Generator for swim platform- which one?

[Jkraft]

Hi all, I’m in the process of buying my 02 28 TE. The boat does not have a gen but does have AC. For those super hot summer nights, does anyone know what size generator I would need to run the AC during the night when on the hook?

[Norseman]

If on the hook you will have a breeze down the forward hatch.
If rainy and muggy with no breeze, run a 12 volt fan across your naked bodies.

We only run A/C while hooked up to a marina. Never needed it at anchor in Florida.

(Ex sailboat live aboard in the Caribbean, been there, done that @ 15 degrees North, year around,)

[Nancy]

IMO, it's risky to run a generator while sleeping due to the possibility of CO poisoning. If you're determined to do it, check the specs on your A/C unit. They draw a lot of power when the compressor kicks in.

[elad9000]

We run a Honda EU200i generator for overnight A/C. Yes, you need to be very careful about CO fumes. We run the Honda on the swim platform. Install a GOOD CO alarm mounted at sleeping level in the cabin. Also need a soft start like the Hyper-Engineering Sure Start. We can leave the Honda in Eco mode and easily start the A/C. Tried a SUPCO SPP6 capacitor but did not work.

Have been toying with the idea an extended exhaust but have not found anything yet that I really like.

[Rondo]

IF you are at anchor, and IF the generator is on the swim platform, the risk of CO exposure is minimized somewhat. First by the air flow at anchor coming from forward, and remaining so as you swing in the breeze. Second, CO is heavier than air, so with the transom door closed, it would be expected to vent away instead of climbing upward, over the transom and then down into the cabin. Absolutely agree about the CO monitor in the cabin. I have no doubt the e2000 would do the job, quietly.
Rondo

[Franwilson]

Agree Rondo and I love my Honda 2000i but I’d be quite interested in trying a 2000 watt Predator from Harbor Frieght to leave on my dive platform at $500 vs the money u spent on my Honda.
I do love bring my Honda to the sandbar for a fish fry on our CC after a return trip from the Bahamas!!!
Only thing better then that is AC on your boat any way you can get it!!
Fran

[jleonard]

Regarding CO detectors.....
A few years ago I had t go thru a "courtesy survey" (no cost to me) from my insurance company which is BOAT US (Geico I believe).
I was written up because I did not have a CO detector in each sleeping cabin. Was told I would not be insured unless I complied. Boat is diesel powered with a built in Gen below deck.
Of course I installed a detector, but the point being that insurance companies require it.
Do or not do as yo see fit.

[Morgan]

We decided on the Honda 2200 largely because of its reputation for reliability and quietness. But for several reasons (fundamentally, exposure of $1000) I didn’t want to put it on the swim platform. And while the open space under the hatch between the seats on the 28 TE had plenty of room, I didn’t want gasoline below deck.
So we bought the Honda and a West Marine dock box to put it in. While the dock box took up space up against the stern inside the boat, it was (sort of) matched by the big Igloo cooler on the starboard side. It was nice and quiet running on the dock for a break in period. It was a short jump from the box to the shore power plug. Found a reinforced silicone exhaust extension for the genset and ducted it out under a clamshell vent in the side of the dock box so exhaust fumes wouldn’t contaminate the pristine inside of the dock box. I’ve got to say I was proud of this engineering.
Then solid engineering met reality. Out on the first night of a multi night trip we were looking foreword to using the microwave at dinner.
Damn it was loud!
The box with the lid open acted like Satan’s own gramophone focusing all the sound of the genset straight toward the cabin door. Additionally, that purring Honda on the dock was running under a significant load and was working far harder and louder than soothing humming at the dock. Here in SC we will need the AC in the summer and we could not sleep through the racket.
$150 later, I’ve lined the inside of the dock box with Dynamat. It’s a lot better; maybe 50% reduction, but still not as quiet as idleing in the yard, but it is acceptable. I did not do the bottom of the box and will go back and do that. Turning the box around so that the open lid faces away from the cabin helps.
At least now it’s tolerable for cooking dinner.
I may end up setting it on the swim platform next summer when we need to run the AC all night. I’ll let y’all know.
Morgan

[ppmeis]

You will not make any friends at anchorages with an air cooled genny running. They sound quiet at first but they certainly become annoying in short order. If you are out alone , "no harm, no foul" but with others around, it can be bad.

pete

[WillieC]

"Satan’s own gramophone"

That's beautiful writing. Made me chuckle.

[DesertAlbin736]

You will not make any friends at anchorages with an air cooled genny running. They sound quiet at first but they certainly become annoying in short order.

Also the bane of RV campgrounds that don't have hookups.

Hi all, I’m in the process of buying my 02 28 TE. The boat does not have a gen but does have AC. For those super hot summer nights, does anyone know what size generator I would need to run the AC during the night when on the hook?

I hear you on that, having cruised mid Chesapeake from Bivalve, MD to Oxford, Cambridge, & St. Michaels & over to Solomons & St. Leonard's Creek in July, 2015 with our decidedly not air conditioned A25. Silly me, thought we could run up the Potomac to DC for 4th of July. Quickly disabused of that idea & cut it short to 2 weeks after having trailered all the way out from AZ. Gotta love those summer thunderstorms, NOT! I have a copy of Donald Shomette's excellent book "Shipwrecks on the Chesapeake" that talks about the 19th century steam packet passenger boats that plied the Chesapeake from Baltimore to Norfolk and up to DC. Can't imagine how miserable that must have been with the clothes people wore in those days. At least we have a 110V fan we can plug in when we're on shore power. Hey, I'm from AZ where it gets up to over 115* in July, & MD in July is far more miserable than AZ's dry summer desert heat.

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[OldDemps]

There’s no comparison between portable and onboard Generators. A marine liquid cooled (diesel) generator professional installed is at least $15,000~ and on A25, there’s no space. A portable Honda is $1000~ and only needed in most cases for short run times for 120VAC or in remote anchorages. The portable GG can also be used in other applications on shore or resold. I’ve always gone portable on my two 28TE’s and now A25. If you need full time A/C. buy a boat with manufacture installed onboard generator IMO for safety, liability and simple functionality