Hook up boat engine to permanent magnet generator.

[Scott Danforth]

Toyota minivans have had 110volt inverters in them going back to the late 80's and early 90's for plugging in laptops, etc.

First off I don't know much about this kind of stuff and likely showing my ignorance but.... how does Ford put in the 120 volt outlet in their F150? ... and I do understand sparks and a bilge don't go together.

Ford uses a big inverter system.

todays boats use a combination of multiple batteries and an inverter/shore power unit.

@tpenfield new boat has 7 batteries and such an inverter system (no generator)

my new RV travel trailer has a 1kw inverter and a solar panel array. not quite enough to run the AC, however enough to power the heater and blower

 

[briangcc]

Many modern vehicles are including power ports (as options) as people like their gadgets to charge. 110V is becoming a "norm" of sorts. **Wife's 2017 4Runner has a 400W inverter at the back seat from the factory.

IF I was looking for overnight AC power, it'd be a battery and inverter for sure....maybe a couple deep cycles depending on how much of a draw and how efficient the inverter is. Carrying a generator off the swim platform and gas/power cords to go with it seems to be asking for trouble.

 

[440roadrunner]

as Bob said, in the 60's automobiles had permanent magnet DC generators instead of alternators.

The advantage of the generators was that they did not need any voltage from the battery to charge the battery.

Actually I know of no vehicles from "the 60's" which used PM generators, except smaller bikes that used a magneto style alternator.

Generators (that is older automotive generators) produce power by retaining a certain amount of magnetism in the iron based core. This is why they must be "flashed" (polarized) depending on system polarity (Yes some heavy trucks were and maybe still are 12V but POSitive ground, like "White".) Anyhow, the magnetism in the core "bootstraps" the generator to start it producing. ACTUALLY some alternators will do this as well!!! If you "jerry rig" an alternator so that it is lightly loaded it might just "boot" on it's own.

So far as the OP's question....sounds like a heck of a lot of work, for a hundred buck's difference, and I've built a few redneck things in my day

 

[440roadrunner]

So far as the new Ford hybrid trucks (there's an ad bragging about powering your house) I don't recall, but seems to me there's some nonsense that the transmission/ electric drive motor is involved to produce enough power

From here:

When activated, current travels from the battery to an onboard inverter that converts it to AC. If the battery charge gets low or demand spikes, the vehicle’s engine will start and recharge the battery via the drivetrain’s integrated 35-kW (47 horsepower) electric motor, which also functions as a generator (remember, it’s a hybrid).

The Downside ​

Creating all that electrical energy comes at a price, and the bill is paid in terms of the cost of gasoline and additional wear and tear. Although the majority of the drivetrain and braking system are unaffected, the additional run time on the engine and generator can quickly add up.

 

[dwco5051]

Actually I know of no vehicles from "the 60's" which used PM generators, except smaller bikes that used a magneto style alternator.

Ford did not change to alternators in all vehicles until 1965, I remember changing the generator in my 1963 Econoline van with a GM alternator when the original generator went south.

 

[440roadrunner]

^^I was referring to the comment about PM generators^^ I was 18 in 1966 and was just as happy to see the DC generators "go"

 

[H20Rat]

Most folks are unaware of how much horsepower goes into the grid.-----I have often asked folks how much power it takes to turn just 1 ( there are 8 of them ) generator where I worked.-----The most common guess is 10,000 HP----When in fact it takes 1,000,000 HP.------When all the electric vehicles are plugged in , where will the power come from ?

In a perfect world, EV's charge at home in non-peak hours, and can contribute to the grid if needed during peak times.