portable generator on sailboat

[Syversens]

hey all, we just got a portable generator on the boat, a 2000W from ebay and it works well... however its not as quiet as I hoped. Anyway, last weekend we were running it at 9 in the morning on the transom and LOVED the nice hot shower for everyone, had two friends with us, and seeing the battery recharge nicely. the water was also nice and hot for an afternoon shower to get sunscreen off. however the boat swung around on anchor and started blasting the dock with the generator, they were none too happy and got dirty looks, I could hear what they said to eachother so I could not imagine it be too bad....

Does anyone have experience with this type generator and perhaps how to quiet it a bit, I was thinking a box of plywood or MDF with some type of sound insulation, doenst have to be bigger than 2X3 feet.

After the hot shower the admiral had a MUCH better day sailing, so unless someone makes the generator illegal its part of our boat now... all it needs is 30-45 minutes too... love it

thanks !

 

[Rick I]

You're allowed

to run your generator at 9 in the morning. How close were you to the dock? They all make a bit of noise. What make is your unit? I have a Honda 2000 and it's quite quiet.

 

[Mike - Papillon]

Make sure you have...

Gaute, enjoy your generator but be safe and make sure you have a Carbon Monoxide detector on board.
Mike

 

[Syversens]

we were quite close....

Hey Rick, I was quite close... I'd say 40-50 feet or so, we were actually on a buoy. I wanted to get the honda but future investments (prop) made me not dip too much into the budget. the unit has the same db spec as the Honda and at home on idle that's confirmed, mine is 2200 W though so slightly more output but the main selling was the price since we'r not planning on extensive use.

we only use it to heat the water for shower and its not running continous all night so I think they were far too sensitive being as the waverunners that came later made waves and far more noise. I could hear them talking at normal voice so its minimal... a "box" at the bow might help spread the sound, I think the transom made it into a loudhailer and focused the noise.

Good advice Mike and we always have them on when we'r onboard, we have a diesel heater and though we dont run it at night I dont trust it enough even when we'r half asleep in the mornings.

 

[Mike - Papillon]

Diesel vs gas fumes

Gaute, FYI diesel fumes can make you sick but wont kill you, unlike gas which produces deadly CO. Enjoy the AC power on the hook.
Mike

 

[Rob]

Propane

has anyone tried running the generator on propane? I saw an adapter on ebay.

 

[larry w]

you probably bought a construction generator

which are not as quiet as a Honda EU. you're ALLOWED to run a gen at nine in the morning, but the common courtesy is to run your gen between 1300 and 1600hrs when most people are off their boats anyway. Whatever you do, DO NOT run the generator after about five in the afternoon; that's COCKTAIL time, and it will very greatly annoy your neighbors to have their cocktail hours blasted by a noisy gen just so you can have hot water.

 

[Syversens]

sounds good

thanks for the info on diesel, I thought anything burning would release enough CO to kill but thats good info... still not sure I trust that heater and it we'll keep the sleepingbags on board for the really cold nights.

Thanks for the tip Larry, its mostly needed in the morning and I'll use caution not to disturb anyone too much and keep it short...

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Diesel "fumes" to contain CO

There appears to be a common myth that diesel exhaust does not contain carbon monoxide and people seem to confuse the levels between gas and diesel engine CO.

Please note that although gas engines have a higher concentration of CO, diesels consume far greater combustion air such that the actual amount of CO is greater and in a confied space, the diesel, by virtue of it's greater exhaust volume, will kill just as quickly if not more quickly than a gas engine exhaust.

Keep this in mind if/when you hear someone incorrectly tell you diesels are not as dangerous as gas engines and particularly so if you intend on running it in a confined space to minimize exhaust noise.

 

[Syversens]

use CO monitor

Hey Don, thanks for clearing that up... I think anyone running an engine in close space without ventilation is a really bad idea. We always use CO monitor and will continue to do so, not trusting my diesel heater to run at nigh with noone up and we'r fine with it.

The generator though is awesome and I wouldnt want my wife to be without it, a nice hot shower is important for her so also for me... I want to minimize the noise though so we'll do some testing how we can do that and keep the crew alive with fresh air.

Rick, forgot to ask, where do you place your generator ? I got a few plans how to shield it and will test them this weekend, anyone have any ideas let me know....

Gaute

 

[Mike - Papillon]

CO in diesel

Well I have to stand corrected on the CO in diesel issue. I took a diesel class held by a long time diesel mechanic who had made the comment. Even prior to that I had heard the same thing. I just did a search and found that yes there's CO in diesel fumes but apx less than 1/2 of that from a gas engine. Funny they only recommend CO detectors for gas powered boats. Just the same I think I'll keep my CO detector on.
Mike

 

[larry w]

I place my Honda gen on the bow

and run it for about 1.5 hrs; one hour to charge, .5 hr to heat water. Sitting in the cockpit behind the dodger I can barely hear it run to charge, but when heating water it runs harder and makes a little more noise, not much tho.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Mike

What you were told about CO ratio between diesel and gas engine exhaust concentration is true but only part of the whole story. As diesels consume and therefore exhaust a much greater volume of air containing CO, the available CO is actually greater from a diesel engine exhaust. The toxicology which confuses some is not the ambient air concentration but rather the volume and concentration CO inhaled - exaggeration for effect - you can have a pure CO environment but will survive nicely as long as you can hold your breath because the lethal conc is measured in the lungs, not ambient air.