First Time Going Offshore

[a64pilot]

Can you run your engine when sailing, or will it overheat too?

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by bensolomon

About the generator heating up...i presumed that it is a built in generator vs carry on. The water intake is via a through hull. If the hull is in and out as it would be while sailing, the water pump will suck air instead of water exposing the generator to overheating pretty quickly.

Ben

Ben, that sounds like a very bad installation! Any properly installed cooling water pickup will be deep enough in the hull that it will work while sailing... just like the main engine pickup is.

Jim

[bensolomon]

I am by no means a boat mechanic or engineer. I know this because I charter extensively and although I don't use the genny's, during all my charters we are warned to absolutely not use the genny under way because it will sieze and die.

[a64pilot]

It would take a fool to install a generator so that it would be possible to uncover the thru hull, of course it's possible.
I would assume without knowing that depending on orientation of the engine, the limit on degree of heel would come from oil as of course they are wet sump engines.

[Gerrycooper56]

Do you really have to clear in (Bahamas) to refuel? I thought you could Q flag it as you aren't officially cruising in the Bahamas to attract the $300 for a cruising permit.

[bensolomon]

The satellite view on the generator issue is that they are not reliable to use underway. I don't know the precise reason, just that the warnings are consistent across every boat I have ever chartered, even on the catamarans. I would hate for someone to depend on this machine, and it either not be available when needed, or worse, create a safety issue while crossing an ocean.

Ben

[Dhillen]

A properly installed generator (diesel) is like a properly installed main engine. They are both designed to use underway. Only the main engine cannot (really) be used at anchor, although some people try.

It is far more economical to charge the batteries while sailing using the generator than the main engine. It is better for the generator and the main engine too.

I have the same engine size (100 hp Yanmar) as the OP and if he has an equivalent sized generator then he should figure on two gallons of fuel per hour usage. Since we have diesel heat on board up here we use just under that. He obviously won't be using heat so it should pencil out to around 1.7-1.8 gallons per hour, best guess.

Cheers.

Dhillen

[J Clark H356]

You can run the engine and generator at sea just like you can in the ICW or an inland river. I have a 5KW Northern Lights andrun continuously while not at dock. We run HVAC and all our amenities while cruising, including tracking satellite tv through Dish Network. It's just a matter of having enough fuel for your trip.

[StuM]

DW guessed at a 6KVA generator.

My planning figures for running an 8KVA generator:
70% load = roughly 5.5HP.
0.225lph/HP gives me just under 1.25lph.

I would need to run it 24 hours a day to use 30 litres (8 US gal) /day.

[boatman61]

Sometimes I wonder if anyone on here actually bludi sails.. your going Nth.. along with the stream.. predominant winds are gonna be SW and W with maybe a day of N... get a frigging grip guys..
Its a short 6-9 day run.. pick your window and go.. FFS..

[Terra Nova]

Of the 100's of yachts I've been on, I am not aware that any had its generator operation restricted to only while not under sail.

Edit to add that IIRC, the rule of thumb for a 4kw genset can run, moderately loaded, on 1 liter/hour.

[CaptTL]

Originally Posted by Gerrycooper56

Do you really have to clear in (Bahamas) to refuel? I thought you could Q flag it as you aren't officially cruising in the Bahamas to attract the $300 for a cruising permit.

If you are in the Bahamas, you are cruising their country waters. How does Bahamian customs know you are just there for fuel and not at the beginning or end of a couple of weeks of fishing and snorkeling in their waters? I don't know of any customs official that will let you get away with that. Oh, and watch out if you don't tell them. Yeah, you may get away with it but if you don't, bye bye boat.

Yes. You stop in the Bahamas and you have to pay. Having said that, it would make a good thread. "Do you know anyone who stopped in the Bahamas for fuel and did not have to clear in and pay $300." I'd be real interested to hear how they did it.

[StuM]

> "Do you know anyone who stopped in the Bahamas ...

Check with the crew of Primadonna - they've probably met some by now

[CaptTL]

Originally Posted by StuM

> "Do you know anyone who stopped in the Bahamas ...

Check with the crew of Primadonna - they've probably met some by now

That's a perfect example of what I'm saying. Why would a penniless cruiser or a boat looking to top off their fuel tank only for that matter choose to go to a country that charges $300 just to enter? Also, I seem to remember reading somewhere that Primadonna stayed past the 6 month in country limit. If that's true, strike two.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, you have to clear into the Bahamas if you are in their waters.

[donradcliffe]

Originally Posted by Gerrycooper56

Do you really have to clear in (Bahamas) to refuel? I thought you could Q flag it as you aren't officially cruising in the Bahamas to attract the $300 for a cruising permit.

yes you have to clear in to get fuel, but why would you even think of going via the Bahamas?