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From: Rufus Laggren (no email)
Date: Sat Jan 03 2004 - 13:30:28 EST
Fuel type needs thought. Gasoline is more dangerous to handle and store than diesel; however, if you presently have a gas engine you may actually prefer to use gas.
It seems to me that "noise" would be top of the list if you want your boating to be comfortabla and relaxed. Most gas and/or "contactor's" generators run very noisy. But each to his own priorities.
Installation needs to be fairly meticulous if you wish to avoid pain and trouble a year (or less) down the way. Size to charge your batteris and inverter while running AC (or switching circuits to do one at a time), easy access for maintenance, safety shutoffs, engine metering (eg, temp), coolant plumbing, exhaust plumbing and routing so you don't die from CO or stink up your cockpit during the BBQ, cut-overs or whatever so you don't fry your system by plugging into bad shoreposer while the genset is online, breaker panel, GFI circuits so you don't shock somebody grinding the coffee while they stand in a puddle of last night's vodka...
IOW, even adhering to KISS and skipping the fancier stuff, there are additional considerations that affect your satisfaction and safety. It would pay to start with a unit that fits best into your planned system as a whole, that perhaps includes already some of the controls and safety devices you would want.
I agree with Lew, that on a boat this size, a genset may take more onboard resources (space, free time, peace) than any value it delivers in return. For cooling try 8 to 10 12volt fans in strategic places for a year, maybe with an "over-hatch" AC unit using shorepower, and then think about it again.
Rufus
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