Generator for my 23.5

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Jul 2, 2009
6
Hunter 23.5 Tampa Florida
I am purchasing a Honda 2000i generator for my boat and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for placement. I was considering putting it in the stern berth and creating a sound box and false wall. I was also considering putting it somewhere in the cockpit, any ideas?
 
Jan 2, 2005
779
Hunter 35.5 Legend Lake Travis-Austin,TX
Your main concern will be venting the exhaust, operating it in any "closed" environment would be deadly. Most people use them on swim platforms, up on the bow, or even in a dingy behind/beside the boat. Hard to "enclose" and leave it there for use. Regardless, make sure to install a carbon monoxide detector down below.
 
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May 16, 2007
1,509
Boatless ! 26 Ottawa, Ontario
I have one of these Honda Eu 2000 generators and I really like it. I have used it on 2 boats in the cockpit. It is a bit of a challenge storing it. My plan is to build a small platform behind the helm seat of the H260 for the generator to sit on, the roof will be a 12"x20" solar panel. In the mean time I have to just try and get along with what I have :). This little guy allows us to keep the batteries charged and also keep a small microwave on board to assit the one burner stove. Even though our 9.9 Honda has a 12 amp alternator we never seem to run the outboard motor enough to keep the batteries full on a longer trip. I do not use the 8 amp dc output on the generator to charge the batteries I use a 20 amp battery charger. I don't think a smaller boat really has the room to mount a solar panel big enough to meet our needs so we bought the generator. It is very quiet, most people in an anchorage don't even know we have it running.
Bob
 

Benny

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Sep 27, 2008
1,149
Hunter 320 Tampa, FL
co2

As far as I'm concerned Honda makes the best portable generators in the market. They are reliable and very quiet. They run under pouring rain conditions with only a little a little lubrication maintenace afterwards. The exaust fumes are pretty clean but still deadly. Do not run the unit anywhere inside the cabin and hull. I prefer to sit it on the stern of the boat as when the boat swings at anchor because of wind the exaust fumes are blown away. The legs are rubber cushioned so I would suggest you use a pad to avoid black marks on your deck or cosckpit.
 
Dec 2, 1997
9,011
- - LIttle Rock
It's NOT CO2...

CO2 is carbon DIoxide...what every living creature exhales! The gas from gas engines that can kill you is CO--carbon MONoxide!

And fwiw, I had central heat/ac powered by a gas genset on my last two boats...and even the Obama administration couldn't print enough money to pay me to run 'em overnight while asleep.
 

Benny

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Sep 27, 2008
1,149
Hunter 320 Tampa, FL
You are right Peggie it is CO (mental lapse due to gradual loss of brain cells). The only problem with the Honda 2000 is that when ran overnight it acts like a baby. You have to get up in the wee hours of the morning to feed it fuel. The built in gas tank holds slightly less than one gallon and if you are running a high load like A/C or a heater it only gives you from 4-5 hours. The good news is that an external tank can be added which will give you an additional 3.5 gallons so you may sleep through. You get used to the noise and slight vibration real quick but for peace of mind have a quality Carbon Monoxide alarm. You will probably get more false alarms than actual but do not turn it off. My motivation for sleeping with the generator on is the intense heat and humidity here in the wrong coast of Florida. The lesser of two evils?
 
Jan 22, 2009
133
Hunter 31 '83_'87 Blue Water Marina
Actually Peggy, all living things do NOT exhale co2. Plants, from algae to redwoods, exhale O2 and "inhale" co2. Of course co2 can be a problem if too great a concentration. Seal the cabin REAL tight and stay there and discover the toxicity of co2. Of course another problem on boats of any size is oxidane. It is odorless, colorless and can kill you if you inhale enough.
 
Jun 28, 2005
440
Hunter H33 2004 Mumford Cove,CT & Block Island
Of course Oxidane is heavier than air and will tend to sink to the lowest level of the boat and hopefully is exhausted via the bilge pump.
 

BrianW

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Jan 7, 2005
843
Hunter 26 Guntersville Lake, (AL)
A few other facts about oxidane:
* Exposure to its gaseous form can cause severe burns
* It is a proven major constuitent of acid rain
* Can be detected in most forms of maliginant tumors

BrianW
 
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timvg

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May 10, 2004
276
Hunter 40.5 Long Beach, CA
We have one and find it ideal. When using it, we have it on deck at the bow with the exhaust pointing forward. Since we have a 40 foot boat, we can barely hear it back in the cockpit.
If someone is moored or anchored directly in front of us, I try to use it less often out of courtesy.
 
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