Thoughts on Marine Diesel Generator Brands

Gunni · Jun 7, 2013

I have been very happy with the performance of my NextGen 5.5 kW generator. Very compact, trouble-free, easy availability of Kubota maintenance parts. It has the optional sound enclosure which I recommend.

It easily powers my 2 -30 Amp circuits, one circuit feeds my two A/C units, the other circuit feed my house circuits (batt chg, HW, outlets). I can run all loads at one time. It's like being plugged up at the dock + diesel stink. Actually it isn't bad, it just ain't silence...but it is cool on a hot summer evening.

It sips fuel. Like 1 pint per hour? Support is in Jacksonville, Fla, USA

woodster · Jun 7, 2013

what ever you do make sure you get a 2 cylender one that puts out full power at 1800 rpms that will help in the sound department ...westerbek (spelling?) makes good ones but they are pricy....

regards

woody

Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi · Jun 7, 2013

The best generators are Northern Lights. I have a 5 KW that has 2050 hours on it and I've changed oil, impellers and one v belt. It runs like a top. It has three cylinders, running at 1800 RPM. Many generators run at 3600 and have a single cylinder. Simple to see how 3 vs 1 and at half the RPM makes a big difference.

My Hunter 356 has a 16,000 BTU HVAC unit, electric Hot water heater, microwave, computers, printer, and I have never overloaded it. I have a custom sound enclosure, and it is a background hum that doesn't bother us at all. I run the generator from the time we leave the dock until we return as we keep the salon the same temperature all the time.

I highly recommend the Northern Lights.

Fisher Panda's are finicky, run at 3600 RPM and have a single cylinder. They are also very noisy. A friend of mine had one on a Cabo Rico 38 that we took from Kentucky Lake to Punta Gorda, FL. We did the trip in late October and some mornings we had ice on the deck. It was so noisy, we didn't run it, but rather let it get cold inside due to the noise. It was in an enclosure. I have rented three Island Packets with Panda's and none of them worked right.

PKFK · Jun 7, 2013

What (roughly) is the northern lights genset worth ? The website has a long form to fill out for a quote - I'm not that patient. Can you give a ballpark on the genset please ?

Chuckbear · Jun 8, 2013

We are absolutely delighted with our Next Generation. We have the 3.5 and it will power everything on board including our 16K BTU air conditioning. Size the unit to be running at about 80% capacity most of the time for best longevity. Here is our installation, http://trawler-beach-house.blogspot.com/2012/12/do-it-yourself-generator-install.html . Chuck

Gunni · Jun 8, 2013

woodster said:
what ever you do make sure you get a 2 cylender one that puts out full power at 1800 rpms that will help in the sound department ...westerbek (spelling?) makes good ones but they are pricy....

regards

woody

Yes, the NextGen runs a cogged belt drive on a reduction pulley for just that reason, to decrease engine speed, and noise. The belt drive allows for a smaller footprint.

CarlN · Jun 8, 2013

I chose between Onan and Northern Lights. Went with Onan because just about every marine mechanic seems to have experience with them. I asked around and there seems to be many fewer with Norther Lights experience - I don't like my equipment being part of a mechanic's education. My Onan has been completely trouble free.

On sizing, do you have air conditioning? The air conditioner start load is twice the run load. You can either oversize your genset or get something like a Victron Inverter that can use battery power to cover a short term AC demand peak.

Definitely get an 1800 RPM unit for noise

Chuckbear is right. Gensets should not be run for long periods at either light or full loads. I try to keep mine between 25% and 75% of rated capacity as recommended in the Onan manual. It's just like your propulsion diesel, running too slow causes carbon buildup running too fast greatly increases wear and heat problems.

Bob 04 H260 · Jun 8, 2013

PKFK said:
What (roughly) is the northern lights genset worth ? The website has a long form to fill out for a quote - I'm not that patient. Can you give a ballpark on the genset please ?

Paul we have a 3.5 kw Nextgen on our 356. It fits perfect in the cockpit locker, it has the noise enclosure plus the locker was lined with acoustic foam. You can actually sleep on the hook with the AC running. So far it has run well and is easy to service. It has 900 hrs on it now.
Bob

Terry in Naples · Jun 8, 2013

I had not heard good things about the Fischer Panda. They are though to be undependable and hard to work on and break down a lot. I do not have one but I live in a boating community. scuttlebutt

seadaddler · Jun 8, 2013

FP

I have a FP 4200 on my 07 H-36 and that was what Hunter offered when I ordered new,I have had some miner problems with it and that was with the 2 relays and mostly the one that runs the fuel pump and cooling pump.
The relay was not making good connection and think it was my fault when i changed it out and did not put the plastic cap back on and it would get loose from vibrations.
Other than that it has been running great except for once the battery I use to start it and the yanmar was bad but it runs great and I think it is pretty quiet and I feel more vibration than noise and thinking of adding heavy foam under the mounting to the hull.
They are pricey and many people have had good results and yes some have had bad problems with some, think is a newer model and less problems and FP has always been very helpful.
Nick