MacGregorSailors.com

Only seen a few people give details on their generator mods. Where do you put your generator when in use and where do you put it when not in use and how?

just picked up a new Yamaha 2000 generator. main uses will be a/c, microwave and charge batteries.

Chairing batteries take a lot of time. I have a slip neighbor who runs his Honda generator to recharge his trolling batteries. Runs all day long and he goes away.

I've seem many creative places to mount a generator.
On top of the outboard on rubber feet
Suspended from the bow pulpit from bungie cords (to absorb vibration)
Simply placed on top of the captains seat
In the dinghy with a heavy power cord to the boat

Storage is tricky. I have no idea where people keep these things. I suppose you could strap it to the deck next to the mast. That's where I put my folded up inflatable dinghy.

Whatever you do, be mindful of carbon monoxide. I'd get a battery operated CO detector.

--Russ

Under the Capt's seat with some form of tie off. & or tie off to pedestal. Good waterproof cover for outside storage. I hinge my seat or backstay [as I cut off the horizontal seat part.] on the starboard side. & enter & exit rear port side ladder. Plus using a 10" jackplate really opened up my transom/ porch for generator room on my .
lot of real-estate back there.

I run my Honda 1000 in the anchor locker. I open it and secure to to the bow pulpit. I store it in the cabin under the table. The nice thing about the Honda is when you close the gas cap vent, it will not emit fumes. As far as I can tell, It charges the batteries as well as shore power. My battery charge meter shows a good rate of charge. To me it seems like a better solution to power than solar panels/wind generator and I can run AC or a safe 1500 watt (with a Honda 2000) heater. Also no need for portable fuel storage. I just use a fuel transfer bulb and take fuel from my outboard fuel tanks.
Roger

In anchor locker. Made a fiberglass bubble to fit over the generator and glassed it onto a new locker hatch cover. Photos on "Boomboom2.blogspot.com"

When I take the Genny (little Harbor Freight 800w) I store it in the locker below

I usually beach the boat and run the genny on the shore with a cord to the boat IF I need to charge up the batteries....so far with 2 batts and a solar panel I have yet to run out of power on our weekend overnighters though....

Vn23 doesn't have as much space as your 26's

dave

You want to be well away from the CO emissions. I run mine on the bow because it's easy to lash down to the cleats there, and just run an extension cord from it.

My brother lives aboard his Ranger 33 and also has an EU2000, which he runs daily. His is also on the bow. We have the kit to gang them together to make 4kw, which is enough to run my house in an emergency.

I created a platform on the aft that sits over the rudder controls and I can strap the generator to the wall and still run it. It is also close to the shore power connection on the boat so I can just plug in the Generator with a short cord.







More pics on my website.

wbpenney wrote:In anchor locker. Made a fiberglass bubble to fit over the generator and glassed it onto a new locker hatch cover. Photos on "Boomboom2.blogspot.com"

Another great blog I hadn't seen before. Some great stuff there. Thanks for sharing Judy and Bill l

Thanks for posting your mods.

The generator came in the mail today. After playing around with it on the boat I don't think usage will be a problem. The aft end on the makes it easy to use it there. I already had a platform on the back like Eric and Gazmn. Storage is going to be a small problem.

I know the generator shouldn't be stored below. But I'm thinking a sealed box in the aft of the rear berth with a 1" vent tube going the helm pedestal to vent any fumes would work?

The generator has a fuel cap vent that closes but I still would want a vent and a lid with a good seal.

Or no matter what don't take it below? Opinions? Thanks in advance.

You now need a AC unit 5000 BTUs in companionway hatch. Much better to have twin 105 amp house batteries and 4 fans below to cool berths.
Saves storing AC unit and generator. If going to a slip with shore power the Ac unit is great.
That's what I do in hot SW Florida.
Dave

fouz wrote:Thanks for posting your mods.

The generator came in the mail today. After playing around with it on the boat I don't think usage will be a problem. The aft end on the makes it easy to use it there. I already had a platform on the back like Eric and Gazmn. Storage is going to be a small problem.

I know the generator shouldn't be stored below. But I'm thinking a sealed box in the aft of the rear berth with a 1" vent tube going the helm pedestal to vent any fumes would work?

The generator has a fuel cap vent that closes but I still would want a vent and a lid with a good seal.

Or no matter what don't take it below? Opinions? Thanks in advance.

Don't store gasoline below. Bad things can happen. Just keep it above decks.

And always keep a keen sniffer for fumes.
Have a CO detector onboard.

Good luck and report your results.

-- Russ

Since it takes 1 tank of fuel to run my a/c 1 night, I run my generator dry and then store it below. I sit it behind the companionway ladder on the edge of the aft berth. I then loop a bungee cord through the handle and hook the bungee ends to the upper part of the ladder. The Honda 2000 stays in place all day and stays dry--no worries. Here it is not exposed to salt spray or other adverse elements. When in use, it sits on the cockpit bench with the exhaust facing downwind.
I also have to remove the front panel of the dodger to allow the wind to blow through and carry the exhaust. If not a low pressure area builds inside the dodger and drafts the hot exhaust. Learned that the hard way.

We put our EU2000 under the captain's seat. I haven't used it much and it is probably just an extra weight most trips. I did learn that a 1/2 inch copper "street L" will fit into the exhaust pipe perfectly and divert the exhaust fumes and heat safety aft, away from the fiberglass, so I don't had to move it to run it.

Ken

If anchoring, I put our Honda 1000 on a rubber knee pad (buy at lumber yard--tile layers use them) on top of the outboard since the outboard is always downwind from the cabin when at anchor. For that reason, I advised not to put it in the anchor locker when at anchor. We also always have two carbon monoxide detectors on board in the cabin one at each opening. I also use a portable GFI outlet that plugs into the generator, and then we plug things into it. Remember, you're producing 115 volts, AC! Treat it like a non GFI shore power.
One reason I like the Honda 1000 better than the 2000, is it smaller size. We stow it under the forward berth, port side.
We use it to run a small AC or plug shore power cord into it to charge batteries if solar panel can't keep up.