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02-25-2016, 10:40 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
City: La Paz, BCS
Vessel Name: Ansedonia
Vessel Model: Californian/Carver 52CPMY
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 379
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Running Generator While Under Way
Hi folks,
I have a pretty dumb question, but I could not find it in any of the searches. Is it acceptable to run your genny while under way? I have twin Cat 3208s with small alternators, so the alternators will top off the start batteries, but probably not the house bank for shorter trips.
If I run the genny while moving from one spot to another I will arrive with everything topped up I would expect. I'm just wondering if there are any downsides to running while under way.
I'm still working on a solar set up, but have yet to pull the trigger.
Thanks in advance, and please be kind .
Cheers, Bill
__________________
"There is simply nothing more worth while than messing around in boats."
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02-25-2016, 10:51 AM
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#2
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Guru
City: Port Ludlow
Vessel Name: Fiddler
Vessel Model: DeFever 46
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 703
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Yes, if you want to run AC/heat, top off batteries, heat the water, cook on your electric stove, etc. I run mine while underway usually when I need heat from the reverse cycle units.
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02-25-2016, 11:46 AM
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#3
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Guru
City: Vallejo, California
Vessel Name: Mahalo Moi
Vessel Model: 1986 Grand Banks 42 Classic
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,093
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Yes. There are times when I run the genset to top everything off (refrigeration, house batteries, etc.) before entering an otherwise quiet anchorage.
__________________
Ray
"Mahalo Moi"
1986 GB-42 Classic
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑβΕ
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02-25-2016, 11:49 AM
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#4
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,149
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Many vessels start it before their main and leave it running till plugged in....or longer if having to anchor/moor away from power.
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02-25-2016, 11:54 AM
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#5
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Guru
City: Inside Passage Summer/Columbia River Winter
Vessel Name: Alaskan Sea-Duction
Vessel Model: 1988 M/Y Camargue YachtFisher
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 8,050
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I believe they are designed to run while underway....Good luck on your solar....
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02-25-2016, 12:06 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: Gulf Shores, Ala.
Vessel Name: Ulysses
Vessel Model: Romsdal 1963
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 878
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On single handed prolonged journeys I will run a gen usually twice in a 24 Hr. period (alternating gen sets) for about 45 minutes each run. This usually tops off all battery banks, maintains refrigerator, heats water and such.
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02-25-2016, 12:09 PM
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#7
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Technical Guru
City: Wilmington, NC
Vessel Name: Louisa
Vessel Model: Custom Built 38
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 6,194
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No harm in running it underway, that is completely normal use. It is better for it to at least occasionally run at 50-80% load, not good for it to run light load like batt charging all the time.
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02-25-2016, 12:58 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
City: Clear Lake Shores,Tx
Vessel Name: In Disguise
Vessel Model: 1985 Mainship 40 DC
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 483
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I like to allow my batts to run things for awhile.........constantly topping them off isn't good for them, but, when they get below 50% or so (or if I want a/c) I'll fire up the genny whether underway or not. That's what they're designed to do..........And, as previously posted, running the genny under load is good for it. Genny's with very low hours compared to the engines be a scarey thing.
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02-25-2016, 02:06 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 16
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Caution
One note of caution:
You should first check what style of strainer is installed on the genset raw water intake.
Most should be a flat plate style strainer, but I have heard of a scoop type also being installed.
If you have a scoop type strainer which faces forward, the forward velocity of the vessel will cause the raw water to enter the system under pressure which can force water into places it shouldn't be..
I'm not sure how common this is, but it's worth checking before starting up the genset at 7 knots.
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02-25-2016, 02:15 PM
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#10
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Guru
City: North Charleston, SC
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,870
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gull
One note of caution:
You should first check what style of strainer is installed on the genset raw water intake.
Most should be a flat plate style strainer, but I have heard of a scoop type also being installed.
If you have a scoop type strainer which faces forward, the forward velocity of the vessel will cause the raw water to enter the system under pressure which can force water into places it shouldn't be..
I'm not sure how common this is, but it's worth checking before starting up the genset at 7 knots.
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I had that discussion with the marina manager just recently. Not about my boat, but about a friend's boat. He maintained that the scoop should face forward, my argument was that it shouldn't for the reason you mention.
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02-25-2016, 02:17 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: Cape May, NJ
Vessel Name: Irish Lady
Vessel Model: Monk 36
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,964
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If there is a problem, you'll never hear it until you stop the mains.
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02-25-2016, 02:27 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 16
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Fortunately I have a flat plate strainer - I would probably replace a scoop with a flat plate irrespective of the direction the scoop was facing. I wonder about the efficiency of the water pump pulling in raw water with a rear facing scoop.
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02-25-2016, 02:38 PM
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#13
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Guru
City: Fort Lauderdale. Florida, USA
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 21,449
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We run our generators nearly all the time we're underway. HVAC, Freezers and Refrigerator, Washer and Dryer, Watermaker, Thrusters.
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02-25-2016, 03:07 PM
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#14
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,149
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actually if you did have a forward facing scoop strainer...running the genset would be better than not...the forced water (if greater flow than the pump was pushing) would be blown out with the exhaust rather than back filling the cylinders.
But correct...gensets generally don't have scoop strainers...mine is just an open thruhull to seacock...not external strainer at all.
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02-25-2016, 03:15 PM
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#15
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Guru
City: Carefree, Arizona
Vessel Name: sunchaser V
Vessel Model: DeFever 48 (sold)
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,186
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wyoboater
Gennys with very low hours compared to the engines be a scarey thing.
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Why?
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02-25-2016, 03:33 PM
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#16
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,149
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gross generalization but I can relate.....
many friends take pride in how few hours they have on their gensets but assure me they will start and run fine because they start them up every month to circulate the oil.
Like so many things in boating...there are just so many that really don't get it.
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02-25-2016, 03:55 PM
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#17
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Guru
City: Carefree, Arizona
Vessel Name: sunchaser V
Vessel Model: DeFever 48 (sold)
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,186
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Quote:
Originally Posted by psneeld
gross generalization but I can relate....
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Our genset has about 1/4 the hours of the mains. We don't sit at anchor running the thing 24/7. Normally we are cruising 6 to 12 hours per day with on engine alternators more than able to keep the batteries charged while we are motoring along.
When anchoring for the night, we run a bit less than an hour for downtime activities and same in morning to top off batteries and hoist anchor. Our deficit is about 250 daily amp hours at 12V. With about 160 amps of max charging capacity 1.5 to 2 hours of genset run time is normally all we need.
For serious cruisers with a well set up inverter, battery bank and charging system 1/4 ratio is not uncommon. For sit at anchor and watch TV 1: 1 is quite common. So much of this though relates to boat, style and equipment.
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02-25-2016, 04:17 PM
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#18
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Chicago, IL
Vessel Name: Bay Pelican
Vessel Model: Krogen 42
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,993
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There are times on night crossings/ and or heavy fog when I have both radars, autopilot, navigation computer/monitor, and all the lights I have turned on that my batteries are not being topped up. Run the generator and charge the batteries. May be less of a requirement now that I have LEDs but haven't thought about it since the changeover.
__________________
Marty
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02-25-2016, 04:52 PM
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#19
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Guru
City: gulf coast
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,440
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Common to run genny while underway here especially in summer to keep the boat cool.
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02-25-2016, 05:10 PM
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#20
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Guru
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,834
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gull
One note of caution:
You should first check what style of strainer is installed on the genset raw water intake.
Most should be a flat plate style strainer, but I have heard of a scoop type also being installed.
If you have a scoop type strainer which faces forward, the forward velocity of the vessel will cause the raw water to enter the system under pressure which can force water into places it shouldn't be..
I'm not sure how common this is, but it's worth checking before starting up the genset at 7 knots.
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This is wrong. Water is incredible heavy. You would have to be going very fast to generate enough velocity pressure to lift the water up and over the anti-siphon break. Usually this break is 18"+ above sea level.
If there was any risk of this happening the tow boat captain would require you to close your engine seacock before he started towing you.
Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
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