Gas generators

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27boat27

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I am new to yachting and have heard some people say that they would not run a gas generator overnight while anchored. Is this the general school of thought, or just some diesel guys trying to scare me? I hope to do this with my new boat. Comments would be appreciated. The boat is a 1999 Carver 356 with twin crusaders and a Kohler 6.5 Kw generator.
 
Statistics indicate that a gasoline generator likely generates more CO than does a diesel generator. ie: as a group, gasoline generators are potentially more hazardous.

That said, it is all about controlling risk.

For some, operating a generator while the crew sleeps is an acceptable risk, especially when a suitable number of ( well-placed ) CO monitor/alarms are present.

Others feel the risk is high enough that they avoid the risk, by running the generator long enough to cool down the cabin, then stopping the generator prior to the crew going to sleep.

---

My boats have, in general, been too small to require the decision, but generally I would fall into the "hell no, I will not run the genny overnight" group.

The decision is one of risk management, and is left up to the Captain as to whether the risks and rewards allow operation overnight.
 
I always have my CO alarm working, checked out, next to us. Never any problem but you do have to be careful.
 
Is the concern more for a fuel leak and explosion, or is it more about CO. I see hardwired CO sensors that can kill a generator if CO levels are above tolerances. Of course sensors can fail.
 
The main concern is typically high CO levels. When we had our gas powered boats we would use the generator regularly but we really didn't leave it on all night while sleeping. Our boats were nearly new, all the modern safety equipment, etc. but really- is it worth the risk? I preferred to wake up in the middle of the night if it got too hot and turn the A/C on with the generator for 30-45 minutes to cool the cabin down and then shut everything down again. Even in the dead of summer in GA where it gets hot, we could cool the cabin in the evening, turn it all off, go to bed, then wake up again around 3 a.m., run generator for 30 minutes, then go back to bed and go to go until dawn. People die from CO poisoning from gas generators- just not worth the risk to me.
 
What Woodsong said. I've had gas genny's and would never run them overnight.
 
"Is the concern more for a fuel leak and explosion, or is it more about CO."

Well, the obvious answer is that, compared to not running the generator, all of the increased risks must be included into the decision.

Of the increased risks, CO is probably the one of most concern. On the other hand, a gasoline fire that starts in the engine room while the crew sleeps should be considered a "notable risk".

And before everyone jumps on me, it is true: people do this all of the time, and relatively few have had bad outcomes. My point is that the risk of losing the boat and/or everyone aboard is an important risk, and sleeping in an A/C'd cabin vs "au natural" is, for me, a very small benefit.

For me, the benefits do not outweigh the risks.
 
+3. I've seen the dreaded result. not worth the risk to me.
 
Well I think I have plenty of input that suggest it is a bad idea. I had just not considered this when I set out to purchase a boat and considered gas for power over diesel. Like everything else, you have to manage risk and avoid when possible. We can turn the cabin into an icemaker at bedtime, shutdown the genny and hope to not be too badly defrosted in the AM. Sounds much better than a permanent nap at ground temperature. Thanks for all the input.
 
Mine is the latest greatest Low CO Kohler it even shuts itself off when it shouldn't. Well they finally fixed that. I have 6 CO detectors in the boat and one automatically turns on the ER blowers if it detects CO in the ER. I still wouldn't sleep with it on all night unless we were in freezing conditions and even then my wife and I might take turns playing watch commander.
I just don't trust them even though my ER is under the cockpit of the boat (I have V drives) and the Genset sits right at the transom wall. It's about as far away from where we sleep as it can physically be.
I might wake up warm or cold and fire it up to keep us comfortable but at least I know I will wake up. Now if I had a diesel Genset with the same safety precautions I would consider running it through the entire night.

Bill
 
In my opinion, the greatest risk of a portable gasoline powered generator on a boat is user error. On many boats it is possible to find a safe place to put the generator when it is operating, but then I hear of people storing it or the gasoline can in the engine compartment or cabin when it's not being used.

Portable generators are not built to the same safety standards that marine inboard or I/O engines are required to meet.

If you are not convinced, consider this:

Honda and other portable generator manufacturers do not market their generators for use on boats and their operation manuals make no mention of use aboard boats. West Marine and other marine retailers and Internet vendors do not sell portable generators. Consider why that might be.
 
quote:
Originally posted by rawidman

In my opinion, the greatest risk of a portable gasoline powered generator on a boat is user error. On many boats it is possible to find a safe place to put the generator when it is operating, but then I hear of people storing it or the gasoline can in the engine compartment or cabin when it's not being used.

Portable generators are not built to the same safety standards that marine inboard or I/O engines are required to meet.

If you are not convinced, consider this:

Honda and other portable generator manufacturers do not market their generators for use on boats and their operation manuals make no mention of use aboard boats. West Marine and other marine retailers and Internet vendors do not sell portable generators. Consider why that might be.

Click to expand...


Did you even read the original post?

The boat is a 1999 Carver 356 with twin crusaders and a Kohler 6.5 Kw generator

The OP must be one strong SOB and have one big commuter vehicle to consider a Kohler 6.5 a portable generator.
 
i just wouldn't take the risk.
that said i wouldn't sleep with the diesel genny running either.
call me mr cautions.
yes i look both ways when crossing a one way street....
 
While on the topic of CO from generators, don't forget that someone else's generator can produce enough CO to kill you, if close enough and wind conditions are right.

Even if you don't have a genny, you should have a CO detector in each sleeping area.
 
quote:
Originally posted by HOGAN

While on the topic of CO from generators, don't forget that someone else's generator can produce enough CO to kill you, if close enough and wind conditions are right.

Even if you don't have a genny, you should have a CO detector in each sleeping area.

Click to expand...

+1
Marine and non marine CO detectors have a short life manufactures recommend you change them every 3 years or send them back for recailbration.
Bill
 
Hogan- that is a great point! My biggest concern about our trawler is the CO from neighboring boats!

So this lends itself to a question I've been pondering. Our boat is not hardwired for CO detectors. I've not worried about it yet b/c we've not had a summer use yet but that is obviously getting ready to start! :)

I am debating whether some portable/battery operated CO devices that can be bought from home depot or something would be sufficient protection or whether I need to hard wire new detectors throughout the boat. Anyone just using the battery operated ones with good success, i.e. they work and you test them regularly? I've got fire alarms throughout the boat that are RV/Marine rated that work very good (wife set them off last week just with some burning incense near one of them!).
 
A lot of very good points especially about replacing the CO detectors on a 1999 boat
 
I don't run my genny all night, I shut down before bed. But I even run my blowers while running generator. I have had people tell me blowers don't need to be running but I feel it is safer to run them.
 
It's hot in the south. We run the genny as required to maintain comfort. Statistics are on your side. Yearly deaths from CO posioning are minimal, although they DO occur. Use caution.

I seems more people have recently died under swim platforms due to trapped CO, than in cabins at night.

CO deaths on boats are fairly well publicized. I'm thinking a couple of instances a year.

Correct me if i'm wrong.
 
I have run our gen (diesel) all night, but since I have 120, I carry a more sensitive sensor that plugs in, along with the hard wired. We exhaust under swimplatform, and at anchor a minor breeze is always helpful.
 
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