Honda Generator

I believe that putting a gas generator in the compartment built for the optional diesel generator and operating the gas generator from that compartment without meeting the US Coast Guard Standard for ventilation is a violation of Federal Law. That law applies to all boats built after August 1, 1980. I also believe that if one violates that law and has a fire or explosion because of the lack of meeting the ventilation standard, ones insurance would be nullified.

Also an installed Honda generator may not comply with a US Coast Guard approved backfire flame arrestor (SAE J-1928 or UL 1111 standards).

Operating the Honda generator on the swim platform should not be a problem.

In addition, I would not store any gasoline in any of the cockpit compartments. They are not sealed and if any fumes leak out of the generator or gas storage can the fumes may make their way into the bilge. Without having proper ventilation this has the potential to cause a fire or explosion.
 
dclagett - Try TruFuel. Not cheap, but it is convenient and is ethanol free. Home Depot, etc., sell the premix versions and some will have the 4 cycle cans available. Has worked great for us, and the little cans eliminate hauling a gas can around.
 
I've used the Honda 2000 on our C24 to run AC, or stove, but not both. It is stored in the aft center hatch. I modified the platform on the bottom of the hatch to strengthen it and to get an extra 3/4 inch of depth, by cutting four holes through the original platform to fit the four rubber feet on the Honda gen. There is then just enough vertical clearance to be able to close the hatch without its hitting the top of the generator. I also strap the gen to the platform. The platform is fixed to the hull with either wood screws, about eight I think, and there are 2x4's attached to the bottom of the platform so it fits snugly into the bottom of the hatch and cannot slide about. There is also room on the platform in the hatch for a 6-gal gasoline tank, also strapped down. I made a 4 inch tall platform to elevate the gen when its running, sitting on the aft deck in front of the opened gate to the swim platform, with the exhaust side of the gen directed aft and with four holes cut into the elevating platform to fit the rubber feet of the gen. I have run the gen only when at anchor or at the dock, but not when underway, since I am worried about not having the gen strapped down on the aft deck. I considered the cheaper Harbor Freight gen, but from the quoted dimensions, it seemed to be about an inch or so taller than the Honda unit, which would make it more difficult to fit into the aft center hatch.

Slade Cargill
Longboat Key, FL
Cutwater-24 "Sojourner"
 
Our Mase generator is out for repair. In South Florida lacking a generator means lacking Air Conditioning means lacking ability go anywhere. I put our Honda 2000 on board plugged it in and it worked fine keeping the boat cool. I was off running around leaving the admiral on board with the generator running in the boat tied securely in the dock. The wind, unfortunately, was blowing lightly from the back of the boat. Sufficient carbon monoxide entered the boat trigger all three carbon monoxide alarms.

Fortunately the alarm saved us. If you run a Honda 2000 on your ranger I urge you to buy a couple of extra carbon monoxide alarms. They’re not very reliable and they typically are only triggered once in your lifetime. Three alarms guarantee that all three go off and might help save your life as it did ours.


Stuart Bell
Ranger 25: Shearwater
(561) 352-1796
 
A caution about Honda gasoline generators stored on a boat.

The fuel system in a Honda or other 'built for land outdoor use' generator is not marine rated. A failure of any of the plastic tubes or spring wire clamps on the fuel hoses can result in a leak into the boat. The carburator is not marine rated and the bowl vent is open to the air.

In my opinion, the only way to safely store a Honda generator below decks is if it has been 'run dry' of gasoline. Even running dry of gas could leave gas in the carb bowl, which will evaporate.

I know that a lot of people use Honda's on boats, myself included. Just be aware of the risks of fuel leakage into the boat as well as the CO problem.
 
For many of the reasons mentioned I am considering converting my Honda 2000 to Propane. Anyone done that and how would your views change with respect to these risks?
 
Although I have a built in Generator I still sometimes use my Honda if at anchor for extended periods, just letting it idle to keep the batteries topped during the day. Less hours on the boat generator. I keep it and also run it in the front deck, I keep it locked to the railing. I make sure to keep the hatches closed to keep the fumes out. I do not have a cover for the generator, but it seems to handle the rain fine. This is when I am in fresh water as well.
 
S@LTD,

I think that propane is safer and better in many ways. If the cylinder is kept on the swim step and shut off when not in use the fuel is safer. Propane can still blowup the boat, but we have propane stoves (with propane detectors). The exhaust is cleaner.
 
Propane may be safer and locking to the rail may be better - but any generator that burns fuel produces carbon monoxide that can kill you if the wind is blowing the wrong way and the CO drifts into the boat. Buy at least two Carbon Monoxide detectors and buy one new one every other year.

Live to generate another day.
 
I used a Honda 2000 o our R-25 for about 2 months while the Mace 2.5 kW was out for repairs.

On two separate occasions it tripped out Carbon Monoxide detectors while tied up at a dock we were unable to swing freely to let the generator discharge downwind.

Be careful. If you use a Honda, buy lots of Carbo Monoxide detectors - they are not 100% reliable and you will die if there is CO present and undetected.
 
In reviewing some past post I came across one from Oct.15,2017. It was at response to my post about 2 of my carbon monoxide detectors sounding off at the same time when we had the boat closed up while sleeping aboard. Caspercrusing responded by pointing out that the detectors would not detect the absence of oxygen only carbon monoxide ,but if the detector reacts to the lack of oxygen as it is replaced by carbon monoxide ? Any chemist out there wish to comment.
Pura Vida Larry on Synergy
 
100 parts per million (well under .001%) carbon monoxide is fatal over an 8 hour period. That difference on oxygen content in the air will not be noticed.


Stuart Bell
Ranger 25: Shearwater
(561) 352-1796
 
Lummisailor":3tuf6sfu said:
In reviewing some past post I came across one from Oct.15,2017. It was at response to my post about 2 of my carbon monoxide detectors sounding off at the same time when we had the boat closed up while sleeping aboard. Caspercrusing responded by pointing out that the detectors would not detect the absence of oxygen only carbon monoxide ,but if the detector reacts to the lack of oxygen as it is replaced by carbon monoxide ? Any chemist out there wish to comment
Click to expand...
I’m not a chemist. My high school chemistry teacher, Mr. Sensing, will certainly attest to that!

I do, however, have an understanding of how carbon monoxide (CO) detectors work. CO detectors sense the presence of CO and will sound an alarm if a concentration of CO exceeds a set value. That’s all it does. Period. That both your detectors sounded an alarm may be a function of how they’re wired. Your detector installation may be set up so that if one detector senses CO, then both sound an alarm. To prompt you to take action to change them, some CO detectors will sound an alarm when they have reached the end of their useful life or need maintenance.

If your CO detectors are up-to-date and functioning normally, if they sound an alarm, I urge you to find out why. One-hundred percent of the time, some sort of combustion has created a concentration of CO that exceeds the detector’s alarm threshold. You cannot see, smell, or taste carbon monoxide. In a high enough concentration, it will kill you dead as a hammer.

And sometimes the CO your detector senses may be coming from outside your boat. A couple years ago, Rich and Cheryl Odendahl returned to their R25 from a trip to dinner to find their carbon monoxide detectors going off. The source of the carbon monoxide was the exhaust from a generator being run by a clueless moron in an adjacent slip.
 
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