Generator or No Generator

G

Golfman25

Well-Known Member
Sep 12, 2009
7,670
IL
Boat Info
1998 370 Sundancer
Engines
7.4 MPI
Sitting here on a dreary new years eve eve, pondering if my next boat should have a generator on not. Looking at the late 90s/early 2000s 330/340 models. However, up here in lake Michigan (IL/Wisconsin), it's about 50/50 (maybe less) to see one outfitted with a generator.

Our boating is such that we'll probably never be overnight away from a dock and shore power. But the genny would allow us to run AC while cruising or anchoring out off the beach. Admiral doesn't take the heat/humidity well, so that would open up the few days in late July/early Aug when we have some "oppressive" conditions. Downside is its just another system to maintain and winterize.

So what say you? Generator or no generator? TIA.
 
Like you say, it depends on how you boat. For us, we do all overnights on the hook, so generator for sure.

It's not really that much more to maintain.

As they say, better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

It would also increase resale value looking forward.
 
You’ll likely get 2 main opinions to your question:

1. Folks without a generator will tell you that you don’t need one.

2. Folks with a generator will tell you they’ll never have another boat without one.
 
Not having a generator on my old boat was one of the top reasons we had for moving up.
Now that I have a boat with a generator I love having it even more than I thought I would.
 
Had boats without and no longer look at boats w/o genny. Even when I lived in the midwest. I don't find it takes much maintenance. Although lying on the starboard engine to check the genny oil is a small pain. Very small.

I feel similar about anchor windless. Won't do w/o one, now that I've had one.
 
My 300 did not come with a generator - I added one because of how we boated at the time (in the northeast). We would typically spend 3-5 days anchored out and for a few seasons left our boat on a seasonal mooring - When we moved the boat to Florida, we actually stopped using the generator (had to remember to exercise it at the dock on occasion)- most of the time we just anchored for the day to swim or snorkel - then spent time at marinas. The generator (especially a gas one) is definitely "another mouth to feed" It needs maintenance and often diagnosing problems is difficult and parts are expensive. Having the genny for the way we boated in NE was just as important as having a dinghy. The way we boated in Florida did not require either - and it was so much better not to have to worry about either system.

So I ask, how are you going to use the boat? Now and "later"
 
Ididntdoit said:
So I ask, how are you going to use the boat? Now and "later"
Click to expand...
Primarily as a day boat. Either hang out at the dock with a short cruise - out and back. Or go cruise and chill out somewhere anchored off the beach for the day. Maybe a one/two night treck to a nearby port with "premium" marina facilities (admiral doesn't do "camping." :) )
 
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Gennys give you flexibility if you are a true boater and not just a cocktail cruiser or own a dock queen. If you are waiting for a slip somewhere, say for example in Charlivoix, you can drop the hook in Round Lake or Oyster Bay and wait for your name to come up on the roll call. You can fix dinner, relax with a drink,take a shower or whatever and not have to stress out over batteries running down due to lack of shore power. A/C and heat are always available. Gennys just make things nicer. We have lots of lake neighbors with boats without gennys. We got a lot more use out of our boat because boats in the size range you are thinking about are all weather boats when they are optioned with gennys. Also much easier to sell.
 
I agree with all the above. One added note......the older i get, the more i like having a genny. Hot coffee in morning, ice cold beverage in afternoon, hot shower in evening, and cold a/c at night. And no worrying about the batteries.
 
@Golfman25 We boat in the same area. You aren't really going to anchor overnight on Lake Michigan, but here is what we use ours for:
  • Running the cabin AC when anchored for the day on long hot boating days, like the Air and Water Show. It is nice to be able to give people a break if they get overheated
  • Cooking while at anchor
  • Not worrying about running down the batteries when running the fridge and stereo all day
  • Hot water offshore
Critical on Lake Michigan - no. Really nice to have - yes.
 
yobub said:
@Golfman25 We boat in the same area. You aren't really going to anchor overnight on Lake Michigan, but here is what we use ours for:
  • Running the cabin AC when anchored for the day on long hot boating days, like the Air and Water Show. It is nice to be able to give people a break if they get overheated
  • Cooking while at anchor
  • Not worrying about running down the batteries when running the fridge and stereo all day
  • Hot water offshore
Critical on Lake Michigan - no. Really nice to have - yes.
Click to expand...
I agree with all the previous comments. In the Northern areas you can also run the heat while away from the dock in the spring & fall. You might end up going out on cooler days that you might otherwise stay tied up at the dock.
 
After we sold our 250DA we were looking at bigger boats in the 28-31' range and a gennie was a must. We found a 2000 270 wide beam that we both loved but it needed quite a bit of work but had a brand new gennie. In the end we settled on another 25'er and finding a gennie in a 25'er is nearly impossible. We would probably hardly use it but just wanted it in the event we would want to use it for some reason. If we were buying a bigger boat I would definitely want the gennie.
 
I'm on Lake Michigan as well and would not consider a boat in that size range without a generator. I'd be surprised if there were any newer ones without one. On the big lake, we don't overnight on the hook but it's nice to have power and air/heat while your out on the lake. Typically I fire it up before we leave the slip and power down as we return and plug back into shorepower. I've had a generator on my 37', 33' and 26'.

On the 26' we'd frequent Lake Monroe, a 10,000 acre lake in southern Indiana. We'd leave the generator on all weekend as we were anchored in a cove and keep the cabin nice and cool.
 
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