Generator for AC

[Catigale]

There is no way I would run a generator at night without a CO detector.

There is no way I would run a generator on a Mac at night WITH or WITHOUT a CO detector. These boats just arent set up for that without major mods. The right wind shift and you can fill your cabin with CO, which is SOL for the occupants.

[Love MACs]

I had thought about that, but apparently many here do run a generator regardless My thought would be to have the generator sitting on top of the sliding hatch secured with bungee cords. My thinking that is that way the CO would not likely be blown below but waif off harmlessly. Any thoughts



Allan

[jcasale]

Allan

You'd have to place a fairly heavy piece of foam rubber under the generator to prevent the cabin from amplifying the sound of the running engine. I tried that last year an eu2000 and it was pretty bad inside. But your idea seems safe, provided your companionway hatch is closed. Even though co2 is slightly heavier than air any breeze at all will prevent it from falling and collecting in the cockpit. However if your companionway hatch is open that is a different story, CO2 will collect in the cabin fairly easily and even if it mixes with the air down below it will not dissipate.

John

[Russ]

I had thought about that, but apparently many here do run a generator regardless My thought would be to have the generator sitting on top of the sliding hatch secured with bungee cords. My thinking that is that way the CO would not likely be blown below but waif off harmlessly. Any thoughts

As mentioned above, the vibration would be transmitted to the entire hull and make you nuts.

In retrospect, I agree that running a generator at night is a risky thing to do. I've read about CO deaths on housboats that have dedicated installed gensets with exhausts over the side. It's just bad news.

I did see one mod where a Honda generator was mounted on rubber feet on top of the outboard motor. That would put exhaust outside the hull somewhat.
The problem is when the wind dies and exhaust sits around and drifts into the cabin. That's also when most people turn on the A/C.


--Russ

[Catigale]

The problem is its lethal at about 0.1% vol/vol, so you need to really KNOW that it isnt collecting in the cabin.....

[Love MACs]

Now that people have started to wade in on the topic...Sounds to me like mounting/operating it on top of the motor cowling is the best idea, strapping it down with bungees. And then at least two CO alarms in the cabin area.


Allan

[kmclemore]

For noise insulation, I run my Honda EU1000i suspended from bungee's under the bow pulpit... works fine. And we leave the front hatch closed to prevent CO issues (and even the slightest breeze will blow it off the bow).

[nedmiller]

For noise insulation, I got a contractors kneeling board (just Google Kneeling Board to see what they look like) from Lowe's and put the rubber side down on the top of the motor cowling. It protects the motor and is a perfect size and the hard plastic provides good mounting opportunities for the generator. I mounted a screw-eye bolt on each corner of the kneeling board with the eye pointed down to provide tie down (towards the rubber) points for the knee board. The kneeling board rubber absorbs much of the vibration and the motor doesn't transmit much to the boat.
When anchored from the bow, the motor is naturally downwind.
SILK

[keith]

Somewhere in the mods is a install by tahoe jack on a with the exhaust exiting in the water

[Russ]

Somewhere in the mods is a install by tahoe jack on a with the exhaust exiting in the water

http://macgregorsailors.com/modt/index.php?view=653

He describes the underwater exhaust as making a lot of bubbles. I wonder if one of those large pond bubbler/aerator things would help by creating lots of small bubbles creating a "fizz" instead of blub blub blub.



--Russ

[Highlander]

Yep

I've seen that mod exh is fed into the water but it has to exit somewhere !! ? & just like your outboard it will exit right behind it so it can still come into the cockpit area if the wind is blowing in the right direction I beleive the benefit of puting the exh into the water was that it helped keep the noise down somewhat & cooled the hot exh.

I have seen some 35-45ftrs running a genset off their dinghy ! that solves the vibration problem & most of the issue with the noise factor !
also seen them sitting on the shoreline in a very protected cove ! the hyrdo line is not secured to the gen. so if your hydro goes out your either drifting & pulled the cord out or !!! shoulda anchored that puppy down with a chain & lock

J

[Russ]

also seen them sitting on the shoreline in a very protected cove ! the hyrdo line is not secured to the gen. so if your hydro goes out your either drifting & pulled the cord out or !!! shoulda anchored that puppy down with a chain & lock

Or..it was too close to the tide line.

[Highlander]

Not much of a tide line on the Great lakes !

J