[Sentoa] Project: generator head

[Jerold Tabbott]

I had the same options when I first bought the Lady Diane II, and went  
with a 3.5 kw independent genset (Nextgen), which is capable of  
running everything (fridge, AC, 2 burners, water heater, fans, &  
microwave) at once. My mechanic recommended against attaching a  
generator head off the main engine on the basis that I'd have to  
constantly run the main engine, pushing up the hours and burning more  
fuel. My genset only burns about 0.2 gals per hour, so an overnight  
with AC costs less than 2 gallons of fuel, whereas the main engine (a  
110 hp Yanmar) would likely burn 0.5 gals and hour (I think).

FYG - my genset is located in the same place you're thinking about  
putting your power head. I do miss having that storage space, plus it  
makes maintenance access on the genset kinda tight. If you get a full  
genset, 3.5 kw should be sufficient. I'd recommend installing it in a  
box on the fantail (see one of the Nordic Tug factory photos, where  
they advertised doing retrofits), so the noise is away from the  
stateroom when you are sleeping.

jt

On Sep 18, 2009, at 4:15 PM, Norsport wrote:

> Would appreciate any and all advice, comments, opinions, thoughts.  	
>
> Over the past months, I have been trying to come up with an ac power  
> install on our NT 26003.  As I do not want to bring a second fuel  
> (gas/lp) on board soooo I am left with inverters or diesel  
> generators.  Secondly space on a 26 is a priority and dealing with a  
> "portable" diesel generator's size, weight, intake, exhaust, noise  
> has been a major concern for me.  For creature comfort would like to  
> power a small air conditioner, fridge, ice-maker, microwave along  
> with minor electric equipment.  Hopefully, not all at the same time.
>
> Where this thinking has taken me is installing a "3K or 5K generator  
> head" mounted along side the boats diesel engine connected via a  
> pulley system which would spin the generator at 1800 rpm, 60Hz at a  
> low engine rpm.  Current thoughts would be to install an electric  
> clutch on the generator which would be controlled via a switch (on/ 
> off) in the pilot house or where ever when electric power was wanted.
>
> As I see it, the advantages of this setup (if it would work) is:   
> limited space needs, low noise pollution, economy, ease of use, low  
> upkeep, lower $$$$ cost, among others.  The negative?  If this is  
> such a grandiose idea/plan why do not all boaters that want  
> electricity on board have a system like this installed?  What am I  
> missing?
>
> Thanks in advance for your input, nor
>
> Norland Hasz - norsport at gmail.com
> Wisconsin
> Andante 26-003
> _______________________________________________
> Sentoa mailing list
> Sentoa at lists.samurai.com
> http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/sentoa