On Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:57:27 -0700, Jim wrote:

Vic Smith wrote:
For O/B sailboats.
A 50-80 Amp alternator on a 9-15 hp OB.

Sailors often carry a Honda EU1000-2000 to provide juice at anchor.
Though not real loud, they can be an irritation to nearby boats,
especially big boats using big watercooled internal gensets that don't
make much outside noise. Some of those owners think the Honda's
should be outlawed at anchorages.

What's with Honda's being the bad guy? Why mention Honda? These
generators are made by a variety of manufacturers.

That's the one usually mentioned, because they are the most common,
because from most accounts they are the best. Wasn't knocking Honda.
That's what I'd get.

I would say Honda generators aren't the problem, it's the construction
site type generators that are the problem. You know the ones.

Mind you, I know about this only from reading, and the Honda's are
sometimes specifically mentioned.

I use an inverter, four golf cart batteries for the house bank, and have
a large alternator on the main engine. I'm good for 4 days on the hook,
no charging, and the ice cream is hard enough to bend a spoon. I use
electricity exactly the same at anchor that I use it at the dock.

I'd have a similar setup on a bigger boat with an internal diesel.
And also have solar and perhaps wind.
But my boating plans will likely end with OB power, and my post about
OB's with better charging output was in that vein. That way I could
easily do without a dedicated generator.

Occasionally, with an hour or two of charging, I have a full tank of hot
water for showers, and topped off batteries.

A separate generator is not necessary as far as I can see. Not even
desirable.

I agree "not desirable." The "not necessary" is harder to pin down.
I don't know where you boat/sail, but reading journals of Caribbean
and Florida cruisers (Florida is where I'll be) there are plenty of
complaints about droning generators running almost constantly,
including all night.
The heat can be brutal, and though my wife is hardy, it may be
necessary to provide a respite with A/C. Not that I don't appreciate
a cooling off myself, but with her no respite from sweating could be a
deal killer.
My intent there is to use the smallest home unit and cool only a berth
area. How I would do that is another subject.
But having limited A/C was the reason behind my initial post.
Duty cycle would be light, but the amps might be impossible to
replace practically with a small OB alternator.

Big, water cooled internal generators that run all day and night are
very annoying to me. Shut the damn thing off and shut off some lights.

Yet those running them often complain about the gas generators on
decks, and say their gensets are almost dead silent.

Everyone who thinks they have to run their generator to make coffee is
the problem.

Add TV's, microwaves, walk-in reefers, etc.
Not anything I want to do. But I appreciate a good night's sleep
at less than 90 degrees.
BTW, if you search a bit for Hondas and cruisers, you might be
surprised to find how many small sailboats with alts attached to
diesels use the Honda's often enough because they don't want to run
the inboard, for one reason or another.
So though you and I may agree about keeping electric power consumption
low, others disagree.
I wonder how the Texans and other gulf cruisers handle the heat when
they cruise if they don't have A/C.
For a short trip sleeping on deck is a possibility, but I think when
you get to week you want to dive into a cool berth when nightime
temps stay high, below decks is hotter, and it's raining.
I'm willing to torture myself a bit - but I'm a man.
My wife has a different psychological makeup.
Thank God for that!

--Vic