Generator advice for Newbie?

[csmurray1]

Greetings, I have been browsing this site for about 3 months but finally two weeks ago I finally bought my 1997 Max 26x. I have only taken it out once yet with the family and stayed over night. Anyway, I have a few questions as to how I want to set it up. We will only camp over night one night possible two and I currious how people set up their boats.

How are most refridgerators run? Do you use battery power, solar, or propane like RV's? How about power at night (TV/DVD, lights, AC)? The electronics we will use are lights, watch a movie and probably the AC since the summer here in San Antonio gets hot!

My first thought was to buy quiet generator and put up on top of boat to run at night for AC and electronics, maybe a small fridge. What kind of generator would I need for this? what would be a good setup for the weekend sailer? Thanks for the input.

[Catigale]

Greetings and welcome!!

I dont own a generator, but for AC and fridge you will certainly need one. Before you go for it, though, for a couple of nights you can certainly serve cold food/drinks from just a cooler with ice with a lot less complexity.

You will need a generator to run an AC, no workaround there. You usually put them on the transom, with a CO detector downstairs so you dont get snuffed out.

[csmurray1]

that is what I figured, how big of a generator? Any sugestions on a good model?

[Divecoz]

that is what I figured, how big of a generator? Any suggestions on a good model?

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH our new friend to the board Welcome and If you like to read you have found the proverbial Gold Mine of Information.
Start with Perusing and visually cruising the Mods sections there are two btw the thread area found after clicking discussion board or click
Mac Mods Page 3rd from the top on the left as well.
Everything you can dream of doing has been done or someone is doing it or others are talking about the best way to do it .
Good Luck Good Sailing and again welcome!

[bastonjock]

welcoinfo and me to the forum,its full of great info and people.I have a friend in San Antonio and he has described your summers,best advice wil come from people with experience of that heat,over here an AC unit is called an open hatch

[jaguar496]

YEEEEHAW HOWDY CSMURRAY1 from eastern NC. one thing that DIVECOZ forgot to tell you when perusing the "mods" pages is..............you need a week-end or 2 to digest ALL the info you are looking for Great to have you with us, keep us involved. the RIVER WALK is nice, but the "RATTLER" at Fiesta Texas is a RIDE of a lifetime Alice and Stew, " THE RESTLESS TWO"

[vmax1]

On my motorhome I have an Onan micro quiet generator, thats what you need, rated 4000 watts, they make a portible one now too. Wieght is around 160 Ibs. for this size it is the most quiet generator out there.

[Russ]

I'm thinking a Honda EU2000i or similar generator would do the trick. Only 46 Lbs. That's 20 amps of power and most AC units run on a standard 15 amp outlet.

Rather than listen to a genset run all the time, I'd opt for a cooler with ice. My first though was some sort of fridge, but simple often makes more sense and is less costly.

There is a fridge/cooler I've seen posted here that is VERY efficient and would work well. I might consider such a thing, but right now there are other priorities. I think they are in the $600 range. Those cheap thermo-electric ones you can buy at Wal-Mart for $100 bucks are noisy, inefficient and don't get that cold in my opinion.

If you don't have one, a second battery is a must. You will want to keep your starting battery separate from the house battery. When charging a battery combiner is good.
I also am a believer in a jumper pack. They are small and will get you out of a jam in the event you run all your batteries down.

[Erik Hardtle]

I have the DC / AC Fridge, it is made by Engle.

Click on the WWW button below and see the whole thing and where to get one at my boats website.

Erik

[csmurray1]

my plan was to go with what is stock and use it this summer and see what I really need. I think the ice cehst will sufice. I think with three kids and wife the need for AC and some electricity at night is a must. I will fisrt purchase a generator and go from there. It already had two batteries installed. My dad has two solar pannels he is going to give that he pulled from his RV to keep the batteries full. I have combed through the mods section and like the idea of propane for stove and heater in winter. problematic for where to keep the bottles but I did see the skinny bottles installed next to rudders, like that idea. thanks for the advice.

[Bawgy]

I have the Honda 2000i . It does the trick for my air conditioning with no problem

[bastonjock]

Cs have you read up on using propane inside a boat?its not a great idea,the mac bilges tend to catch the propane and its difficult to get rid of,most of the guys who use propane tend to use in in the cockpit and not in the galley,why??????????? BANG!!