webasto fcf a/c and generator req's

[1sttimeforeverything]

Hi all,

I've got a lancer 30, 84 model that I recently purchased and I am going to add a webasto fcf 9k btu a/c to. I really want the convenience of a/c at night. I don't plan on running it in an anchorage with a generator but I figure if i'm sitting in some cove all alone there's no reason why I can't turn it on. Being from Georgia, it has a tendency out here to be hot, sweaty, muggy and buggy so I'd like to be able to close the hatches and be comfortable.

I'm not really looking to try and spend 5k on a marine generator so I was thinking I'd like to look at alternatives. I've got a friend with a tow behind camper that has a larger interior than my boat, he runs the fridge, freezer, a/c, microwave, tv, etc. on a honda eu2000i generator. Now I'm sure it isn't all going at the same time usually but that little generator had no problems powering that camper all weekend and it was a real sipper when it comes to gas. What I'd like to do is keep the generator inside and put it up on the deck when I want to run the a/c. I've looked at the stats on the webasto unit and the startup load is pretty close to the max amperage on the generator but I wonder if the figures are conservative. Anyone done this type of setup? Are there alternatives? Aside from the a/c the boat shouldn't draw much power so I'm thinking I can probably get by with it, the only other item that might possibly put me over the limit would be the icebox as it has one of those conversion kits installed on it already.

 

[jviss]

many do...

You can certainly do it that way, with the Honda generator, and many do. The Honda units are superb, and a great value. There are a couple of issues with using them on boats, though:

1. Noise. They disturb neighbors in anchorages. I know you are aware of this. I simply hate it when someone breaks the solitude and beauty of a quiet, picturesque anchorage with a deck-mounted, air cooled generator.

2. Gasoline. I will never store gasoline on my boat, unles I can do so in a sealed locker with an overboard vent. Just too risky.

3. Electrocution risk. Small, but real. Barefoot, salt water, stainless rail or ladder, etc.

A permanently installed, fresh water cooled, diesel generator is the deluxe set-up, we all acknowledge, but at $6,000 to $10,000 for 3 to 5 kW, plus another couple of thou' for a professional installation, they are simply out of reach for many cruisers.

I would like a generator just for charging the house batteries, instead of using the main engine. I would need one that puts out 100 Amps (capable of 100 A continuously) at 13.6 V DC (adjustable/programmable). I've never seen a boat generator designed as a house battery charger. I would like it to be programmable, so it would sense the house battery state of charge and go on and off automatically according to some set of policies, such as time of day, presence of other charging sources, etc.

I never charge with the main engine when I'm not on board, but with a separate generator, I would be comfortable pushing "start" before I go ashore and coming back 2+ hours later to a totally charged house bank.

(Sorry for the tangent!)