Portable Generators
 

On Sat, 26 Apr 2008 23:11:24 -0500, cavelamb himself
wrote:



And Boiled(?) water???

What are you getting at?

--Vic

Portable Generators
 

Vic Smith wrote:
On Sat, 26 Apr 2008 23:11:24 -0500, cavelamb himself
wrote:



And Boiled(?) water???


What are you getting at?

--Vic


Coffee!

--
(remove the X to email)

Now just why the HELL do I have to press 1 for English?
John Wayne

Portable Generators
 

"Alan Gomes" wrote in message
...
What I do on the boat is boil the water in a kettle on the stove and
then use one of those Melita paper cone filters that sits in a plastic
holder, and just brew right into the cup. Then it's very easy to dispose
of the paper and grounds directly into the trash bag. The plastic holder
that holds the paper cone is easily rinsed off for next time.

From an old coffee machine that died on me I retained a conical plastic mesh
filter that is exactly the size and shape of a folded filter paper.
It fits my new machine and only needs to be rinsed under the tap to be ready
for further service.
Beats putting soggy filter papers into the trash bin.

Portable Generators
 

On Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:23:40 -0700, Alan Gomes wrote:

What I do on the boat is boil the water in a kettle on the stove and
then use one of those Melita paper cone filters that sits in a plastic
holder, and just brew right into the cup. Then it's very easy to dispose
of the paper and grounds directly into the trash bag. The plastic holder
that holds the paper cone is easily rinsed off for next time.

Yes, we do the same thing, very good coffee.

Portable Generators
 

Eisboch wrote:
....
I've searched around looking for information on the safety issues of
carrying a small, portable, gasoline generator on board for making morning
coffee or whatever. I have a little Honda EU-2000 Inverter type generator
that is small, light, quiet and completely self-contained. For my needs, I
could fuel it on the dock, and it would have enough gas to serve the minimal
morning coffee making needs for a week or more. No need to carry any more
gas containers.
....

Most everything has been said, but I can't resist putting in my two
bits. First, There is really no problem with the Honda as long as its
stashed in a place where any fuel leak will go overboard, instead of the
bilge. I carry one in a cockpit locker that drains out the stern, and
the spare gas stays in the dinghy hanging on davits. When its run,
usually as a backup charging system, the exhaust is pointed out the stern.

However, I must say that I find its too noisy to use in a crowded
anchorage, especially if there is a boat directly behind. And running
it first thing in the morning just to make coffee is decidedly anti-social.

As for making coffee, a home style electric brewer is not needed, you
can much better coffee with manual methods. Many prefer a French Press,
but my favorite is a simple manual drip through a paper filter into a
Thermos. I have a slight preference for a "gold filter" at home, but
paper filters are much easier to clean on a boat. There are several
other methods, but they are all just variations on the same theme: mix
near boiling water with good coffee, that's all it takes.

This of course leaves the question of how to produce boiling water - I'm
assuming the you don't have a non-electric stove on board. (But then,
how do you stay out more than a day? Do you intend to run a portable
genset for every meal???) You could always get a small propane camp
stove; the risks associated are probably less than carrying gasoline.
There are some BBQ's (like the new Magma) that can easily heat a pot of
water. Also, a microwave can boil a quart of water reasonably quick.
Probably the best electric heater is a Bodum Ibis (or Mini Ibis), which
can boil 1.7 liters in 4 minutes. Its total load for a Thermos of
coffee would be about 10 Amp-hours, though of course a fair sized
inverter is needed. Far most civilized than firing up a generator!

Portable Generators
 

"jeff" wrote in message
. ..

Eisboch wrote:
...
I've searched around looking for information on the safety issues of
carrying a small, portable, gasoline generator on board for making
morning coffee or whatever. I have a little Honda EU-2000 Inverter type
generator that is small, light, quiet and completely self-contained. For
my needs, I could fuel it on the dock, and it would have enough gas to
serve the minimal morning coffee making needs for a week or more. No
need to carry any more gas containers.
...

Most everything has been said, but I can't resist putting in my two bits.
First, There is really no problem with the Honda as long as its stashed in
a place where any fuel leak will go overboard, instead of the bilge. I
carry one in a cockpit locker that drains out the stern, and the spare gas
stays in the dinghy hanging on davits. When its run, usually as a backup
charging system, the exhaust is pointed out the stern.

However, I must say that I find its too noisy to use in a crowded
anchorage, especially if there is a boat directly behind. And running it
first thing in the morning just to make coffee is decidedly anti-social.

As for making coffee, a home style electric brewer is not needed, you can
much better coffee with manual methods. Many prefer a French Press, but
my favorite is a simple manual drip through a paper filter into a Thermos.
I have a slight preference for a "gold filter" at home, but paper filters
are much easier to clean on a boat. There are several other methods, but
they are all just variations on the same theme: mix near boiling water
with good coffee, that's all it takes.

This of course leaves the question of how to produce boiling water - I'm
assuming the you don't have a non-electric stove on board. (But then, how
do you stay out more than a day? Do you intend to run a portable genset
for every meal???) You could always get a small propane camp stove; the
risks associated are probably less than carrying gasoline. There are some
BBQ's (like the new Magma) that can easily heat a pot of water. Also, a
microwave can boil a quart of water reasonably quick. Probably the best
electric heater is a Bodum Ibis (or Mini Ibis), which can boil 1.7 liters
in 4 minutes. Its total load for a Thermos of coffee would be about 10
Amp-hours, though of course a fair sized inverter is needed. Far most
civilized than firing up a generator!


I guess my question was poorly specified.
The boat in question has a propane system and stove, so there are other ways
to
quietly heat water.

My question was related to simply the safety issues involved in carrying and
occasionally operating a Honda EU-2000i
portable generator in the cockpit area of a boat. I used "making coffee or
whatever" as an example of it's purpose since the boat I was contemplating
does not have a permanent genset or inverter.

I didn't realize my safety related question was so controversial. I am not
exactly new to boating and am well aware of the courtesies that should be
extended and shared.

Eisboch

Portable Generators
 

On Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:04:01 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:


"jeff" wrote in message
...

Eisboch wrote:
...
I've searched around looking for information on the safety issues of
carrying a small, portable, gasoline generator on board for making
morning coffee or whatever. I have a little Honda EU-2000 Inverter type
generator that is small, light, quiet and completely self-contained. For
my needs, I could fuel it on the dock, and it would have enough gas to
serve the minimal morning coffee making needs for a week or more. No
need to carry any more gas containers.
...

Most everything has been said, but I can't resist putting in my two bits.
First, There is really no problem with the Honda as long as its stashed in
a place where any fuel leak will go overboard, instead of the bilge. I
carry one in a cockpit locker that drains out the stern, and the spare gas
stays in the dinghy hanging on davits. When its run, usually as a backup
charging system, the exhaust is pointed out the stern.

However, I must say that I find its too noisy to use in a crowded
anchorage, especially if there is a boat directly behind. And running it
first thing in the morning just to make coffee is decidedly anti-social.

As for making coffee, a home style electric brewer is not needed, you can
much better coffee with manual methods. Many prefer a French Press, but
my favorite is a simple manual drip through a paper filter into a Thermos.
I have a slight preference for a "gold filter" at home, but paper filters
are much easier to clean on a boat. There are several other methods, but
they are all just variations on the same theme: mix near boiling water
with good coffee, that's all it takes.

This of course leaves the question of how to produce boiling water - I'm
assuming the you don't have a non-electric stove on board. (But then, how
do you stay out more than a day? Do you intend to run a portable genset
for every meal???) You could always get a small propane camp stove; the
risks associated are probably less than carrying gasoline. There are some
BBQ's (like the new Magma) that can easily heat a pot of water. Also, a
microwave can boil a quart of water reasonably quick. Probably the best
electric heater is a Bodum Ibis (or Mini Ibis), which can boil 1.7 liters
in 4 minutes. Its total load for a Thermos of coffee would be about 10
Amp-hours, though of course a fair sized inverter is needed. Far most
civilized than firing up a generator!


I guess my question was poorly specified.
The boat in question has a propane system and stove, so there are other ways
to
quietly heat water.

My question was related to simply the safety issues involved in carrying and
occasionally operating a Honda EU-2000i
portable generator in the cockpit area of a boat. I used "making coffee or
whatever" as an example of it's purpose since the boat I was contemplating
does not have a permanent genset or inverter.

I didn't realize my safety related question was so controversial. I am not
exactly new to boating and am well aware of the courtesies that should be
extended and shared.

Eisboch


I suppose the question is "do you have an outboard motor?". Keeping a
generator aboard would present about the same safety aspects as the
outboard.


Bruce-in-Bangkok
(correct email address for reply)

Portable Generators
 

Eisboch wrote:
....
I didn't realize my safety related question was so controversial.

You should know that the two most controversial issues are gensets and
coffee.

I am not
exactly new to boating and am well aware of the courtesies that should be
extended and shared.

Yes, I was baffled by that. But lack of understanding didn't stop me
from responding.

Portable Generators
 

Wayne.B wrote:
On Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:23:40 -0700, Alan Gomes wrote:

What I do on the boat is boil the water in a kettle on the stove and
then use one of those Melita paper cone filters that sits in a plastic
holder, and just brew right into the cup. Then it's very easy to dispose
of the paper and grounds directly into the trash bag. The plastic holder
that holds the paper cone is easily rinsed off for next time.

Yes, we do the same thing, very good coffee.


I like the Aeropress.
Gordon

Portable Generators
 

On Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:04:01 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:

You could always get a small propane camp stove; the
risks associated are probably less than carrying gasoline. There are some

I would like to point out thhat propane is considerably heavier than
air, about the same density as carbon dioxide. Given a chance, it will
settle into the bilge. The explosion possible with a pound of the
stuff is equal to several sticks of dynamite, and can easily demolish
a boat. It does also mix with air to the point that the mixture is too
fuel poor to burn. It will do that, given a chance. This is why you
see boats with a 20 lb bottle mounted over the side, outside and
attached to, the stern railing. Gasoline main engines are probably
more dangerous, slightly. I have been boating on an Iowa lake for
fifty years. Never heard of a boat fire. Nearly all the boats are open
runabouts, or in the case of the 5hp fishing boats, crawlabouts, and
carrying a fire extinguisher is required by law.

Casady