![]() ![]() Understand that some of the generators offer a sound shield as an option only. You will also need to determine whether the unit will fit with a sound shield installed or not. The physical dimensions of the generator could end up being a game changer too, so you’ll need to measure your boat’s available space carefully and compare that to the specifications for the units you are considering. Wherever you end up installing your new generator, you need to be able to gain access to all the service points on the unit. I’ve inspected many boats where the only way to access a leaking shaft seal was to lift the generator out of the way! What might be a concern with the monohull is service access, not only for the generator itself, but for things like the propeller shaft stuffing box and shaft coupling. Simply go to to gain access via the consumer section of the site. The American Boat and Yacht Council offers a free trial membership with access to the relevant electrical power standard (E-11), including a complete load analysis worksheet for those who are so inclined and want a detailed account of their electrical needs. Larger boats that might end up having a clothes washer and dryer, larger reverse-cycle heating and cooling unit and water heater can easily end up in that 12 kW output range. The typical owner of a 40-something-foot sailboat who wants to power up a reverse-cycle air-conditioning system, small galley appliances, a refrigeration system using either AC or DC power, a water heater and a battery charger is going to want an 8 kW generator. ![]() Unlike powerboats, most cruising sailboats come equipped with liquefied petroleum gas stoves and ovens, so one of the major power consumers (an electric galley) is not a concern here.Īll said, you are probably going to be looking at generators in the 4 to 12 kW size range. If you want to luxuriate in air-conditioned comfort 24-7 while cruising, it’ll cost you. The operative phrase here is: Don’t cheat. This is typically measured in thousands of watts, or kilowatts. The first step is to do an honest load analysis to see how much electrical power you will need. The generator is easily serviced via an opening panel in the saloon. The generator installation in the engine compartment on a Maestro 40 makes good use of the boat’s design. A 10,000 Btu unit is going to draw around 8 to 10 amps, depending on your location and whether you are heating or cooling. will need about 15 amps of AC power to get the job done. As an example, a modern 18,000 Btu reverse-cycle system from Dometic Corp. But how much? The good news here is that these units have become more efficient in recent years and the power needs are not as great as they were when your boat was new. Everything you’ve read about marine electrical systems so far tells you that air conditioning and refrigeration use a lot of power. This is an area where, in my experience, a lot of boat owners go into denial as they discover that more power consumption adds considerable cost. Additionally, if the standard-equipment shore-power option for your boat at the time of purchase was a 30-amp service, as is most often the case here in the United States, you might discover that it’s inadequate to run that new reverse-cycle air-conditioning system you’re dreaming about. But now you need to think in terms of running this same gear while at anchor. ![]() Since your boat had a basic shore-power system when you bought it, you already have some idea of your small-appliance usage, things such as hair dryers, the coffee maker and maybe even a small TV. So, where do you begin? The first step is to analyze how much electrical power you are going to need. Since you’ve owned the boat, though, you’ve turned into a real believer in global warming as you try to sleep through sweaty nights on board, and finally you’re ready to pull out your wallet and do something about it. You can’t take it anymore: Your 1990s vintage cruising sailboat didn’t come equipped with a factory-installed air-conditioning system or an alternating-current generator to power it and the other AC appliances you’ve brought aboard. ![]()
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