Where can I buy a genset?

[bobscaggs]

Last year I bought a Hunter 426 and now would like to add a genset to it. The boat has A/C but the PO did not add a generator when he bought it. My wife very much needs the A/C on the hook and we all know the saying about when wife is happy..... I have been looking at the Fischer Panda, Northern lights and Westerbeke all in the 7ish KW range. I have gotten prices from all the manufacturers and they are all in the roughly $10,000+ range if I buy direct and self install. The installed quotes are up closer to $14,000 for a turnkey job.

Has anyone had any luck with finding these generators at a wholesale price? I am looking for new at the moment but if I can't find anything priced a little better I may start thinking about used. The used market however seems to have slim pickings thus far.

If the actual going rate on these things is this high I will begrudgingly pay it but I want to be sure I am not being robbed due to ignorance.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Stu Jackson]

When I was shopping for a new water heater, I did comparative shopping using a general internet search engine. Found a dozen vendors with the model I wanted and chose by location for price & shipping combined.

Like sails, sometimes, though, having a dealer near you may be helpful in startup and warranty issues (unless you're a cruiser on the move).

 

[woodster]

if you can find chris patterson on here he may know of one or of someone that may help you ...he is close by in nc i think hope he doesn't get po for me telling you this lol he is pretty well in the know on these things...and for what its worth try to get one that runs at 1800 rpm not 3600....it will be much quieter ...i know westerbeke makes one in that rpm range

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi]

Buy a Northern Lights. They run at 1800 RPM, have 3 cylinders and are made heavy duty. Don't buy one that is smaller thinking that is better. I have just under 3000 hours on my Northern Lights 5KW and run continously when off the dock so my wife has all the amenities of home while cruising or anchored, including full time HVAC. I change oil and filter every 200 hours and have had new injectors installed. I have replaced two belts. I have run it continously for 90 hours without a glitch. I expect it to go at least 10,000 hours, which will likely outlive me, since I am on my 13 th year of use now, so I should have over 30 boat years left on it if past maintenance trends continue.

You will need a sound enclosure too as without it is a little loud. All of them are. I have about 65 decibels in the cockpit and master bedroom, both close to the generator. I had to have a custom enclosure made due to space. The background hum isn't annoying, but without the enclosure would be. Mine is not able to be heard 15 feet from the boat as it has a water muffler, so it doesn't affect your neighbors at anchor.

You probably don't need 7 KW even though the loads may indicate it. I checked my usage this last week and I average 1.45kW load per hour with HVAC, Inverter/charger, TV with tracking KvH antenna and Dish Network box, refrigeration, Microwave, radars sonar, Chartplotter, two computers, 2 IPads, 2 IPhones charging, clocks, etc. Your only difference is another HVAC unit. Consider an Inverter/charger that will handle peaks and get a smaller genset. You really would rather keep it loaded a little higher than mine is according to the experts, but I am proof that it doesn't hurt it to run at 30% average load. I average about .25 gallons of diesel per hour which is 6 gallons per day for planning purposes. In 2003, my installation was $12,000, so your numbers don't look out of line.

 

[All U Get]

These guys might be a comparison. I found this link doing a search for something else and had some interest. http://www.zrd.com/pd/esdgenerators.html

All U Get

 

[Gunni]

I'm very happy with our NextGen 5.5 Kw genset. It is powered by the ubiquitous Kubota 2cyl.,10 HP engine. Maintenance parts are as close as the local NAPA. Low speed quiet, belt drive and ships with a sound enclosure. I couldn't find a more compact genset. It powers all AC loads off shore, including two A/C units, batt charger, H/W heater and outlets. Don't see the need for a 7 Kw unit (or the larger footprint). It still hums and stinks so proper energy management will make the entire crew happy, especially those who came out to enjoy the sound of wind and water.

 

[redhead78]

I think the kubota next gens come from NC by you. When I bought my kubota beta marine diesel from Joe DeMars in conn, it shipped from NC. He sells the next Gens I believe..Red

 

[rtmccue]

Fischer Panda

I really had back luck with 3 panda generators on my 376 , yes 3 , really poor customer service. I installed a http://www.entecwest.com it worked great. The new to us boat has a Kohler 8 K it works like a dream. Having a Generator is really nice on a sail boat

 

[gettinthere]

I have also heard lots of complaints about the Panda.

Are you sure you need 7k? Deisels like to be loaded. Can you run your boat at the dock on one shore power cord? That would be less than 30 amps and 4 or 5k might be just fine. Smaller, cheaper, lighter, less of everything.
Lots of people are getting by running AC with a Honda 2k genset so 4 or 5k should be plenty. We can cool our 42' boat with one 18000 btu AC in 95 degrees and 95% humidity and run the refer and TV at the dock with one 30 amp cord and not exceed 25 amps max.

 

[Chris Patterson]

Thanks for the confidence Woody. I'm a little late on this, but for what it's worth I vote Northern Lights. I wouldn't dispute anything every body said here by the way. I installed a Northern last year and yes, the price was about 14 large. Beautiful piece of equipment. I forget where I got it, but if it's important I'll find out. I think it's quibbling pennies though..

 

[bobscaggs]

Thanks Chris, I have heard a lot of folks whom have had good experience with the Northern Lights genset. I have a couple sources around Oriental that are all in that range.

 

[bobscaggs]

Thanks to everyone who commented here. I'll be working on this over the next couple months. I'll let you all know how it goes.