Honda Generator on the swim step

T

thataway

Active member
I was asked to post some photos of the Honda EU 2000i with the 6 gallon remote fuel tank, on the swim step of the Tom Cat 255 by some members of the Power Cat list.

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The last photo shows the 3/4" thick board, with the 1/4" deep circules cut for the feet of the Generator. The reverse side of this board has four "cleats" which are 3/4" thick and 2" x 2"--the entire boat is epoxy coated.

Both the tank and generator are held in place with bungee cords when running. The tank is secured to the railings , the generator crate is jamed between the cables of the engine and the transom. The exhaust is always directed outboard.
 
I have some photos in Tom-a-Hawk's album of an aluminum generator box for a Honda i2000 on my TomCat's swim step. It also holds four small gas cans which I set out in front of the engines while using the genset. I have the 6 gallon tank, but it takes up a lot of room.

The genset will run my A/C unit for about 4 hours on it's internal tank. I rarely need to run it longer than that, but can easily refill the genset's internal tank from the extra small gas cans. The small cans are easier to handle at sea for me.

John
 
I was asked to post some photos of the Honda EU 2000i with the 6 gallon remote fuel tank, on the swim step of the Tom Cat 255 by some members of the Power Cat list.
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Bob,
I have heard that the reason portable generators are not rated for marine use because you can't properly ground them. I read something about grounding generators properly a while back in Passage Maker. I didn't really understand it but the gist was if they are not properly grounded it is possible to have the current "electrify" the water around the boat in rare situations and pose a hazard to swimmers and such. Any concerns or steps you take when using the generator?
Ron
 
The "grounding" problem on the Honda Generator is no different than the "grounding" problem with an inverter. In fact that is just what the Honda EU 2000i is--an alternator driving an inveter. Many boats which have "reverse polarity detectors" will light up when you use an inverter as the "input"--this can also happen with the Honda. We run inverters all of the time--and have never heard of a problem with them.

I am not sure what "approved for marine use" is. Is it type specific by UL or ABYC?--no for a number of reasons.

The way the C Dory is wired, I suspect that it is very difficult to produce a dangerous "electric field" around the boat. On the other hand, I don't swim and have the generator running. We ran our small generator in the past, on a large boat (500 watt)--and swam regularly--with no problems..But again, I would not have the Honda EU 2000i running on the engine bracket and be swimming next to it.

The story is that John Wayne lost several Boston Whalers from "Wild Goose" in Mexico from thieft in the night. One night he put the "hot" side from his gen set to the railings, and the neutral in the water next to the whaler. A body was found floating the next moring, and no more Whalers were stolen. It may be only legend, but makes a point. You could wire a boat so that the lifelines/engine bracket were "hot"--but that would be very foolish.
 
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