Has any one installed a generator in a 357 SR1 ???
 

If the 357 is the predecessor of the 382 and the 382 has a generator I wonder if there is room in the 357 to install one there too? Has anyone done that?

I have thought about getting a 357 that matches my 242 graphics to have a matching pair but I am after a generator and AC for the cabin. If I can add a gen set to a 357 I might pursue this idea for nostalgia and a cheaper way to go.

I think it would be kind of cool to have a 357 and 242 matching.

My 382 didn't come with a gen but I put hooks in the engine compartment to strap down a Honda 2000. When I was ready to run the gen I'd strap it down on the swim-platform.

Lot of people do that (honda) even though all the rules say no. It's a good temp way to run air and accessories in a small boat.

I think as long as the area where you are is isolated and you have a CO detector it should be as safe as any gasoline powered generator....especially mounted outside the boat. This is my opinion but I don't advocate it!! :lolhit:

I think it's important to anchor the boat at the bow and let it swing with the wind....that also takes the exhaust away from you.

BTW: I saw a set-up where a Honda 2000 was mounted/exhausted to run right in the engine compartment. I never would have done it that way but from looking over the set-up it appeared safe to run (you'd have to see it).

I had a 1986 Kamma 357 and with the Kamma set-up with transmissions, I saw no area of the bilge to install a water cooled marine generator. As my Kammas crapped out, I installed bravo 1's with a 12" Imco standoff box which moved the engines back to the rear of the bilge. I then had pleanty of room to install a generator between the engines and the front bulkhead of the bilge. I purchased a generator, but never got the chance to install in the boat before I got a divorce and sold the boat. I did sell the generator with the boat, but don't know if the new owner ever installed. I have always been shy of the Honda in the bilge option. I have read to many times about boaters dying of CO2 poisoning here in Central Florida. They do make ultra low emission generators now and that is the route I would go.

Were the engines directly up behind the rear seat back in that Kaama set up?
This 357 has TRS which has trannies too. Is the engine placement the same with a trans application or are the trans different with different locations of the engine?
I have been looking around for pics to get an idea of where the engines are in relation to the back seat.

The 382 Gen set is partially tucked under the rear seat and the very few 353's that got gen's were more under the seat. I have to wonder if there is room I can make in the rear seat area of a 357? Or even move the seat?

Use the right tool for the right job. If you are going to use a commercial HomeDepot generator, use it outside according to he supplied instructions. Not sure? RTFM.

This is what my 382 install looks like. It was added by the dealer (Dick Simon Marine) when I bought it......and done with factory parts (and factory installation instructions).

I saw a Westerbeke install in a 353 which was even smaller than that Kohler. Formula did three boats with that set up.
Depending on how much room is between the engines and seat might determine if I could use the Kohler or the smaller Westerbeke unit.

The engines in the Kama are probably a little farther toward the rear seat than the TRS. The Kamma used a Twin Disc GM502 transmission that was pretty big. There should be room under the rear seat like Level III's pics above. Just make sure you get the correct set-up for the water intake to the generator and the exhaust from the generator. There is a real trick to insuring the incoming water pressure from the pick-up on the hull does not blow past the impeller on the generator's cooling system. You have to install a pressure by-pass line that is say 1.5" diameter to allow the generator to "sip" from the incoming water. Also, if the generator quits during speed, the water pressure at the impeller won't be too high. Good luck.

Did some Kaama 357's have a gen set? Sounds like I should have no lack of room for a gen with the TRS set up then.

I see there is a lot of dynamics to address rigging a genny. As a tech I am a do-it-yourselfer but this could be one of those jobs that I sub out.

I'll have to see which boat I buy then I will know my needs.

I installed a 7.3 Kohler in my 357.

Here is my Big Brother and Little Sister

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/a...1-p1030385.jpg

Are those bilge heaters?

Thanks for the pics.
I'm thinking of the same idea of twin boats. I have the matching 242LS of a 357 SR1 that I could buy. Funny that the graphics are the same Palm Beach graphics you have.

Those pics are exactly what I needed to give me a feel of space. The problem I will have is that this 357 has TRS drives and the engines are about 12" forward of yours. I think that will force me to use some of the space under the back seat in the same manner of the 382 and 353 with gen sets.

What is the smaller boat?
What speeds do you see with your 357?

I had a 357 TRS with gen mounted right in front of both engines... it fits!

I have a 357 there is plenty of room for a gen install I front of engines only will make port water pump a little tight for service. I do t have a gen but am a marine technician and have installed dozens. I boat up on the Lake Erie islands lots of beach time and time with no shore power I rum 4 group 31 agm batteries and have no problem if I was you I would just install an big inverter or a 12v AC. Any question feel free to give me a shout leav a voicemail if I do t answer 419 6564882

The Kohler is waaay better than the Onan installed from factory in that vintage Formula.
Good call...

That pic you posted, over in drives section, looks like the gen is completely in the bilge and does not reach into the rear seat. Am I seeing that right? If that is the case then there is far more than enough room in front of the TRS installed engines. I like knowing a gen will work.

Now we'll have to see which boat I get.

So the 357 had some factory Onan gen installs? I was going to go through the brochure again to look for that info.

I'm told the the Kohler is a little bigger and louder than it's counterpart Westerbeke. Either one is ultra low emissions so I guess would go with the best deal I can find. I do like the Kohler product pretty well but as I understand Westerbeke has been into marine gennys longer.

I am not sure on the 357...sorry.
I have a 1993 419SR-1 and the original install is a 3K Onan.
It is less than stellar in the noise and power output. But because it was already wired through my electrical panel in the cabin and set up for the Onan, when I replaced it I reinstalled the same Onan genset.

The Genset is well worth the headaches to install if you can get it done

Thanks. If I do the install I would definitely take you up on that.
I have a 4200 start/spike inverter that runs at a 100% duty cycle of 1600 watts. I don't think that would get me through the night with just the AC unless it would run at low enough amps. Our crews, at work, who need 2000 watts have run this same inverter on two deep cycle batts and they could not get more than 4 hours out of them. Once I see what this unit would pull I can check the draw time to know how many batts for the amp/hr rating and know if it is doable.

I think what you are asking about are the two 80amp battery chargers. These are separate from the Pro Marine charger that I use for the 2 house batteries.
The stereo runs on its own system. The chargers keep the battery bank of 4 batteries charged while the generator provides power for the chargers.

The little boat is a 223. I see speeds of 56-58 with the 357.