We are in the process of having a Northern Lights 6kw generator installed on our boat. In fact it was installed by H
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Warren
Sound shield
I purchased a sound shield for my norther lights generator from this company. I think the product is good and it certainly reduced the sound enough for me. I still hear the generator, but it took the edge of it. GSI Corp. 923 S.E. 20 St. Fort Lauderdale FL 33316 USA Call 1-800-763-1844 Local (954) 763-1844 Fax (954) 763-1873 Warren Feldstein Hunter 460
I purchased a sound shield for my norther lights generator from this company. I think the product is good and it certainly reduced the sound enough for me. I still hear the generator, but it took the edge of it. GSI Corp. 923 S.E. 20 St. Fort Lauderdale FL 33316 USA Call 1-800-763-1844 Local (954) 763-1844 Fax (954) 763-1873 Warren Feldstein Hunter 460
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Mark Johnson
I looked into a sound shield...
for my 6KW Northern Lights, and they wanted about $1,200.00 for it (Yikes!!), and that was not installed. Where the generator is located on my 460, I'm not sure the sound shield will fit. It's really tight. Anyone else had a sound shield installed on their 460?
for my 6KW Northern Lights, and they wanted about $1,200.00 for it (Yikes!!), and that was not installed. Where the generator is located on my 460, I'm not sure the sound shield will fit. It's really tight. Anyone else had a sound shield installed on their 460?
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Joe Ciccone
"SOUNDOWN"
Hello Anne, Suggest you check out www.soundown.com. They are located in Marblehead, MA and specilize in Marine Insulation of all types. They have free technical info. and are great people to work with. Good Luck and Quiet Dreams!! Joe Ciccone s/v"NANNA" Oriental, NC
Hello Anne, Suggest you check out www.soundown.com. They are located in Marblehead, MA and specilize in Marine Insulation of all types. They have free technical info. and are great people to work with. Good Luck and Quiet Dreams!! Joe Ciccone s/v"NANNA" Oriental, NC
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Eric Lorgus
One or Two Cylinders at 3600 RPM's = NOISE
Anne, There are two kinds of generators -- those that run at 3600 RPM's and those that run at 1800. If yours runs at 3600, then it's going to be noiser than your 76 hp Yanmar. A sound enclosure will help, but not as much as an 1800 RPM model, which is more expensive because gearing is needed to turn the generator part at 3600 RPM's. I have a 4.2 KW BMZ single-cylinder 3600 RPM diesel genset on my H54. It's in a compartment with sound absorbing insulation, but it's still noisy, much noiser than my 80 hp Perkins Turbo-Diesel at 2500 RPM's.
Anne, There are two kinds of generators -- those that run at 3600 RPM's and those that run at 1800. If yours runs at 3600, then it's going to be noiser than your 76 hp Yanmar. A sound enclosure will help, but not as much as an 1800 RPM model, which is more expensive because gearing is needed to turn the generator part at 3600 RPM's. I have a 4.2 KW BMZ single-cylinder 3600 RPM diesel genset on my H54. It's in a compartment with sound absorbing insulation, but it's still noisy, much noiser than my 80 hp Perkins Turbo-Diesel at 2500 RPM's.
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Mark Johnson
The Northern Lights IS 1800rpm....
and is still TOO noisy for me to sleep in the aft cabin while it's running. A different location or a sound shield is the only way to go.
and is still TOO noisy for me to sleep in the aft cabin while it's running. A different location or a sound shield is the only way to go.
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Warren
Super sound shield of florida
The cost of my sound shield on my 460 was 700 - 800 and there is room to fit. The guys in Florida even measured it! Warren Feldstein
The cost of my sound shield on my 460 was 700 - 800 and there is room to fit. The guys in Florida even measured it! Warren Feldstein
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Bryce
noise
My Fischer Panda is a 3600 RPM and its quiet. My A/C in the aft stateroom is noisier than the Genset. So I don't think the RPM makes much difference on the noise level. The sound insulation and mounting make most of the difference. Bryce S/V Spellbinder H410 By the way, the sound sheild is standard on the Fischer. By the time you add all the optional equipment for the Northern to get it quiet you could have bought a Fischer. And the Fischer has an all inclusive 5 year warranty.
My Fischer Panda is a 3600 RPM and its quiet. My A/C in the aft stateroom is noisier than the Genset. So I don't think the RPM makes much difference on the noise level. The sound insulation and mounting make most of the difference. Bryce S/V Spellbinder H410 By the way, the sound sheild is standard on the Fischer. By the time you add all the optional equipment for the Northern to get it quiet you could have bought a Fischer. And the Fischer has an all inclusive 5 year warranty.
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Hokiejim
It is better than Hot Hot Hot weather
It may be noisy but it can not be as noisy as a boat full of hot hot hot people with no wind sitting in the middle of the bay. I am thinking of a sound shield but mainly i am thankful to have the problem that my Generator may be a little loud when I run the a/c while sitting on the Hot Hot Hot Bay.
It may be noisy but it can not be as noisy as a boat full of hot hot hot people with no wind sitting in the middle of the bay. I am thinking of a sound shield but mainly i am thankful to have the problem that my Generator may be a little loud when I run the a/c while sitting on the Hot Hot Hot Bay.
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Richard Owen
Entec
We installed an Entec generator with sound shield. It is far quieter than the Yanmar (76 HP). You certainly know when it's running but it isn't objectionable for an hour or so per day. If we had to run it for hours on end, that would be a different story. Don't like noise much - that's one of the reasons why we have a sailboat. IMHO a generator on a sail boat NeEDS a sound shield. ROwen
We installed an Entec generator with sound shield. It is far quieter than the Yanmar (76 HP). You certainly know when it's running but it isn't objectionable for an hour or so per day. If we had to run it for hours on end, that would be a different story. Don't like noise much - that's one of the reasons why we have a sailboat. IMHO a generator on a sail boat NeEDS a sound shield. ROwen
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scott
neighbors
I have to admit I'd love a generator on my boat. She's a bit small and they are a bit pricy for me. During our recent trips we've noticed a new trend. Boats, both sail and power, who run their generators all night in what would otherwise be a nice quiet anchorage. On behalf of all us boaters who, for whatever reason, don't have a generator, please use good judgment on running your generators all night. If you simply must have all that power than maybe find a corner of the anchorage away from those of us who prefer quiet, natural sounds, especially if you enter the anchorage after the others. If we come into an anchorage and notice a boat with a generator (or even the possiblity of one) we go to the most distant part we can squeeze into, I ask you do the same. We all know that the anchorages are becoming more and more crowded so we are all going to have to work a little bit harder at playing together in the giant sand box of life.
I have to admit I'd love a generator on my boat. She's a bit small and they are a bit pricy for me. During our recent trips we've noticed a new trend. Boats, both sail and power, who run their generators all night in what would otherwise be a nice quiet anchorage. On behalf of all us boaters who, for whatever reason, don't have a generator, please use good judgment on running your generators all night. If you simply must have all that power than maybe find a corner of the anchorage away from those of us who prefer quiet, natural sounds, especially if you enter the anchorage after the others. If we come into an anchorage and notice a boat with a generator (or even the possiblity of one) we go to the most distant part we can squeeze into, I ask you do the same. We all know that the anchorages are becoming more and more crowded so we are all going to have to work a little bit harder at playing together in the giant sand box of life.
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Claudio
Panda
Try to exchange it for a Panda 8 Mini. You will not be sorry. talk to Dave Thompson. See web site below.
Try to exchange it for a Panda 8 Mini. You will not be sorry. talk to Dave Thompson. See web site below.
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Jerry Villines
remove it
I had a Panda 4kw with sound sheild aboard Always FOR SAIL, an H34, and removed the darn thing. Way too noisy. It defeated the purpose of sailing. If it is too hot and you need AC then the noise of the marina is less offensive than the gen set. If you insist on all the comforts then the wood mount with pads under to reduce vibration as well as a sound shield all the way around the contraption. Careful to get plenty of heat dissipation or you'll burn it up and get the peace a quiet you seek. Good luck.
I had a Panda 4kw with sound sheild aboard Always FOR SAIL, an H34, and removed the darn thing. Way too noisy. It defeated the purpose of sailing. If it is too hot and you need AC then the noise of the marina is less offensive than the gen set. If you insist on all the comforts then the wood mount with pads under to reduce vibration as well as a sound shield all the way around the contraption. Careful to get plenty of heat dissipation or you'll burn it up and get the peace a quiet you seek. Good luck.
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Bob Donaghue
Shop Around
We recently bought a 2000 watt Honda portable. We use it topside when needed, and store it below. It is really small and quiet, and doesn't disturb anyone. We bought the portable so we would have it at home in the winter for power failures. We do not use it underway, but had no requirement for that. Good luck.
We recently bought a 2000 watt Honda portable. We use it topside when needed, and store it below. It is really small and quiet, and doesn't disturb anyone. We bought the portable so we would have it at home in the winter for power failures. We do not use it underway, but had no requirement for that. Good luck.
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Philppe Rouleau
I have a 4.5 kw with sound enclosure on my 380
I have a 5.5 Kw Northern Light on my 380. I order it with the boat installed at hunter. Like you, I founded so noisy that I regreted my purchase... I finally installed a sound shield from Northern and it worked find. It removed 70% of the noise ! And if I have room on my 380 I'm shure you have enough room on your 460...
I have a 5.5 Kw Northern Light on my 380. I order it with the boat installed at hunter. Like you, I founded so noisy that I regreted my purchase... I finally installed a sound shield from Northern and it worked find. It removed 70% of the noise ! And if I have room on my 380 I'm shure you have enough room on your 460...
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george lakesiii
8kw northern lights
I have an eight kw norther lights in a 42. It is a 3 cyl. 3600 rpm generator and is loud without a box like the panda which I would prefer, but thats the way it came. I feel you could get by with a lower kw panda because of the water cooling of the gen section, which provides a more stable output. I do recommend from a vibration standpoint to stay with a 3 cylinder engine as they are inherently smoother. Easier to balance a 3 than a 2 or 4. You can contact me if you wish 805 488-4922 in the eves.
I have an eight kw norther lights in a 42. It is a 3 cyl. 3600 rpm generator and is loud without a box like the panda which I would prefer, but thats the way it came. I feel you could get by with a lower kw panda because of the water cooling of the gen section, which provides a more stable output. I do recommend from a vibration standpoint to stay with a 3 cylinder engine as they are inherently smoother. Easier to balance a 3 than a 2 or 4. You can contact me if you wish 805 488-4922 in the eves.
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Rankin Tippins
Decibel Meter
I acquired a Radio Shack decibel meter to measure the noise in my new H450. The engine/generator compartment has insulation which is about an inch thick with a thin sheet of lead (I believe) on one side. The generator is a Kohler 8 Kw. The results: Ambient - < 50 dB Salon fans (4 Caframos) on low - 52 dB Salon fans on high - 60 dB Generator on (with or without the engine on) with cover - 72 dB Generator on (with or without the engine on) without cover - 85 dB Anything above 60 dB was loud to me and I will continue to try to find ways to lower the generator noise. In the short period I have owned the boat, this is the most significant problem and it may have kept me from buying the boat had I known about it sooner.
I acquired a Radio Shack decibel meter to measure the noise in my new H450. The engine/generator compartment has insulation which is about an inch thick with a thin sheet of lead (I believe) on one side. The generator is a Kohler 8 Kw. The results: Ambient - < 50 dB Salon fans (4 Caframos) on low - 52 dB Salon fans on high - 60 dB Generator on (with or without the engine on) with cover - 72 dB Generator on (with or without the engine on) without cover - 85 dB Anything above 60 dB was loud to me and I will continue to try to find ways to lower the generator noise. In the short period I have owned the boat, this is the most significant problem and it may have kept me from buying the boat had I known about it sooner.
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Bradley Cavedo
What is "cover"?
Rankin: When you say "cover on" or "cover off," what cover are you talking about?
Rankin: When you say "cover on" or "cover off," what cover are you talking about?
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Rankin Tippins
Cover
The cover to which I referred is a plywood enclosure under the companionway stairs, not a vendor supplied enclosure. In my boat, it had a one inch thick foam and lead insulation glued inside the plywood. I spent all day today putting in another inch of similar insulation (at $100 a sheet - one sheet worth) inside the "cover" and also attaching that type of insulation to the underside of the sole below the stairs (in the compartment between the stringers that houses the generator). When I measured with the decibel meter, the sound level indicated an increase from 72 dB to 77 dB. Either my measurement(s) was wrong or my efforts at quieting the generator by installing more insulation backfired.
The cover to which I referred is a plywood enclosure under the companionway stairs, not a vendor supplied enclosure. In my boat, it had a one inch thick foam and lead insulation glued inside the plywood. I spent all day today putting in another inch of similar insulation (at $100 a sheet - one sheet worth) inside the "cover" and also attaching that type of insulation to the underside of the sole below the stairs (in the compartment between the stringers that houses the generator). When I measured with the decibel meter, the sound level indicated an increase from 72 dB to 77 dB. Either my measurement(s) was wrong or my efforts at quieting the generator by installing more insulation backfired.
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mike katz
generator noise
Does anyone have any experience with sound-reduction on the Onan 8KW? Our P-42 (1991) has one. We don't run it much, only 50 hours in all those years, but it is noisy. Is it still "breaking in"? Will it quiet down on it's own?
Does anyone have any experience with sound-reduction on the Onan 8KW? Our P-42 (1991) has one. We don't run it much, only 50 hours in all those years, but it is noisy. Is it still "breaking in"? Will it quiet down on it's own?
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