[C320-list] Portable Generators

[Scott Thompson]

Orlando, the key thing is your last sentence -- "to each his own." 
There are apparently a lot of satisfied customers and the unit is a 
quality piece of equipment.  I do not mean to disparage Honda.  But I 
guess I have low tolerance for running engines while on the hook.  I 
would encourage anyone thinking about buying any generator to listen to 
it working, under load, in an otherwise quiet environment.  If I were to 
buy one again I'd probably buy the Honda 2000 again.  But based on my 
limited trials I think I prefer no generator at all.

Scott

Orlando.Duran at AveryDennison.com wrote:
> Scott,
> 
> Wow, I had just the opposite, I thought it was very quiet, not too 
> heavy, although not sure what heavy cable you mean unless it's the shore 
> power cable but I bought the 12' one and it was no big deal.
> 
> As for gasoline, if you have an outboard, I guess you would have some 
> handy anyway....
> 
> Oh well, to each his own
> ----------------------------------
> Regards,
> OD
> 
> Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Scott Thompson [sthompson at toad.net]
> Sent: 07/18/2008 07:38 AM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Portable Generators
> 
> I bought the Honda 2000e two years ago based partly on recommendations 
> on this list and have not been very happy with it.  I used it on one 
> week-long cruise and not again since.  It's heavy, noisy and bulky and 
> is the only thing on board that needs gasoline.  I wish I had gone with 
> something lighter and quieter, even if it doesn't have quite the same 
> output.  It seemed like it was always in the way.  You have to mess with 
> the heavy cable.  I just found it to be a hassle.  So now I just leave 
> it at home and rely on the engine.
> 
> Better still would be a more efficient electrical system (i.e. more LED 
> bulbs, better alternator and regulator on the engine, better house bank, 
> etc.) so that I could get by without a portable generator at all and 
> with less running of the engine.
> 
> And what I'd really like is a decent solar panel option, not necessarily 
> to power the whole boat, but to give me a margin when I'm on the hook 
> and continuous trickle charging when the boat is on her mooring.
> 
> For now I try to plan our day to always include at least some motoring 
> under way.  There are lots of interesting creeks to explore on the 
> Chesapeake so when we need to top off the batteries we pull the hook and 
> go sight-seeing.  Sometimes we end up dropping the hook again back where 
> we started.
> 
> Scott Thompson
> 
> 
> Orlando.Duran at AveryDennison.com wrote:
>> Apparently, you didn't see my earlier post on the 2000e
>>
>>
>> ----------------------------------
>> Regards,
>> OD
>>
>> Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Amirault Family - S&B" [amiraults at sympatico.ca]
>> Sent: 07/17/2008 07:14 PM
>> To: <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
>> Subject: [C320-list] Portable Generators
>>
>> I wish to both charge batteries and use AC power to heat water on my 320
>> while on the hook through the use of a portable gas-powered generator. 
>> I am
>> looking at three models; a Yamaha 1000, and Honda 1000 and 2000. The 
>> Yamaha
>> beats the Honda 1000 on specification and is a tad less expensive. 
>> This is
>> not the point if it fails to do the job. The Honda 2000 is more 
>> capable, but
>> also shows a noisier spec and is heavier. Are any of these three 
>> models able
>> to accomplish my ends, or should I rely on periodically running the 
>> diesel
>> to do this task?
>>  
>>
>> At my club there is no power at the docks, and all charging is done 
>> through
>> the diesel at this time. 
>>  
>>
>> Brian Amirault
>> 797 Waltzing Bear, too
>>
>>
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