Mike,

Do you have a picture of your boat? I remember seeing the
P-29 when it came out. I was in Destin at a Scarab dealer. I wanted that boat so bad (and I coudn't afford one then). I have never seen a P-38. I have since owned a 29, 33, and 38Scarab! What is the history behind it? Kevlar Hull?

Mike, I may be off on the prices. I just remember writing a check for 10-11K for everything. I think it also included some oil change and maybe drive service.

You can find deals on these small gensets on ebay all the time. I have a 38 baja that came with one stock so I have not done this myself.

On a side note I have installed an ac and had the same problem with the water pump. Make sure the outlet (to ac unit) is facing north. Also my ac is designed to only engage the water pump when it is several degrees you would like to cool. In other words it will not turn on unless it is 70 and you want it to be 60. Hope that helps.

I too looked at a P-29 back in 2001. I fell in love with the graphics but it was a little too cramped inside for me so I got a 31' Scarab instead. How much were they asking for it new(P-29)? That final 38' you got with 575's must have been like 285k new- awesome boat though,do you miss it? The P-38 boat was custom one-off deal from Wellcraft painted by Magic brush and has some of the same features as the P-29. The same v-berth cushion design, black gauges, P-38 in the headrests, custom engine hatch cover.It originally was built for a guy in Israel and had a 220v-50hz shorepower system. The previous (2nd) owner changed the battery charger to 110v, and I changed the wall socket and just installed the 10k A/C unit (110v). I guess I will eventually fork out the cash for the Westerbeke,seems to be the hot deal. I remember your boat for sale last year. I bought my '98 in last May . Didn't you sell yours in July? Would have considered it. How much did you sell for,if you don't mind me asking?Thanks Mike....

Mike, Great looking boat. I don't remember what the P29 was new. It was too much for me back then. I sold my boat for $165,000. The new owner told me I can drive it any time I want. He is crazy about the boat. Yes, I do miss it but still get to drive it once in a while. I have always had a thing for Scarabs, since I grew up in Ft. Lauderdale and they were all over south Florida at the time. With all this Scarab talk back and forth the "gods" might make us go to the Scarab Forum!

LZH, here is a couple of pics of the A/C installed. The boat had A/C so I didnt have a lot to modify. It took about 4 hours to modify the airbox, install the unit and plumb the condensator. It has 2 -4" vent outlets inside the cabin facing up on each side of the wrap around couch.BTW did you get those drives on yet? Also there is a 29' E-ticket on page 94 of this months(May) Powerboat that has a Honda 2000 gen permanently mounted with exhaust and everything.Hmmmmm Last but not least, I would have responded earlier but I have been busy with my brand new baby girl Hailey Sue 7lbs8oz, born Thursday 10:56PM.

On this honda generator you have installed, how are you plumbing the exhaust? Did you somehow make the exhaust water cooled?

If you're running an open exhaust in the engine room you're going to have a disaster, it was never intended to be run in closed quarters.

Congrads on the new Baby!

Michael,

I'm not trying to scare you, but the gasoline fume detectors are not 100% reliable. Gasoline vapor is heavier than air, and will settle to the bottom of the bilge, right where your generator is. The Honda generator is air cooled, with plenty of hot surfaces to ignite gasoline, not to mention the non-US Coast Guard approved ignition system, intake system (backfire), and the arcing generator brushes. You pretty much have everything you need to start a fire, if not an explosion. You would be better off buying a used marine generator if you want to save cost. Then you can enjoy it, rather than worrying about it.

Michael

Wow. :(

Oh.....and congrats on the baby girl! :)

At least it will be a peaceful deaf,unless it catches on fire:eek::D JFWY

I would think the exhaust hose being non water cooled ,that the rubber hose part will fail, Like a exhaust hose on the tail pipes to the header. if it looses water, they melt

Where the AC is in yours, mine looks to be close to the same size, I could do the same,How much weight do ya think you added up front??

Ive seen people while camping put the gen on the transom, Ive even had there gen, set off my CO2 alarm in my cabin while sleeping with the cabin door open.Its easy for it to get in the cabin,even with the door closed.Becarefull:D


This OL had the AC running and the hatch opened about 10 inches,I think I remember seeing a little Honda in there:p

The A/C probably added about 70lbs to the bow end of the boat. Also the hose is silicone,not rubber. Also the exhaust of a small generator is hardly that of a big block turning 5200rpm under load. Good luck

Hey,
congrats on your new addition.:cool-smiley-026::cool-smiley-026:
Hope mom and baby are doing great.
I have four and know what is in store for you:D

I am a retired master tech,
I think it can work if you are smart about it.
The gas fumes should be no worse then the motors,
(you know the gas smell from your carbs)
just keep an eye out on the fumes,
Something we all should worry about while an enclosed generator is running.
Since I am new to this offshore stuff,
I try to think of it as a r.v. for the water.

If you need any help let me know as I work in Anaheim.
I also am a welder with benders and such,
so if you need a stainless steel exhaust let me know.
I am a little rusty but the price is right:ernaehrung004:

Johnny

Without being water cooled I would think it would melt, even it it's silicone. Plus, any exhaust system thats in an enclosed area must be water cooled, it's a CG regulation...:cool-smiley-027:

http://www.boats.com/news-reviews/ar...nners-part-iii

http://www.westerbeke.com/products/g...ail.cfm?gen=58


This is what you need.....

I've been looking into this option in the last week.M

this is a nice unit also

70 isnt bad,keep us posted on how it does:D

Another thought you could Y into the exhaust on the boat, maybe in the tail pipe?

Space is VERY tight in a 38' Scarab. The Next Gen generator you mention is 500w more than the Westerbeke, but it is also 3.4" longer and 1.9" wider than the Westerbeke. The Honda is L-20.1 W-11.4,H-16.7, The Westerbeke is L-24.6,W-13.6, H-14.5. So it could possible messaged into the same place as the Honda unless somebody who does this known something I do not.---- Also the Vector compact A/C units are smaller that they look, even in the pics. My unit is 19.25" wide, 9.63" deep, and 12.25" tall look, thats smaller than the Honda generator itself.Mike

no Honda in that boat......it has a factory installed 3kw westerbeke.... i have been in it at 130+ many times with BOTH AC's and the genny going..

Safe enough for babies!
 

I’ve known Mike for a long, long time. He’s smarter and more capable than y’all can know. He has the equipment and the experience to architect and test systems prior to implementation. We’ve spoken at length about this, and I’ve seen the boat. That’s my girlfriend in front of it on my last visit to L.A.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...Picture058.jpg

Yes, “everyone is doing this” if they have the know-how and the confidence. The fear factor is like any other task that seems insurmountable until you understand how simple it really is. Locally on Lake Travis we had a boat painter by the name of Dave. He had a plain white 35’ Baja with a Honda generator and aftermarket A/C installed. He took a couple of hours one day to show it off to me. It was tight.

I’ve often wondered why my .38 Special had to have a huge heavy and complex Westerbeke with an outdated fuel and ignition system. Best answer I’ve gotten is that is USCG approved. I find this kind of nanny-state thinking with people who are shocked that I carry a gun *gasp*, it’s LOADED *double gasp*, CHAMBERED *triple gasp*, and that my "safety" is my trigger finger! *passing out gasp*

Mike’s setup is ingenious and efficient. It’s also safe provided he doesn’t pull the exhaust hose out and route it to the cabin, and that he doesn’t leave the gas cap off after spraying fuel all over the engine bay filling his generator’s tank from a nozzle 10 feet away. :)

I run my 7500btu off that EU2000i and it has no issue at all.On ECO mode.It will rev up when the compressor cycles on but when it is running it is pretty low RPM wise.It hangs of my bow pulpit.

This guy seems pretty intelligent and all but my question is this: If you have enough coin to buy that scarab then why not spend another $5k on a used marine gen set?

The whole issue is the cooling with the little Honda.It is made to have constent fresh air.

Nice post and I'm glad you like your friend, but you may need your loaded chambered gun to get the insurance company to pay if there is a problem down the road. ?????? It is not safe, it is cheap.

[QUOTE=m1super90;2535947]I’ve known Mike for a long, long time. He’s smarter and more capable than y’all can know. He has the equipment and the experience to architect and test systems prior to implementation. We’ve spoken at length about this, and I’ve seen the boat. That’s my girlfriend in front of it on my last visit to L.A.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...Picture058.jpg

QUOTE]


nice boat cover:ernaehrung004:

For sure, insurance companies are quick to collect, slow to pay, and always looking for an out. Using non certified stuff might nullify coverage for a claimed caused by the installation.

I know guys who put blowers on their motors without telling insurance that they're now way over 1000 total HP. I had drinks with the UC Davis dean of the school of business and she tried to shame me for owning such a powerful, fuel guzzling, and polluting boat. I asked her if she walked to Austin or had flown in a jet. :evilb:

Not sure I understand your post. Why would an insurance company pay for a fire-trap disaster? They certainly didn't insure it this way. Regarding those that put blowers on their motors without telling the insurance.....same goes for them! It sounds like what you are saying is "it should be fine since others have done the same or worse". Yeah.....that will make them pay the claim! :D

Sorry......but I'm not trying to make any other point other than these (with #7 near the top):

1) The coast guard would probably not approve of it.
2) The guy's insurance company would not approve of it.
3) The factory couldn't sell the boat built that way.
4) Somebody could die because of it just to save a little bit of money.
5) If his boat burns up.....maybe it will take out other boats near it?
6) Who would buy a used boat with something like this done to it?
7) If his wife read this thread......she would fix this situation ASAP. :D :D

Man - That's the most accurate statement of this whole thread! :hitfan::D:D

Please re-evaluate the statements of caution, they just have your life well being in mind. Dangerous is not the word for your bilge installation! If the coast guard inspects your boat and sees this they most likely will go nuts. It is NOT spark protected.The fume detector will be too late as the fumes are present when it goes off, and sparks will be present in the bilge.

Westerbeke installation in a small boat.

http://www.westerbeke.com/products/g...ail.cfm?gen=58

http://revver.com/video/265369/marin...a-bayliner-28/

Well said Nort. And about that PM, disregard it. I was drunk :)

OK, everyone needs to chill out a little. I also installed a Honda 2000 in the engine compartment three years ago in my 37 AT. Almost indentical to this.
The Coast Guard has seen, and had nothing to say. The honda is approved for use in state parks, and has to have a spark arrestor. I would also open the engine hatch for fresh air. Spent several weekends on the boat running the Honda ok. The exhaust does not ever get over 215 , even on full output. Silicone hose rated for 600 degrees.
Yes it is alot cheaper than the standard marine genset. but I know it is safe and would not ever think of putting anyone's safety in jepordy.
So let it lie.

There is a 2008 29' E-ticket in the OSO classifieds with a Honda generator installed. Says something about in-water exhaust. I'm not sure what that means. Boat looks brand new, factory install? Doug

The spark arrestor is for the exhaust, not the ignition system, and generator brushes. You've been lucky so far, but it is anything but safe.

Someone fill me in. If someone can afford a 35'+ boat, it seems like they ought to be able to afford a decent marine generator for gosh sakes.

Michael

Oh.....geeeeez, why didn't you say so before!! Well then it must be all OKAY! Fire it up! Just let your friends get behind the :party-smiley-004::party-smiley-004: first! :D

So did anything happen to this fire-trap generator installation this summer?

Nort you are such a kill joy!!! :D

Now go tell LDD to give his money back like the rest of us :D:D

I keep seeing that thread but haven't read it. Looks like it will take hours....who has that kinda time! :D