Generator on New TomCat

[joeC]

Guy's
Just bought a new Honda eu3000 generator for the boat. Purpose of this is to run AC, Hot Water, Cooking appliances ect. Have been doing a little looking to find the best place to mount it. At this point on top of transom
right in the center looks best. Roof is out because of weight all up with AC and Generator it will be around 240 Lb's. Also the CO problem appears better with the GenSet all the way rear. It is hot in Houston soon so this will all be implemented soon. Have test run the GenSet at full load on the rear and the noise is barley perceptable in the cabin. If anyone has better ideas I am a good listener. I also recently Installed a 2000 Watt inverter
and this thing has been wonderful for running small appliances. Four Optima batterys are in the battery boxes so it all works pretty good.
Joe

[ccflyer]

How about posting some photos?

[Bob Cat]

Hi, JoeC

That eu3000 sounds about the weight of my compressor system (280#) on Dive Cat, but it must be a lot motre compact. In my album you can see how I mounted the compressor into the transom where the center seat is. The cover is still a good seat for passengers. That would keep yopur generator protected and completely out of the way.

The other thought is the AC system the Hunky Dory of Little Cayman found and mounted right under his galley. Those are pretty energy efficient.

I opted for an eu2000 for the microwave, electric skillet and water heater, not used at the same time. I'm can put it on the roof, the bow, or back on the Armstrong brackets. Gonna keep it out of the cockpit to avoid CO issues. The exhaust for the gas compressor engine is piped over the side plus we have 2 CO detectors on board.

Bob Cat

[Stanley-J]

Hi Joe,
I have the same generator and plan on keeping it on the aft deck between my twin Hondas. You are correct about the noise level, almost zero. I'm looking for a small (BTU) A/C unit I can mount on the cabin top of our CD-25
Were heading to Florida next Wed. Feb. 1st for the month. This will be our first trip with the boat. Looking forward to using the generator, I know my wife will like the hot water and to use her hair dryer while on the hook. A happy mate makes a happy trip.

[thataway]

I have been discussing this by E mail with Marc Grove of Wefings Marine (a Florida C Dory Dealer). Marc says that C Dory will consider converting the bait well for a generator---specifically the EU 2000i. I will be also considering an RV Roof airconditioning. The advantage of this is that you can run both the generator and the air conditioning while trailering and using the Tom Cat as a "camper". I owned a Symbol 42 motor yacht, which had a hard top on the Flying Bridge, and we had a 13,500 BTU R V Air conditioner on the top of this. The green house effect of the large flying bridge raised the temperature to 15 degrees or so over ambient, the RV air conditioner would bring the temperature in the flying bridge down 20 degrees. The cabin of the Tom Cat is smaller than that flying bridge--but I wonder how much air conditioning will be necessary to cool in the daytime? 7,000 or 9,000 BTU--both of these can be run by the EU 2000i, if you go to the 11,000, you will then have to use the 3000, and this is too heavy for most folks to pick up. The Army Corp of Engineers runs small cabined boats on the ICW and rivers, which use the RV air conditioners. Another issue in some areas is the intake for air conditioners--plugging with, mud, sea weeds, grass, or jelly fish. Another issue is water pickup when running at speed, and loss of prime if the boat is trailered or put on a lift.

My own philosophy on another boat (not my C Dory) which has 7,000 BTU or air conditioning, a 1200 watt water heater, a 1000 watt micro wave, a 1200 watt electric stove eye, and a beautiful wife with a 1500 watt hair dryer, is to run only one appliance at a time with a Honda EU 2000. I cannot put a large enough generator to run all--it would be closer to 5 KW if I did.

I would really appreciate comments from others who have already recieved their Tom Cat 255's on the placement of the generator. Some companies are using a fiberglass box on the swim step--this seems to really get in the way.

Bob, I hope to see your boat when I am in your area in mid March.

Regards,

[toothy]

I have a 13,500 on my camper that runs on a eu2000i. Some AC units have a soft start feature. Go to the RV boards for in depth discussions of which models will and won't work with the 2000.

Later
Wade

[thataway]

Thanks Wade--I am very active on the RV boards, (Open Road-van conversion, Class A, Tow vehicles--under the same handle) and there are the rare 13,500 which will start and run on the E2000i. Many of the 11,000 will, and all of the 9,000 will. The beauty of the 7,000 BTU Colman, is that it only takes 1000 watts when running, so you can leave the generator on economy mode. For all of the 11,000 and 13,500 AC units you have to leave the Honda on non economy mode--which means it uses more fuel and makes more noise. I think that 13,500 would be more than necessary in the Tom Cat--even on a hot sunny day--I find this adequate for a 30 foot RV--better insullation than the Tom Cat, but also probably over 3 times the volume.

Since I have never seen a Tom Cat 255 in person, I don't know where this bait well is--and how well the generator can be used, started and stored in a modified bait well. The Glacier Bay fiberglass box, has a lid which is removable, vents in both sides, the power output on one end, and the exhaust thru a SS tubing with a flange on the glass box on the other end.