- Oct 3, 2006
- 4,404
- Boat Info
- 280 Sundancer, Westerbeke MPV generator
- Engines
- twin 5.0's w/BIII drives
Generator + other planned mods
We had a generator installed. I inspected it on Friday. A few things need to be done at the time of launch and the system needs to be water tested but it’s in. With everything it came to just over $8,500.
My mechanic at Skipper Buds (four wins dealer) in Oshkosh worked with us, giving us a great rate on labor by having this done in the off season. The labor came in at just over $1,500.
The generator was $5,400. The rest of the money went to other parts like thru hulls, sea cock, sea strainer, ship / shore transfer switch, remote start, battery cables, water muffler, fuel filter + more.
I asked them to not install a 4th battery bank. This was my request. We are using the dedicated starting battery for the port engine as the starting battery for the generator. This saved money, space, weight and maintenance. If you study the redundancy built into a tri-bank system with isolated starting battery the risk of having all batters drawn down to nothing are minimal and unlikely. More likely you will kill half of the system and use one battery to start one engine then the boat has a pre-wired emergency jump system that by depressing a switch at the helm seizes the batteries together allowing you to start the next engine.
The local Sea Ray dealer who is not on the water like my marina wanted $10,500 to do this same install.
This is a low RPM quiet 2 cylinder Westerbeke MPV3 unit that produces 25 AMPS / 3000 watts. We should be able to run the A/C + microwave at the same time. No sound shield needed.
Come spring I plan to post photos and a video.
Our plans are to sleep on the hook or pulled onto the rivers shore even more often in 2008.
I have a few remaining projects. Some will spill into 2009 / 2010.
Sooner – get and cut to fit memory foam as a topper for the V birth where the admiral and I sleep. Something we can pull up easily to access storage under the 3 forward storage compartments.
Sooner – get a small telescoping ladder that will fit in the stern storage locker. This is for easier boarding via the bow at beaches on the river.
Sooner – get something to hold water ski’s and kneeboard between the generator and the engines in the engine compartment to free up space in the cabin and the cockpit and make things less cluttered.
Later (by spring of 2009) – convert the VCR/TV to a flat screen unit with a DVD player and digital tuner. I found a unit that will fit and talked to someone at the factory. Folding units are expected to be out by next spring so I do have an idea of getting one of those. The present unit is attached to a thingy that pulls out and can turn ala lazy Susan. If we get a folding unit similar to current portable DVD players we could add a storage shelf above the unit.
Later – Convert the stereo to something with a 3.5MM input for mp3 players / ipods etc. We can use the cassette to 3.5MM adapter until then. The issue is I have remotes at the helm and stern; a external amp and external multi-CD player and I don’t want to loose these. I will need to see if I can convert and still use these features or I will not make the change.
Much later (2010/2011) – Get a tri-axel bunk trailer with electric brakes. About a $7,000+ item if new.
We had a generator installed. I inspected it on Friday. A few things need to be done at the time of launch and the system needs to be water tested but it’s in. With everything it came to just over $8,500.
My mechanic at Skipper Buds (four wins dealer) in Oshkosh worked with us, giving us a great rate on labor by having this done in the off season. The labor came in at just over $1,500.
The generator was $5,400. The rest of the money went to other parts like thru hulls, sea cock, sea strainer, ship / shore transfer switch, remote start, battery cables, water muffler, fuel filter + more.
I asked them to not install a 4th battery bank. This was my request. We are using the dedicated starting battery for the port engine as the starting battery for the generator. This saved money, space, weight and maintenance. If you study the redundancy built into a tri-bank system with isolated starting battery the risk of having all batters drawn down to nothing are minimal and unlikely. More likely you will kill half of the system and use one battery to start one engine then the boat has a pre-wired emergency jump system that by depressing a switch at the helm seizes the batteries together allowing you to start the next engine.
The local Sea Ray dealer who is not on the water like my marina wanted $10,500 to do this same install.
This is a low RPM quiet 2 cylinder Westerbeke MPV3 unit that produces 25 AMPS / 3000 watts. We should be able to run the A/C + microwave at the same time. No sound shield needed.
Come spring I plan to post photos and a video.
Our plans are to sleep on the hook or pulled onto the rivers shore even more often in 2008.
I have a few remaining projects. Some will spill into 2009 / 2010.
Sooner – get and cut to fit memory foam as a topper for the V birth where the admiral and I sleep. Something we can pull up easily to access storage under the 3 forward storage compartments.
Sooner – get a small telescoping ladder that will fit in the stern storage locker. This is for easier boarding via the bow at beaches on the river.
Sooner – get something to hold water ski’s and kneeboard between the generator and the engines in the engine compartment to free up space in the cabin and the cockpit and make things less cluttered.
Later (by spring of 2009) – convert the VCR/TV to a flat screen unit with a DVD player and digital tuner. I found a unit that will fit and talked to someone at the factory. Folding units are expected to be out by next spring so I do have an idea of getting one of those. The present unit is attached to a thingy that pulls out and can turn ala lazy Susan. If we get a folding unit similar to current portable DVD players we could add a storage shelf above the unit.
Later – Convert the stereo to something with a 3.5MM input for mp3 players / ipods etc. We can use the cassette to 3.5MM adapter until then. The issue is I have remotes at the helm and stern; a external amp and external multi-CD player and I don’t want to loose these. I will need to see if I can convert and still use these features or I will not make the change.
Much later (2010/2011) – Get a tri-axel bunk trailer with electric brakes. About a $7,000+ item if new.
