Portable generator
 

Has anyone used a small (Honda suite case) style generator to run their shore power when away from the dock? I am wanting it for the AC & stereo. If so, what kind did you use? What was your setup?

they are great lil gensets, i saw a guy rafted up with one on his swim platform

Used a honda 2000 on the swim platform to run the frig and AC while overnighting.......couldn't even hear it in the cabin. Great machines! Simply plugged it into the shore power plug.

Although I only used a couple of times, the 2000 worked great. Put on swim platform on my first boat, on the bow right in front of the windshield on my Baja 302. Now, the guy who bought my first boat and a friend who has a 29 Scarab, both use the 1000 and works great for their 5000 btu ac units. They are a lot lighter.

I have seen the honda 1000's placed in-between the engines then exhaust routed out

I have a few year old Honda 2000 and I put a silicone mat down out on the nose to sit it on and run the power cord back to my shore power plug that has my onboard charger tied to it . But have only used it twice like that I rarely stay in one place long enough that I need it. I wish they would have had the smaller 1000 back when I bought mine. Make sure your cord is long enough and not a cheapo one, the couple times I used it I zip tied the cord to the swim platform up tight to the transom and along the way to the back of the boat I zip tied it to an inside grab rail......I did not want someone tripping on the cord and sending my generator into the lake.

Just thought about doing this also. The 1000 is all you need to run battery charger and maybe a blender !! $800 for the Gen or $800 plus new battery trays, Lugs etc etc and you can keep the gen after you sell LOL .

I've run an EU 2000 for 7 years . It powers my 10,000 btu. Marine Air unit. I upped the starting cap and run it in Havasu so it seldom stops and restarts so head pressure isn't a real issue. The outside temp is usually 105-120!(I set t-stat at 75 deg and it usually only goes down to 87ish) but at 87 it feels great.

I have sold quite a few to oso members to use on their boat and have run one on my boat many times

Do NOT put it in the engine compartment. And regardless, get a CO detector in your cabin. I have customers using Yamahas in this application, the 2000 works just fine. A 1000 will work, but it is at max load a majority of the time, shortens the lifespan..

will the 1000 run a 5 or 6k btu ac and a tv and direct tv box? or would i need the 2000 watt?
any body running the yamahas? they are about 20% less than the hondas...

Yes the 1000 will run a 5k btu ac unit. Adding the tv and box shouldn't make that big a difference.

I don't have AC just the Stereo system I only use mine to run the charger and I know I could get away with a 1000, I think Scott B may be right if your running AC, Stereo etc you might be pushing the limit of a 1000

....and thanks again. Bought my first from him 10 years ago and just last month bought a 2000 companion to connect and power the AC on my RV.

It might.....but would be running WOT. You likely don't run your boat at 100% throttle, why would you run a genny that way? (Isn't the 2000 only about $200 more than the 1000?)

If you are going to run AC I would go 2000 Yammie or Honda, be careful of CO2.

Planning on running a Honda 2000 on the swim platform (35' boat) with a small a/c unit (5000 BTU) in the cabin door. Have a CO2 detector in the cockpit and another inside the cabin.
I would think that would be sufficient or would the generator be best placed on the front deck? Any suggestions?

I dont want to wake up dead!

I have run a Honda 2k for 6 years to keep my stereo at full tilt all day though a power supply.
Test your AC first. I have tried to run some small cruisers but it would not start them.
Yamaha has a 2400 that is just enough more powerful. It is heavier than the 2k however.

I have found tons of off boat uses between running power equipment without hard electricity to tailgating once the boat gets put up.
Crock pot cooking down a pork butt in bbq sauce all day tastes amazing about 6-7pm after a long day of drinking ; ).

Any suggestions on storing these units? I am talking about when its not being used (so currently no CO being emitted). I have a 26 outlaw, planned on securing it to the cabin floor when not being used. Do I need to worry about fuel vapors from the 1 gallon tank building up in the cabin? Cabin door is always open while running.

Yes you most certainly need to worry about fuel vapors. With a static cap vent and bouncing over waves its gonna be tough to control even a little bit of spillage. Factor in heat and evaporation an heck your gonna hafta install bilge blowers in the cabin

My thought its still a bad idea . . . .

Most boaters around here are running the Honda 2000 generators for their AC and such. If you do run it, I highly recommend placing it on the swim platform to help ventilate it. While going from point A to B we will bungee cord it underneath a bolster seat. Like Glassdave said, be carefull of any spillage or fuel vapors. You will want to make sure the cuddy has been ventilated out after you get to where you are going. We got the 2000 companion because it already has the 30 amp connection built in and we can connect it to another Honda 2000 if needed.

Has anybody heard anything about the Pulsar generators. I have been contemplating getting a Honda EU2000I Companion. The cheapest price I have found for new is $1039. Then I found this Pulsar brand on Groupon for just under $400. It has the same wattage and Db rating and weight as the Honda. It looks similar to the Honda too with the generator being totally encased. Pulsar's engines are made by Ducar, which is a Chinese company in business since for the last 20 years making motorcycle engines.

heck thats cheap enough to just roll the dice on :D

this one? hell anymore most stuff is rebranded import crap anyways . . . . its a cut throat biz with no morals what so ever lol


https://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-pul...er-generator-1

It's 59db while the Honda is 53db....not that 59 is all that loud. I used a 2000 on the boat for a long time and now have another one (the companion) since 2000 isn't enough to run the AC on my toyhauler (but 4000 is plenty). Any of these off brands might work just as well as a Honda (or Yamaha) but consider what happens if the thing quits when you need it most. It's a gamble but one you might be willing to make for $600 difference.

I won a ryobi 2200 I put it on my swim platform run air with it works fine half the price of Honda then again I did win it

I don't use them on the boat but I have a couple of Champion inverter style generators. Very happy with them.

Padraig

Most of the Chinese models do not have the starting watts the Honda Eu2000's do.

Well I took the plunge and bought one. I have 14 days to return it once I get it. Ill be testing it connected to the A/C to see how it reacts.

I need a 7000 onan or kolhler deisel gen for my bus .... Two 15000 ac units two frig and one ice cream drink mech TV and disco lights don't use much juice :whistle: if any body has anything shoot me a PM

Just rolled the dice! First time groupon buyer gets 25% off or up to $40. Hard to say no at $383 delivered to your door.

What do you need cord and plug wise to run to the shore power?


Also
Generac makes one now that I'm going to pull the trigger on very soon. It has a fuel gauge that tells you how much run time is left based on load. Seen them for $675 on ebay.

We just tested the generac vs the eu2000 and the generac does not have the startup watts nor running watts that the Honda has and the power is not as clean which can damage you the items you are powering. The features they offer are nice though.