Advice freely given about portable gasoline generators on boats is going to get people killed. tfox2069, you know and accept the risk. You have done the research with the manufacturer and have received clear instructions NOT to use the generator on a boat. I take exception to self proclaimed "experts" like Benny17441 giving out advice that is totally wrong. An unknowing and foolish individual taking this "expert" advice is putting lives in jeopardy, and may not be aware of the risk.
Personally, I don't understand why Honda and other manufacturers don't put an orange warning label on their generators clearly stating, "NOT FOR USE ON BOATS". My Hunter has such a label warning of CO in the swim platform, why don't generators have the same? When a death occurs, and it surely will, the trial lawyer will have a field day as what would the defense be? Everyone knows not to use these generators on boats, but everyone knows that's exactly how their being used.
I feel your passion SEMPERAVANTI - we're talking about something that does have the potential to kill people. Enough potential that the manufacturer **probably** recommends against it (I didn't ask them - but after reviewing their literature I'm fairly certain what they'd say if asked - and its largely due to liability is my guess).
But as Kings Gambit points out, many MANY boaters use these generators in just the role that the OP mentions, which probably totals millions of hours of use. Yup, people die from using portable generators on boats. They also die on boats from propane explosions, improperly vented diesel engines, fires, collision, drowning, and a host of other things. Many/most could probably be prevented by a proper assessment of the risk and appropriate mitigation (wear a life jacket in the water; maintain a good watch and always do everything you can to avoid a collision rather than insisting on right of way, properly maintain your boat systems, install, maintain and regularly test smoke, fire, and gas alarms to include CO, boat sober, etc., etc.). I'm sure there are insurance implications here: Would insurance pay out if damage/injury/death resulted from an unapproved use of a portable generator? Maybe - maybe not. There are studies on CO poisoning, but nothing I could find beyond a houseboat study that evaluated the use of portable generators on boats. Here's a few, if anyone is interested:
Consumer Products Safety Commission statistics on deaths from generator (not on boats, and not necessarily portable) average 54/yr (study is a little dated but here:
Here's an interesting study on generators on houseboats, which found deadly levels behind and below the generator (especially below the swim step on top of the water where people might swim):
A Summary of Research and Progress on Carbon Monoxide Exposure Control Solutions on Houseboats
And here's another where, in Hurricane Irma with 185mph winds, more people died from CO poisoning (16) from generators than were killed directly by the hurricane itself (11):
Deaths Related to Hurricane Irma — Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina, September 4–October 10, 2017
What it boils down to is essentially this: You are the Captain, and you are responsible for anything and anyone on your boat. If you are going to use a portable generator on your boat, do your research, consider the advice of manufacturers and actual experts if you can find one (I am NOT one), read widely, maintain your equipment so it will mostly act predictably, and take every precaution to ensure its safe use. People use portable generators on boats safely every day. Some are lucky; some know what they're doing. Be in the second group, know the risks, and take all necessary precautions if you decide the benefit outweighs the risk.
www.pbo.co.uk
