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!