Chris71
Member
I purchased a 39 foot outboard cruiser with a 8kw generator. I have owned the boat for 3 months and the generator has been inop for 1.5 months. I want to solo to Marsh Harbor from the US and feel the need to be able to charge my batteries while on the hook. The generator is currently down and had 107 hours in 4.5 years. When it was running, I ran it at least an hour under load every week.
Now, the generator mechanic feels that there was a voltage spike because I also had the 240 volt battery charger go down about the same time and the factory said the damage was on the input side. I then called the charger mfg and explained that the boat has one of their very heavy duty isolation transformers and then they said probably not, about the spike. I then asked if the isolation transformer could be bad and they don’t think so, but short of pulling it they can’t know. The mfg said less than 3% chance it is bad. They said short of pulling it off and sending it in, it would be very hard to test.
It could be just Murphy or the generator brand could just be problematic. It is a PF. I am thinking about just getting a Honda suitcase gen set to insure some level of power and just going on. IF I like the cruising life a KK or a N is in my future. I am hoping these boats are built to a different systems standard than my current boat and these issues will go away. There is another possibility and that is more systems, more problems. I have been told that for singlehanding, I should get no larger than 44-48 and I want stabilization for sure. I will want to go as far south as the ABC’s. I have leaned toward a N47 but the KK48 seems to have so much more room. The engine room seems to be taller in the N, but is it that much better. I looked at these boats 9 years ago And my memory is a little fuzzy.
I would appreciate your educating me about the boat comparison as well as the generator issues and the viability of carrying the Honda.
Thank you,
Now, the generator mechanic feels that there was a voltage spike because I also had the 240 volt battery charger go down about the same time and the factory said the damage was on the input side. I then called the charger mfg and explained that the boat has one of their very heavy duty isolation transformers and then they said probably not, about the spike. I then asked if the isolation transformer could be bad and they don’t think so, but short of pulling it they can’t know. The mfg said less than 3% chance it is bad. They said short of pulling it off and sending it in, it would be very hard to test.
It could be just Murphy or the generator brand could just be problematic. It is a PF. I am thinking about just getting a Honda suitcase gen set to insure some level of power and just going on. IF I like the cruising life a KK or a N is in my future. I am hoping these boats are built to a different systems standard than my current boat and these issues will go away. There is another possibility and that is more systems, more problems. I have been told that for singlehanding, I should get no larger than 44-48 and I want stabilization for sure. I will want to go as far south as the ABC’s. I have leaned toward a N47 but the KK48 seems to have so much more room. The engine room seems to be taller in the N, but is it that much better. I looked at these boats 9 years ago And my memory is a little fuzzy.
I would appreciate your educating me about the boat comparison as well as the generator issues and the viability of carrying the Honda.
Thank you,