the afternoon and not sleep while the boat is being cooled.

1644431369957.png


IMG_20211227_133913637.jpg
 
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D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,356
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
There are safer, cheaper, and easier things to do to make the boat cooler.

A foredeck awning will shade the foredeck and fore hatch making the V-berth cooler. A boom tent shade that extends from the mast to aft of the backstay will do the same for the cockpit and cabin. Both all allow the hatches to be open even when it rains.

A couple of small 12 fans will move the air around below decks.

Granted these will not be as effective as cooling the boat with an air condition, but they will be cheaper and safer than a generator and air conditioner. As a bonus, no neighboring boats will complain about generator noise.

Boaters with generators may not realize how far the noise carries. The past couple of nights there have been boats anchored a half mile away or more and we can hear the rumblings of their generators. It is not deafening, but constant low rumble. Kind of ruins the atmosphere of nice anchorage.
 
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patrickfarley

patrickfarley

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Jan 10, 2011
327
Macgregor 25 675 Lake Lanier
I grew up working the fields in Central California. I ran down a suspect wearing a bullet resistant vest and utilities in 107 degree weather. I have no problem with heat. However, my wife does not like the heat.
I have 4 fans. Two of the fans are on extension cords and can be moved through the boat. The only other idea I have for cooling is creating a mist machine for the cockpit. The mist would be driven by pressure and fanned with a fan.
I don't know if I would really try the generator but it is a thought.
 
BarryL

BarryL

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May 21, 2004
1,045
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 Mt. Sinai, NY
Hey,

I assume you will be at anchor (or on a mooring). I also assume there will be some breeze such that the boat will be aimed bow into the wind. If the generator was on the stern, with the exhaust going downwind, how could any exhaust gas get into the boat?

If you have a CO detector inside the boat, and the generator and AC running, you should be able to get a good nights sleep.

Barry
 
D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,356
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
BarryL said:
Hey,

I assume you will be at anchor (or on a mooring). I also assume there will be some breeze such that the boat will be aimed bow into the wind. If the generator was on the stern, with the exhaust going downwind, how could any exhaust gas get into the boat?

If you have a CO detector inside the boat, and the generator and AC running, you should be able to get a good nights sleep.

Barry
Click to expand
The station wagon effect can allow some exhaust to be sucked back into the cabin. The air flow over the cabin creates an area of low pressure which will pull the exhaust forward.
 
jviss

jviss

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Feb 5, 2004
7,089
Tartan 3800 20 Westport, MA
BarryL said:
I also assume there will be some breeze such that the boat will be aimed bow into the wind.
Click to expand
Depends on whether there is current. Current is a much stronger influence on the direction the boat will point.
 
Alan Gomes

Alan Gomes

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Nov 22, 2011
1,231
Ericson 26-2 San Pedro, CA
dlochner said:
Boaters with generators may not realize how far the noise carries. The past couple of nights there have been boats anchored a half mile away or more and we can hear the rumblings of their generators. It is not deafening, but constant low rumble. Kind of ruins the atmosphere of nice anchorage.
Click to expand
:plus:
 
jviss

jviss

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Feb 5, 2004
7,089
Tartan 3800 20 Westport, MA
Ralph Johnstone said:
Frequently from large power boats who's attitude to other boaters is:
Click to expand
Well, that's a rude image that I won't repeat.

What's "large?" Some large yachts operate the generator all the time, and the inboard generator is virtually silent. For me the problem is people running air cooled, portable generators on their swim platform or walk-through or sugar scoop transom.
 
D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,356
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Ralph Johnstone said:
Frequently from large power boats with owners whose attitude to all other boaters is:
Click to expand
Sometimes they get a come uppance. :biggrin:

Last August a powerboat passed us on the Hudson River near Albany NY, too close to use throwing a huge wake. On the VHF I offered a suggestion that he has passed too close and too fast. Months later on the ICW in NC, goes what? The same boat passed too close, too fast, throwing a large wake. This time on the VHF Channel 16 I called him out for doing this the 2nd time. The next morning, while were preparing to leave our anchorage, I heard the offending boat hailed by a USCG Boarding Party. Later that day, he passed us again, this time at much slower rate with a much lower wake. On the VHF I thanked him and said that's the way you are supposed to pass boats.
 
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Ralph Johnstone

Ralph Johnstone

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Jan 4, 2006
7,044
Hunter 310 West Vancouver, B.C.
Brian D said:
I know you have been here long enough to know what is and what is not acceptable.
Click to expand
Oops. Mea culpa :facepalm: !

I mistook that for some archaic marine salute. May go a long way to explain why I get so many unusual reactions from other boaters :redface: .
 
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