Generator question (regarding Air conditioning)

[pullin]

As we approach retirement, we're looking for a larger more comfortable boat. One of our requirements is air conditioning, and a generator to power it while anchored.

We've never had a boat with a generator and have a few questions for the experts:

1. Do you leave it running while sleeping overnight?
It seems this could be a problem in still air, along with the general worries of a gas engine running belowdecks. I wonder if people do this, or just cool the cabin and open the hatches after sundown. (?) We live in Texas, and summer nights can be sweltering, even on the water.

2. How much fuel per hour do you plan for? Our (inverter) genset for the RV runs a little over 0.5 gph to run the A/C; Are boat generators roughly similar? Or does the additional work of the cooling pumps add a measurable amount to your consumption?

3. I notice that lots of used boat ads will provide the genset hours along with the engine hours. Is there a rule-of-thumb for useful generator life?

4. This may depend on the boat, but can you run the genset while underway? I guess it matters whether it has its own thru-hull fitting for water, or just tees off one of the raw water hoses for the engine(s).

5. Do all generators have raw-water cooling? It seems the few I've looked at did not have heat exchangers for FWC.


I realize some of this may be individual preference, but the preferences of experienced folk are a lot better than my guesses.

Thanks in advance for any advice...

 

[Natesms]

Lot's of articles on generator safety if you search, but yes, you can run them overnight. If you are on the hook even a small breeze will take care of the exhaust. Just make sure to have you CO detectors in working order (I have a wall mounted one and small battery operated ones from lowes next to each bed).

My generator uses about .8 gallons an hour - I was able to find the manual online and it has everything listed out for load rates and fuel consumption. I don't think it's much different than RV generators, just the load pulled is slightly different. My marine A/C is more BTU's than my camper was so it works the generator harder.

Not sure on the hours. I've seen 20 year old boats with 80 hours and I've seen some with 1800.

I run my generator constantly while under way. You should be able to do this most setups I would think (never seen a boat where you couldn't, doesn't mean they aren't out there).

They will all pull water the raw water for their primary source of cooling. Many have heat exchangers that keep the raw water out of the motor though (all the ones I have personally used have a heat exchanger with a closed cooling system).

 

[shrew]

Where are you located? (general region, we don't need to knock on your door). I couldn't say what they do in Arizona or Florida. In New England, leave your genny running overnight and expect to be very, very unpopular in the anchorage the next day.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Some gennys run quieter than others...
Mine, the only noise outside the boat is water running out of the exhaust and the slightest hum....

I don't anchor near other boats unless they are friends... If someone decideds to anchor near me while I'm running the genny and wants to complain they are free to move on lol

 

[Natesms]

Smokeonthewater brings up a good point about noise. My generator doesn't have a sound shield on it, and it's incredibly loud. Not so much for people outside the boat but when you are in the main seating area there is no question if it is on. The sound shields make a night and day difference, don't get one without it.

 

[pullin]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm in North Texas, and normally anchor by myself in a cove. I'm glad to hear I can run it all night if the heat/mosquitoes make AC preferable. I'll check on soundshields before purchase.

Thanks again for the responses....