Retrofit Generator

[Quasimotor]

Recommend a retrofit generator for a 2004 Hunter 326. Willing to consider, carry-ons and lazarettos that work well and can keep you cool at anchor. Also, any experience with installing a low power A/C starter for the usual Dometic model. Cheers to everyone whose ever docked in the Neuse, NC. I love Pecan Grove Marina!

Quasimotor
S/V Papoulita

 

[Johann]

I installed a nextgen 3.5kW genset in the lazerette of my H336. It was ok and served its purpose but I wouldn’t do it again. Too heavy, too loud, too much extra maintenance. I would go with a high output alternator, 3kVA inverter, and LiFePO4 battery. In fact, on our current boat that is what I am in the process of doing as a replacement for our defunct genset. There are many ways to do this depending on budget and how complex you want it. Simplest and cheapest would be a 2kW gas generator like the Honda Eu2200i and a soft start like a Micro-air Easy start. But those are noisy as well and you have to worry about CO poisoning… I won‘t run ours overnight.

If you go with the alternator, inverter, LiFePO4 you‘re looking at around $7k (DIY) for a nice setup with Victron, Epoch, and Arco.

 

[Quasimotor]

Johann! Thank you so much for that time and money-saving advice! I own a Chevy Bolt EV car and, unlike our defunct Chevy VOLT, which was a plug-in hybrid, the Bolt can't go more than 200 miles or so on a charge. So I was thinking of buying the Honda 3u2200i and using it to charge the Bolt whenever we stopped overnight or for a long meal on our 10 hr drive to Pecan Grove Marina in Oriental, NC. So...I'm thinking of going with the $7K solution. Egad! That's more than it cost me to put a dink on davits, but hell...gotta fill that hole in the ocean!

Would you kindly describe the process, either as you've spec''d it or as you DO it? I think I and a lot of other boaters would like to know more.

"Quasimotor"
S/V Papoulita

 

[Johann]

I ended up deciding on a 48V system due to the long wiring runs. The setup is separate from my 12V house system, it is strictly a generator replacement. I sized the system based on our historical use of the generator, which was about 1-2 hours a day at peak use during the summer, pulling about 4kW. The wiring runs on your H326 may be short enough to stick with 12V and a single house bank that powers the inverter and is charged by the alternator.

I am assuming you have about a 12k BTU aircon that pulls about 1200W or 10A at 120V. If you have about a 50% duty cycle over night I get about 400Ah required at 12V. So an Epoch 460Ah LFP battery seems like a good fit if it’s dedicated to the inverter. If you are also running DC loads off this bank you may want two 300Ah Epochs (or you could just set the inverter cutout voltage high enough so that you don’t get the house drained overnight).

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Alternator wise if you have room you could fit the Arco 275A, or the 225A if room is tight. Arco Zeus for the regulator. They have pretty good hot, low RPM performance. I think you should be able to sustain 200A from the Arco 275 and 150A from the Arco 225... So 2-3 hours to get the battery bank back up for the next night.

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For the inverter I am a big fan of Victron. I would go with the Multiplus 3kVA inverter/charger. Ours would start our 16k BTU Cruisair without a soft start, although we did add them anyway.

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[Johann]

Another option is to just do Rod Collin’s easy LFP conversion Easy LiFePo4 Conversion - Marine How To and also upgrade the inverter. Then charge the battery during the day with the Honda, and run on battery/inverter overnight. This is how we are operating right now as I have not got the alternator installed yet.

 

[Quasimotor]

Johann,

I can't thank you enough for all that precious information! I will look into all these items and post again when I've decided how to go and if I go on the process! It sounds like a great winter "thing to do."

Quasi

 

[kbgunn]

I have a 2005 Hunter 33. It is space limited for a permanently installed genset. I opted for a portable gasoline powered inverter. I bought this model from Amazon.

Amazon.com

It's cheap, lightweight and small. It fits in my port lazarett. It has a NEMA L5-30 plug right on front that accepts the standard 30A shore power cable male plug. It will power the 50A battery charge and A/C as long as you take it off econo mode before starting up the A/C. It is very quiet operating, but at anchor I suspend it off the deck with the spin halyard through the handle to keep the vibration noise to a minimum.

I also added this run meter to know when it's time for oil changes:

Amazon.com

It's not ideal for long range cruising, but it works great for an overnight or long weekend.

 

[Quasimotor]

Thanks for this answer! This looks perfect for my Hunter 326! Can you please send a few photos? Unit in port lazarett, and the unit suspended off the deck with a spin halyard? Do you have a switch that separates the output from the 50A matter charge vs. the AC?