Boat trip

[Ripsnort]

Livng the Dream!
If you portage near Seattle, look us up! Dinner is on me

sportsdad60@gmail.com

[Curval]

ghi, the Phantom is alive and well….just haven't edited any video yet from the trip.

Curval, No generator (other than the 150amp alternator on the inboard diesel).  I have 6 Group 31 AGM batteries as my house bank and a wind generator to help with the charging.

Here's the boat:

(Image removed from quote.)

Really cool.

I took our new boat out last Thursday and the generator farted on us while charging the batteries which were low because I had stupidly left my displays on and someone didn't ensure the vaccu-flush was shut off after using the toilet (the water pump sucked the batteries almost dry).  All I had was engine batteries, so I ended up having to get home in the dark.  The reefs around here are treacherous but there are deep channels which are marked with red and green lights....we also had GPS.  Still, not fun doing it at night.

[Zoney]

I would heartily recommend a Honda EU2000i Generator as a back up.  One potential problem is if you have diesel everywhere else you will also have to carry some fuel for it.  It is very very quiet, has an "eco throttle" switch that allows it to only run as fast as it needs to, to meet your demands.  Will run about 6 hours at full throttle and will virtually last forever.  It also only has a pull start so there is no battery in it to fail you.  It is a smaller than a carry on suitcase and quite light.

http://powerequipment.honda.com/generators/models/eu2000i

When my dad was still with us we used one for the San Diego "Parade of Lights' an event where everyone put up Christmas lights on their sailboats that was very pretty.  Strap it down on the deck so the exhaust does not kill you when you are using it.  Stow it below when you don't need it.

[Curval]

I would heartily recommend a Honda EU2000i Generator as a back up.  One potential problem is if you have diesel everywhere else you will also have to carry some fuel for it.  It is very very quiet, has an "eco throttle" switch that allows it to only run as fast as it needs to, to meet your demands.  Will run about 6 hours at full throttle and will virtually last forever.  It also only has a pull start so there is no battery in it to fail you.  It is a smaller than a carry on suitcase and quite light.

http://powerequipment.honda.com/generators/models/eu2000i

When my dad was still with us we used one for the San Diego "Parade of Lights' an event where everyone put up Christmas lights on their sailboats that was very pretty.  Strap it down on the deck so the exhaust does not kill you when you are using it.  Stow it below when you don't need it.

That is pretty cool.  One thing I do notice is that none of the pictures have the generator being used on a boat.  Will it last in the salt air?

Not sure where I'd stow something like that, but it would certainly be an excellent backup. 

[Zoney]

An excellent question sir.  I would not want the salt water spray hitting it but we had no problem running it for many years in the salt air off California.  When it is stowed you can completely turn off the fuel vent which is on the filler cap so even when heeled over it would not leak.

[Zoney]

Curval, I work at a Honda dealer if you did not know.  As soon as I get in to work today I will call the Honda Factory Rep. who always gives me honest answers and post his answer here sir.  I have worked here for 17 years now and have probably sold a thousand of these.  It has a 3 year warranty on the gasoline motor and a 2 year warranty on the electrical generator.  I have never, ever had one fail during the warranty period and I am positive of that.  I cannot ever remember having one fail out of the warranty period either.  I only see two problems with them.  If you let them sit too long without running the fuel will separate and clog up the carburetor, and the other thing, people steal them.

[Curval]

Curval, I work at a Honda dealer if you did not know.  As soon as I get in to work today I will call the Honda Factory Rep. who always gives me honest answers and post his answer here sir.  I have worked here for 17 years now and have probably sold a thousand of these.  It has a 3 year warranty on the gasoline motor and a 2 year warranty on the electrical generator.  I have never, ever had one fail during the warranty period and I am positive of that.  I cannot ever remember having one fail out of the warranty period either.  I only see two problems with them.  If you let them sit too long without running the fuel will separate and clog up the carburetor, and the other thing, people steal them.

Sweet.  Let me know.  I would have given my left nut for one of these last Thursday. 

[colmbo]

Zoney, how quiet is the Honda compared to the Yamaha genset?  Looking forward to further info.  Thanks

I have friends out in the Pacific who use either the Honda or Yamaha to charge batteries and run their 110v water maker.  I have been considering getting one myself. With the current set up I can last about 3 days on batteries then need to charge (refer eats the amps)  Some issues to consider are where to store it.  Even with a leak proof cap storing below is risky since a leak of gasoline in the interior is very hazardous.  For storage on deck it will need some kind of protection from the elements.

Curval, be very, very careful relying on GPS for navigation through hazardous water.  There is no doubt that the GPS knows exactly where it is within a few feet, the problem is the charts are not accurate.  On this last trip we found a charted rock in Tonsina Bay that is mis-charted by about 300'!!  On the chart it shows as a tiny island, in reality it is several large rocks that are covered/awash at high tide.

Curval, doesn't your engine alternator charge your batteries?  I'm confused why you didn't have lights if the engine was running.

[colmbo]

Zoney,  Is it possible to easily drain the fuel from the tank and carb?  That would be an option as well, drain the fuel then stow the generator below.  Can it be done without being a Honda Tech and dismantling the whole thing?

[Curval]

Curval, be very, very careful relying on GPS for navigation through hazardous water.  There is no doubt that the GPS knows exactly where it is within a few feet, the problem is the charts are not accurate.  On this last trip we found a charted rock in Tonsina Bay that is mis-charted by about 300'!!  On the chart it shows as a tiny island, in reality it is several large rocks that are covered/awash at high tide.

Curval, doesn't your engine alternator charge your batteries?  I'm confused why you didn't have lights if the engine was running.

Oh I agree with you, but as I said the channels are marked with lights as well....as long as you are in the channel you are fine.  The problem arises when a jetski that has slipped its mooring, branch, log, or surf board etc is sitting in the channel at night.  Or even a boat with no running lights.  No chart can show that stuff.

Sure, the engine charges the battery, but I was anchored.  I wanted to use the generator to charge them....as well as use the generator to cook dinner and cool down the cabin. 

[Zoney]

Zoney,  Is it possible to easily drain the fuel from the tank and carb?  That would be an option as well, drain the fuel then stow the generator below.  Can it be done without being a Honda Tech and dismantling the whole thing?

Very easy to do.  You simply pick the unit up and pour the fuel out of the tank back into the fuel can you will use to store it.  There is a quick panel to access the carb float bowl and it is off in 2 minutes.  I tell our customers to first pour out the fuel from the tank, (just like you poured it in), start the generator until it runs out of gas, then remove the float bowl to take out the last bit of fuel remaining.

[colmbo]

The problem arises when a jetski that has slipped its mooring, branch, log, or surf board etc is sitting in the channel at night.

LOL.  Yeah things that go bump in the night scare the crap out of me!  We were in a very secluded, quiet cove one night when around 2AM we hear "bump, bump" against the hull.  WTH?  I take a peek outside to see a giant squid trying to climb onto the deck!!  Or at least that was my first impression.  An entire tree about 40-50' long had floated into the cove and was lying alongside with branches overhanging the side deck!!

[colmbo]

Very easy to do. 

Great!  Thank you sir!

[Zoney]

Zoney, how quiet is the Honda compared to the Yamaha genset?  Looking forward to further info.  Thanks

To the best of my knowledge it is two db quieter.  The Yamaha generator is a very good product but I truly believe it is second best.  I don't personally accept second best.  Gentlemen, you are too far away to buy these from me so I ask that you trust me for my opinion because I will not be making any money off this sale.  Also, you want to get a fair deal on this unit.  You should pay $1000.00 for this unit plus sales tax.  You should buy it from a Honda dealer, not online even if it is from a Honda Dealer.  you should walk in to the dealer and make your purchase.  That dealer should not charge you any other fees of any type.  The dealer should take it out of the box and prep it for free.  He should put the oil in it, fill it with fuel, start it and then put a load on it to insure everything is up to snuff.  Then he should warranty register it for you, also for free.  Don't get sucked into any type of shipping charge if you walk into the dealer to buy it.  That's BS.  As long as I order a minimum of 12 at a time our dealership does not pay shipping.

Here in Phoenix, we have 8.3% sales tax so I sell them for $1083.00 Total.  I work for a single store family owned dealership that has been here for 32 years.  I choose where I work.  I am 59 years old and had my first job at a Yamaha dealership when I was 15 years old.  Except for a stint in the Airforce I have been in this business my entire life and I love it.  I work here, (North Valley Honda), because I am allowed to do exactly what I want.  I choose not to lie cheat or steal period.  There is no gray area.

I am waiting for a return call from my rep concerning the salt air question...................

[Curval]

LOL.  Yeah things that go bump in the night scare the crap out of me!  We were in a very secluded, quiet cove one night when around 2AM we hear "bump, bump" against the hull.  WTH?  I take a peek outside to see a giant squid trying to climb onto the deck!!  Or at least that was my first impression.  An entire tree about 40-50' long had floated into the cove and was lying alongside with branches overhanging the side deck!!

LOL

Did it scratch the boat?

Last summer we were whizzing down the North Shore is some pretty heavy seas when we spotted what looked like a large dog being tossed around in the waves.  We immediately turned and slowed to go check it out.....as we approached I told my kids to look the other way because I assumed it was dead.  Turned out to be the bottom of a large palm branch that had blown off a tree.  I could have sworn it was a dog.