06/07/2007 09:40:40 AM
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wollyworm
Junior Member
Posts: 12
Joined: 06/06/2007
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I have several questions I hope for some help with.
Little background. I am looking at purchasing a boat that
currently has a Kohler 5ecd generator. The boat does not have
air currently. I want / need to put air on it, and have the
following ???
1. I have access to a Westerbeke 12.5 that has 5400 hr's. All
maintenance records for the unit look good. What is the life
expectancy for this type of generator?
2. I want to put in 2 air units. Do I look for the standard
RV top mount units? or do I need special units?
3. if the 12.5 does not work out, what generator size do I need? (
2 air units 15,000 each, 2 refig units, battery charger, normal
lighting for a 60 ft boat.
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06/07/2007 11:51:19 AM
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houseboat8972
Admiral
Posts: 307
Joined: 05/05/2006
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Here comes that question again....is the 12.5 diesel or gas? I would guess that the 5400 hours on the generator would relate to approx 270,000 miles on a car. Westerbeke is a great generator, diesel or gas, and relatively easy to rebuild and maintain. Depends on the price as always.
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06/07/2007 11:57:51 AM
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houseboat8972
Admiral
Posts: 307
Joined: 05/05/2006
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To answer the other question, a 12.5 is plenty large to handle 2 roof air-conditioners. Depending on the boat, you might have room to install a central unit (residential type like most aluminum houseboats have) which you would have plenty of output for.
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06/07/2007 12:11:12 PM
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wollyworm
Junior Member
Posts: 12
Joined: 06/06/2007
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Thanks for the reply!
It is a gas unit. The price looks to be about 10% of new. My
concern is the labor to mount , then pull out next year to
rebuild, then reinstall. If I get the generator, should I
have rebuilt before I install? About what would a rebuild
cost?
There is plenty of room on the top of the boat to install a home
unit, but there is no place to run duck work. On a
boat this big, if I mount the unit in the galley / living room will
the back bed rooms get cool? There are 2 rooms in the back with
doors to the hall way. total hallway length is about 20 ft.
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06/07/2007 12:23:44 PM
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BananaTom
Admiral
Posts: 968
Joined: 12/05/2006
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Another type of Air Conditioner available is a Sanyo, split system with remote control. The air handler hangs on the wall anywhere, and the copper tubing then runs to the external condening un it. They are great for many types of unusal applications, on board or on home.
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Banana Tom
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06/07/2007 12:55:41 PM
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BrokerDave
Member
Posts: 154
Joined: 08/15/2006
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That generator uses a mitsubishi motor. pretty tough.If you took
apart and measured bearing clearance,it may not be bad at all.
Depends on prior care. If you do nothing else--change the timing
belt while it is out and easy to do. There may be some
recommended tensioners and or pulleys to go with it.
-------------------------
Boatless at the moment
www.spboatsales.com
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06/07/2007 01:48:10 PM
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houseboat8972
Admiral
Posts: 307
Joined: 05/05/2006
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Dave is right on about the belts, hoses, and things like that. I would get a generator expert to take a look at the generating part (communtator/brushes/etc). They are good generators and could be good for many more years if maintained properly.
Fun Country Houseboats use a top-mounted self-contained central unit that is ducted through the roof and overhead to all cabin areas. I just saw one last week and it cooled very well. Looked like the worlds largest rooftop air! Would be easy to build a vented bar around it.
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06/07/2007 02:33:53 PM
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wollyworm
Junior Member
Posts: 12
Joined: 06/06/2007
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Thank you all for the great advise and info. I am happy to
review as much as possible.
Great site for learning new things, and getting feedback from
people that have more experience then me.
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06/07/2007 05:43:53 PM
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enginetamer
Member
Posts: 87
Joined: 02/14/2007
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I like 'houseboat 8972's spirit---- Go for any recommended rooftop units. Anything else would be esthetically neat looking, but a nightmare to install. As for a genset-- I don't think you can have too much capacity.
Have the unit you are looking at run for you on the ground--under load. Any troubles will surely show up, and I don't think you would want to go through the agony of overhauls because the 'overhauler' will invariably miss some detail. I know, having sweted out the myriad of details that occur when doing it for my own customers.
The question I always ask myself, when a used unit comes available, is" Why did the previous owner take it out?" With this unit it couldn't have been for trading up in capacity---most likely some other reason such as overheating or mysterious defect in the generator end that makes it cut out under load.
Test, test, test.// Cheers!!
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lookin' for adventure and the next wild engine!
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