Installing a Generator/268

Dude53 · **Joined:** Fri Jun 20, 2014 12:09 pm **Posts:** 27

Anyone have any experience, or knowledge, on installing a Generator on a 268? Can it be done?

ric · **Posted:** Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:20 pm

Costs way too much (around 10k). Just get a Honda EU2000i for $900 and strap it to the swim platform when you want A/C and lights. Quieter and uses less gas.

jsimon · **Posted:** Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:43 pm

The short answer, yes.

I installed a 5k Westerbeke generator on our '03 268. This was 5 or 6 years ago now.

The genny was purchased used for 3500.00 and I had about $500 of misc items to complete the install. I did all the work myself.

I did not do my homework well enough prior to see that FW factory install would be on the starboard side. I mounted this one on the port side because there was a lot of unused space. If you have factory air conditioning that won't be the case for you anyway, due to the A/C unit being right there on the port side. However, if you don't have ac, I would still suggest you located in the factory location, due to listing to port that has been well documented here. I had to move both batteries to starboard and keep the fresh water tank completely full to have any chance of having it not list to port.

Also, considering the generator and associated components will weigh in at around 300#, it will be like you have 2 people aboard, before any one sets foot on the vessel. Your time to plane will be hit by the install. I had the volvo 350 280hp, which I think is marginal at best, the install made me need full trim tabs to get on plane in a reasonable time. I believe if the boat had the big block motor in it, you may not even notice its in there.

So thats the cons, but I can say I did enjoy the conveniences of having it, and I was able to work around the negatives.

As for the install itself, I was able to mount the generator without pulling the engine, I have to remove the alternator, bracket and exhuast on the port side. With that I was able to thread the genny in the space and hook it up.

Hope that helps, good luck in whatever you choose.

Bliss36 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:51 pm

ric wrote:

Costs way too much (around 10k). Just get a Honda EU2000i for $900 and strap it to the swim platform when you want A/C and lights. Quieter and uses less gas.

+1.Make sure you are mindful of carbon monoxide and add extra detectors which really needs to be done for any generator. I have a Honda we are going to run next year when cove camping for extended periods of time(2 weeks), but have also had great success running an inverter with a large battery bank for shorter times like 2-3 consecutive nights.

What would you like to run on this generator and for how long? Do you anchor out overnight a lot or return to the marina and plug in?

ric · **Posted:** Mon Sep 29, 2014 2:12 pm

I have a 240aH battery bank and inverter to run my A/C overnight. Comes in handy.

Dude53 · **Joined:** Fri Jun 20, 2014 12:09 pm **Posts:** 27

I researched the Honda Generator and that sounds like a good option. How long does it run (A/C is biggest concern) on a tank of gas? Would it fit where the cooler sits on the port side?

ric- the battery bank sounds intriguing. Can you give me some specifics (number of batteries, type of inverter, etc.)?

firecadet613 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 29, 2014 3:55 pm

I'd go with the Honda or upgrade boats. Good excuse to move up now!

Bliss36 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 29, 2014 4:35 pm

Check out this thread: http://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=10460&p=102366&hilit=268+inverter#p102366
It's 268 specific

Quote:

I'd go with the Honda or upgrade boats. Good excuse to move up now!

Dude c'mon he just bought that boat in June. Sometimes "upgrading" is downgrading and bigger isn't always better. If we had had a bigger boat instead of boating in 4 states and 2 countries this summer maybe we would have only made 2 stops to the right :wink:

More adventure for less $$ now that sounds like an upgrade to me

ric · **Posted:** Mon Sep 29, 2014 5:49 pm

Depends on model of AC unit. I installed a MarinAire Micra on my boat, very efficient. Runs 6+ hours on a fully charged bank of two 240aH 6v golf cart batteries wired in series. Pure sine 1000w inverter with a 2000w peak. My boat is small, on a 268 I would run four 6v in a series/parallel combo for a total of 480aH. That's enough juice to last a weekend if you're conservative. You can also install an isolator and charge the batteries via the engine's alternator while under power, but ultimately you'll eventually need to connect to a power source to top them off with a dedicated high amp smart charger of at least 50aH, and if you're 480aH, at least 75aH charging rate.

My Honda EU2000 will run all of around 8 hours running my A/C since it only draws around 500w it idles and doesn't ramp up. It will also run up to a 75aH charger (read specs of charger first to make sure) so on something like my boat I can use the generator to charge the batteries in about 2.5 hours during the day (If I had a large onboard charger).

6v 240ah batteries are dirt cheap. We're talking around $60 each from Deka if you live near one of their warehouses. Inverter HAS to be a pure sine, not a modified sine. They range in prices. I think mine was around $200. I never stay out more than one night so I just charge during the week.

I got the generator because I paid $200 for it used, but comes in handy to run the A/C all day so you have somewhere cool to step into.

firecadet613 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 29, 2014 5:58 pm

Bliss36 wrote:

Check out this thread: http://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=10460&p=102366&hilit=268+inverter#p102366
It's 268 specific

Quote:

I'd go with the Honda or upgrade boats. Good excuse to move up now!

Dude c'mon he just bought that boat in June. Sometimes "upgrading" is downgrading and bigger isn't always better. If we had had a bigger boat instead of boating in 4 states and 2 countries this summer maybe we would have only made 2 stops to the right :wink:

More adventure for less $$ now that sounds like an upgrade to me

I agree. With ric even! Get the Honda

.

ric · **Posted:** Mon Sep 29, 2014 6:42 pm

Well, if you want to get really specific... get the Yamaha ef2000is.

efollis · **Posted:** Mon Sep 29, 2014 9:04 pm

If you can store the Honda comfortably / safely and assure yourself that it has the start-up power for your air-conditioner, then I suggest you disregard the onboard generator. It is more expensive to begin with, repairs are always expensive, maintenance has to be done as well... all this assuming you can install it without creating list. Your Honda (or Yamaha) will get plenty of use all year long in all sorts of applications, you'll be a hero to your boating friends who you will no doubt rescue a few times and the upkeep on these little generators is minimal and they are super quiet. I used mine a lot with my 28 Regal and still take it with me now with my 348, despite having onboard 5KW and separate inverter-battery combo installed as a separate power source for short term needs like blender / coffee.

Surface Interval · **Posted:** Mon Sep 29, 2014 9:11 pm

I'm not sure whether the Honda will fit in the 268 cooler's location height-wise, but the Honda is not as big as the boat's cooler. I store my Honda in the rear storage compartment of my 268 behind the back seat and put a towel over it so it does not get scratched up. I use a cable lock from the Honda's handle to the rail above the rear storage compartment so it does not fall off and/or "disappear." It will run for more than 8 hours with a light load, or about 4 hours if it is working hard. It takes a power cord about 15 feet long from the rear deck to the shore power connection, which I made with 30 amp connectors and appropriately sized wire. One issue you may notice is that the Reverse Polarity light on the boat's 110 volt panel may come on. This is because the Honda and most other portable generators are wired with a "floating neutral" instead of a "grounded neutral." This floating neutral means that the white neutral wire circuit is not connected to the green ground circuit. At your home, or at the marina, the white wires are all connected to the ground circuit bus bar inside the circuit breaker panel. You don't want more than one neutral-to-ground connection for safety reasons, but making one connection neutral-to-ground connection when using the Honda replicates what you would have on shore power.

We have an inverter and a pair of group 31 batteries, but we use the generator frequently for the cooktop, water heater, to charge batteries for overnight, or any time we don't want to drain the battery bank. The Honda delivers a pure sine wave source of power where some inverters are the less-desirable modified sine wave. When the weather is warm but not too hot we have used a squirrel cage fan blowing in through the aft cabin window instead of air conditioning. Our boat doesn't have installed a/c.........yet.

Haddock_ · **Posted:** Tue Sep 30, 2014 10:24 am

I find other boaters get seriously ticked off if I drag my genny out and fire it up...an onboard genny will make a lot less noise. Just my experience and YMMV etc.

ric · **Posted:** Tue Sep 30, 2014 3:41 pm

You can't even hear my eu2000i over people talking. I tie it off to the bow of the boat with the exhaust facing away from everyone.

www.iFourWinns.com

Installing a Generator/268

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