On Sat, 26 Apr 2008 06:29:15 -0400, "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.

The hazards of gasoline, while real, are overrated by some. The vapor
is heavier than air, and a leak with a powerboat, with a clear shot
from tank to bilge, is one thing. I presume your cockpit has drainage
over the side. If there is any wind the hazard wlll be even less. Get
the right fuel can and leave it in the cockpit, as well. A cigarette
does not burn hot enough to ignite gas. If you drop a burning cig into
gas, it will just go out. Matches or a lighter are a different story.
I don't panic if I walk into a cloud of gas fumes, with a burning cig
in my mouth, but I sure as hell leave the lighter in my pocket. There
is no bogus, spark producing, wiring in the cockpit,?I would be more
concerned about the noise.

A twelve hundred watt do-dad operated for six minutes would take 10AH
at 12 volts. Get an inverter/charger and a serious battery. With a
hundred AH deep cycle battery you should be good for a week. Get a big
enough array of solar cells, the inverter, and a big battery and you
would be all set with none of the drawbacks of noisy gas power, no
need to run the main engine just to charge the coffee batteries. I
don't know how the cost of an inverter, battery, and solar array,
compares to the generator. I presume you already have an adequate
charger for the starting battery. I don't know what any of the stuff
costs and wouldn't mind a bit if someone cares to comment on that..

Casady