[PCW] Honda generator and outboards

[bob Austin]

Bob Deering, The fuel is basically siphoned over.  The "adaptor" to the 6 
gallon tank is made by taking the vent off of a standard fuel tank cap for 
the Honda, and putting in a small hose barb--about 3/16" internal diameter. 
As the fuel level of the internal tank of the honda goes down, the vacuum 
formed pulls fuel over from the tank.  It works best, if the tank of the 
generator is close to full.  This is the reason that this system only works 
for maybe a foot or two of head--3 feet is too much.  Most of the 
experimentation with the Honda EU 2000i is in the RV world and there are 
entire forms dedicated to its modification.  Also two of the 2000 can be 
tied to gether to give 4000 watts.

The weight of the 3000 Honda is 134 lbs--maybe some folks can lift 67 lbs 
easily, but those of use with damaged backs cannot--(67 lbs being half the 
weight if two people are lifting).  Two of the 2000 weigh 94 lbs. (about 
46.3 lbs each)--yes, the 3000 is one Db quieter --I doubt if any one here 
can tell the difference.  The electric start is certainly a nice 
feature--but not worth either the weight or cost to us.  I just started my 
2000 after it had been sitting for 6 months--the second pull started it.  My 
30+ year old 500 watt honda usually takes 3 to 4 pulls when it is started 
once a year....

I certainly agree with Loyd about outboards--and that is why we currently 
only have outboard powered vessels.  I have well over 100,000 miles in 
diesel powered boats, and they certainly have their advantages, but it is 
not in relitatively small catmarans.  The I/O is the worst of both worlds in 
our experience.  Running them with the leg raised is a problem, because it 
stresses the gimble bearings (like a universal joint)--they have the same 
problems of difficult service as the inboards in the narrow hulls, and they 
are impossiable to get fully out of the water.  We have to deal with a 
shallow sand bar getting to our home dock parts of the year, and tried an 
I/O for several years--it was not a good experience.    Incidently there was 
another  recent posting of a Honda outboard having over 4,000 hours with no 
major service done.  Of course these are commercial engines which are 
meticilously cared for.  14 years ago I met a commercial fisherman who had a 
couple of 200 hp outboards on his 62 foot fishing boat.  I asked him why? 
He said he could not afford the diesels, and considered the outboards an 
expendiable item.  He was just going to use them for one year, until he 
could afford the diesels--it turned out he used them for 3 years and they 
were still going strong.    I do believe that 62 feet is well beyond the 
practical limit for diesels, and the there are certainly advantages to 
diesels in larger boats--but it shows that the outboards can do the job if 
necessary.