What to do with an unloved (unused) generator

[Hydraulicjump]

I have a welcome dilemma, I guess. I have a four year-old Onan 5 kw generator that I simply do not use. A whopping 100 hours on it. This is because I have a massive battery bank, often parallel the thruster and gen start engine batteries to make it even bigger, and am stingy with my power use. I also do not do multi-day layovers very often. I have no AC on the boat (typical PNW boat) and I am planning to upgrade to lithium and add solar panels when the current battery bank fades. That and I love the peace and quiet of no generator.

So a couple of Sunday afternoon advice requests. First, am I doing harm by not using it? It gets run now and then and I service it, but I do not load it regularly. Second, I would love to have back the space that it currently takes up. Should I sell it or just haul it out and store it? It looks like a pretty easy disconnect and access is no problem. I would have to plug the exhaust and seal off the fuel lines, but that does not strike me as all that complicated. Third, should I just shut up and live with it because it adds value to the boat should I ever want to sell it, even if I don’t use it, and the hassle or removing it is just not worth it?

I realize this is an oddball post. Most people are trying to put a genset in and I am toying with taking it out. Thanks, as always, for the unvarnished advice.

Jeff

 

[SteveK]

Will it make a difference when you go to sell? If years down the road it will not matter, remove and sell it.
Install the LFP and solar before you remove it, then if still not needed go ahead and remove.
My own experience, not enough room for enough solar panels, my electrical needs require the GEN to recharge daily.

 

[Docktopus]

Following this thread. We have a 2004 generator with 50 hours, almost all my hours have been “well, we haven’t run it in a couple months, let’s run it for half an hour. Turn on the A/C so it has a load on it.” I’m very curious what this group has to say on the topic.

 

[luna]

I realize that you do not use the genset much, but out of curiosity what power source heats your domestic water, the cabin air and removes the heat from inside the freezer?

How would you keep that engine start/run battery above 10.5 volts should you loose your alternator on that long run home on a cloudy, rainy day in mid December?

You might want to consider replacing the propane stove/oven with an electric one, jettisoning anything else gas fired, along with the storage bottle/locker then spend some effort in making the genset quiet. It should not be too hard.

I think you are right in believing that you have one too many energy sources onboard, but in my mind, ac is not the one to cull.

If you are also going to add a substantial inverter system and a 2nd alternator, everything changes.

 

[Comodave]

In the OP case I think I would remove the genset now while it is still relatively new and valuable. Batteries are getting much better now so having a large battery bank the genset can be replaced by a battery bank. To me it isn’t so much the noise but rather the maintenance that won’t have to be done. As time goes by I think that gensets will not be as prevalent as in the past.

 

[tiltrider1]

Boating patterns change over time. I do a lot more winter cruising now than in the past. In the past I went 10 years and only had 4 hours on my generator. Now I often run the generator in the winter. It uses the same amount of fuel per hour as my diesel furnace so I run the generator by day and the furnace by night,

 

[twistedtree]

I think you will devalue your boat by removing the generator. Perhaps your cruising patterns do not require it very often, but the next owners may require it. If you REALLY need the space, then I'd think about whether it's worth the effort to remove, store, then reinstall when ready to sell the boat. If it's worth that effort to get teh space, then have at it.

Also keep in mind that a big battery bank isn't really a substitute for a generator. The battery bank only stores power that came from somewhere else, so where is that somewhere else? As others mentioned, you typically can't fit enough solar with enough unblocked exposure to fully power a boat. There are exceptions, but in general there just isn't space. So your power will come from dock power and from engine alternators. If batteries can carry you between those charging events, then you are good to go, but also think about what happens when something breaks, like your alternator or your shore charger...

 

[ranger58sb]

First, am I doing harm by not using it? It gets run now and then and I service it, but I do not load it regularly. Second, I would love to have back the space that it currently takes up. Should I sell it or just haul it out and store it? It looks like a pretty easy disconnect and access is no problem. I would have to plug the exhaust and seal off the fuel lines, but that does not strike me as all that complicated. Third, should I just shut up and live with it because it adds value to the boat should I ever want to sell it, even if I don’t use it, and the hassle or removing it is just not worth it?

FWIW, I've always read "use it or lose it" when it comes to generators.

But... how much work (and cost) would it be to lift it out? How much work (and cost) for the next owner to put one back in? Maybe even keep it in storage for the next owner?

Or... maybe there's a way to "pickle" the thing for long term storage? And then don't use it at all? Save, in place, for the next owner?

Or... maybe force yourself to use it once/week (or some such) to properly exercise the system... and deal with that "use it, etc.... thing?

Leaving it in place doesn't reclaim any space, though... What would you do with the space? Would that be worth the work (and cost)?

-Chris

 

[O C Diver]

Considering your boat and it's age, I would suggest removing the generator is like painting the boat pink. There will certainly be a few people that would like a pink boat, but the vast majority are going to require a compensation in the sales price to rectify the problem.

If it were me, I would probably run the generator one hour per month on a 75% load, do the book maintenance, and change the oil annually. If you document the service and monthly run time, the next owner should be very happy (and pay you more for the boat).

My guess would be the above will cost you around $200 per year. I always viewed my boat as the second home with heat and air conditioning, if the power failed.

Ted

 

[mvweebles]

Comodave (post #5) and TT (#7) both make good arguments for opposite suggestions. My initial reaction was that of TTs - resale. But Comodaves post was compelling.

I don't know the age or type of the OPs boat so maybe my thinking would change, but one way to "split the baby" night be to decommission the generator in place. Have the cylinders fogged and the raw water system flushed with an antifreeze solution that also acts as a lubricant. Use silicon gel on the impeller etc.

Peter

 

[Marco Flamingo]

I jettisoned my generator 2 years ago and have never missed it. I didn't  actually jettison it. The attendant at our fuel dock was gracious enough to help me lug it up the gangway (engine, generator, and frame separately). I took it to a junk/recycling place that also sells stuff. I probably should have donated it to a diesel mechanic student program. Too much hassle to sell through craigslist, etc. Mine was 40 yo and 600 hours.

A generator isn't that difficult to live without  despite the claims that it can't be done. I have solar and an induction stove. What?? An electric stove without a generator? Yes, for months at anchor and I don't miss the lawnmower sound that some boaters think they need (and can't hear). When I shut down the main at the end of the day, that's it for noise.

Will my boat be worth $$ less when sold? Maybe. Turns out that peace, quiet, and simplicity has a cost I'll gladly pay.

 

[Cargile]

1st you purchased the boat for your enjoyment. I assume. If you purchased it for resale value you made a poor investment. Do what maximizes your enjoyment. How about removing it and storing it for re-installation when selling? Best of both worlds.

 

[Hydraulicjump]

Thanks for the input everyone! TF folks are all over the map on this one, which precisely captures my own dilemma. I am not painting my boat pink, that is for certain (post #9). When vacillating between options, I am reminded that inertia is a powerful force. Until sufficiently motivated, the noisemaker will probably stay—and remain a service burden—although I will always be looking for an excuse to jettison it.

 

[danboy]

If you decide to get rid of it, and on the westcoast let me know! For many 5 kw is minimum without solar. Many boat buyers don't even know why they might want one as well. Many use theirs as ballast. So i'm in the camp that doesn't think it will lower boat value by much-especially if the boat is bristol as all boats are compromises when buying.

 

[slowgoesit]

Another thing to think about. I don't know how long you have owned you Helmsman, but if only a short time, I wouldn't go making extreme changes for at LEAST a year. You may find that your usage habits change. Best of luck in whatever you decide!