Running the generator all night

[270win]

We had a 340 gasser and ran generator at night, during the day, whenever needed. NC is humid in the summer and the nights are cold during the winter. Currently we have diesel and no change in procedures. 1)anchor and swing with wind/current. If current is going to be stronger than wind, run the blowers all night. 2) CO detectors with new batteries.
You read of boats blowing up at dock, but rarely do you hear about the person running the generator at night having issues. If your boat is well maintained you are good to go.

Great thing about our lake is that current is a non-factor. So the boat just points into the wind. I was assuming I should run the blower the whole time the gen is on...that's my plan anyway.

 

[NorCal Boater]

Good replies folks. We would always single anchor. With further consideration, maybe 2 in the cabin, one at the V berth and one by the aft berth. One in the cockpit and one in the bilge. I also would ensure the P traps in all sinks have water in them...I read a story once about CO getting into a boat with a dry P trap...resulted in 2 deaths.

Also, we do try to anchor where we will get a breeze through the hatches. Usually we could run the gen to cool everything down and then sleep with it off and be very comfortable. But we do get some nights in Georgia when it's super hot and VERY humid whick would make overnighting without AC miserable. Of course we could just sleep in the slip on shore power. No danger there.

I guess I was just excited about sleeping in some secluded cove with AC going and being very comfortable. The noise wouldn't bother us as we all sleep with white noise apps.

Sinks in boats generally don’t have p-traps as they drain directly overboard.

 

[270win]

Sinks in boats generally don’t have p-traps as they drain directly overboard.

Ya know now that you mention that, I was messing around with the boat yesterday and the sink in the cockpit just drains out like you said.

 

[BlueYonder]

We have that kind of ppm monitor on all three floors on our home. Is there a marine version that does that as well? The CO monitor by the V berth is hard wired. The others would be battery operated. The ones in our home are mounted in wall outlets. But we could use those in the boat if there isn't a marine only reason not to.

It’s a critical piece of safety equipment. I would only consider a Coast Guard or UL approved marine version.

 

[270win]

It’s a critical piece of safety equipment. I would only consider a Coast Guard or UL approved marine version.

Is there a marine version that will display ppm? No argument about the importance of Coast Guard or UL version. As a pilot, I don't use automotive parts on airplanes and we skimp on nothing...same for the boat.

 

[Irie308]

In our 320 we generally didn’t sleep with the gen on but we often fell asleep with it running. Would wake up and turn it off 2 am or so. Never really needed ac overnight here in the NE partly because the nights aren’t that bad on the water and the AC blowing In your face was annoying. I think the 320 had a single CO detector and We added two with the digital read out. This was useful as you can keep an eye on the levels. You could always tell when the CO alarm would go off. It was always the real calm windless night. What helped was keeping the cabin hatch closed and running the ac . I think the bit of positive pressure in the cabin helped. When I would watch tv in the open cockpit at night I would keep a digital CO monitor with me and I reacall it woke me up once. All this being said never felt at risk running the gen but it was always front of mind.

 

[sbw1]

My question is why would you feel more safe during the day or at night if in both situations you are relying on the CO monitor alarm to tell you that there is a problem. You always hear about deaths but I've never heard about one happening with functional CO monitors in place. In this day and age of relying on electronics this is no different. Your generator and supporting safety equipment needs to be maintained plain and simple before during and after the season.

Safety during the day is more assured when you are alert as opposed to getting ready to go to bed. I'm generally sound asleep shortly after my head hits the pillow and during that initial deep sleep period might not hear the CO alarm. Knowing that CO can enter the salon from prior experience is enough for us to exercise extra caution when it comes to running a genny at night. Heat is more of an issue when it comes to comfortable sleeping than cold temps. We have no problems with the cold and have slept through conditions where there is ice on the deck in late October. Blankets are fine. I'm not telling anyone what to do. Just saying we do not feel comfortable sleeping with a gas genny running all night. As an aside, Tiara does a great job with the sound issue. Our genny was very quiet inside the boat and you didn't hear it at all outside unless you are within 5-10 feet of the transom

 

[Alex F]

....If current is going to be stronger than wind, run the blowers all night.....

Your post caught my attention and I can't help by wondering how the blowers help if the current positions the boat side to or against the wind?

To answer OP's question, best option is having a little bit of a breeze swinging the boat with its direction. This ensures that most of the CO will escape behind the boat, having minimum risk of entering the interior. However, you should always have functional CO detectors and add some additional 110+battery backup operating CO detectors. If elements change, as in example above, where the current overpowers the wind, at least you'll be alerted by series of CO detectors. If you're in the area with strong current and can anticipate that it'll take over the wind, using a stern anchor is a good option to keep the bow pointed into the wind.

 

[mquiet]

Your post caught my attention and I can't help by wondering how the blowers help if the current positions the boat side to or against the wind?

To answer OP's question, best option is having a little bit of a breeze swinging the boat with its direction. This ensures that most of the CO will escape behind the boat, having minimum risk of entering the interior. However, you should always have functional CO detectors and add some additional 110+battery backup operating CO detectors. If elements change, as in example above, where the current overpowers the wind, at least you'll be alerted by series of CO detectors. If you're in the area with strong current and can anticipate that it'll take over the wind, using a stern anchor is a good option to keep the bow pointed into the wind.

I guess my thought is if current and wind are 180 degrees apart and boat is held by current (so stern anchor in most archorages, unless lakes to different) the wind will not be blowing toward the vent intakes as some are slanted to work with the apparent wind on the bow. So blowers will be important to push the air out of ER. You point makes sense if you know going to b d that you need and can do a stern anchor and will not effect other boats on the swing. We never use two anchors overnight, blowers on and sleep well.

 

[sbw1]

Your post caught my attention and I can't help by wondering how the blowers help if the current positions the boat side to or against the wind?

To answer OP's question, best option is having a little bit of a breeze swinging the boat with its direction. This ensures that most of the CO will escape behind the boat, having minimum risk of entering the interior. However, you should always have functional CO detectors and add some additional 110+battery backup operating CO detectors. If elements change, as in example above, where the current overpowers the wind, at least you'll be alerted by series of CO detectors. If you're in the area with strong current and can anticipate that it'll take over the wind, using a stern anchor is a good option to keep the bow pointed into the wind.

Never assume the wind and weather will be constant while you sleep. That is almost never the case. Never use two anchors with a gas genny running. That almost certainly is unsafe.

 

[dvx216]

There are CO monitors that shuts off the generator so I would think that would be what you would want if you are running it at night. Now I'm sure the rebuttal will be it's to dangerous to be relying on a electronic device but in this day and age that is almost impossible not to. In the end if you don't feel comfortable running a generator over night by all means don't but if you do choose to do so spend the money and get a good CO monitor that will cut off your generator and maintain your systems.

 

[Little Ducky]

I like having a generator and use it for various things when on the hook but my quiet time away from the dock is more valuable to me so it's off most of the time unless using the microwave/cooktop/keurig.

Someday it would be nice to have a larger boat with better generator soundproofing.

 

[Jus the two of us]

Ours with the Hush Kit, Can't really hear it at all. The 55 doesn't have any openings in the aft state room so genny running is a must most of the time.

 

[Tacoma290]

There are CO monitors that shuts off the generator so I would think that would be what you would want if you are running it at night. Now I'm sure the rebuttal will be it's to dangerous to be relying on a electronic device but in this day and age that is almost impossible not to. In the end if you don't feel comfortable running a generator over night by all means don't but if you do choose to do so spend the money and get a good CO monitor that will cut off your generator and maintain your systems.

Not sure this is technically correct. My Kohler 5ECD has a CO detector built onto the generator. My CO sensor failed and yes it does cause an alarm code ('CO-6' on the display in the engine room) but does not shut the unit down. Nor is there any audible alarm. In fact, you have to be in the engine room while the genny is running to even be aware of the alarm.
I just replaced the CO sensor this last weekend and there was significant corrosion (which was why it had failed). I would not want to rely on that alone for my family's life.

I anticipate that is why a number of the responses involve a number of CO sensors in use, if they make the personal decision to run a gas genny at night. I don't have an ax to grind one way or another, I just want to be sure whether or not to run a gas genny at night is an informed decision.

 

[mobocracy]

Not sure this is technically correct. My Kohler 5ECD has a CO detector built onto the generator. My CO sensor failed and yes it does cause an alarm code ('CO-6' on the display in the engine room) but does not shut the unit down. Nor is there any audible alarm. In fact, you have to be in the engine room while the genny is running to even be aware of the alarm.
I just replaced the CO sensor this last weekend and there was significant corrosion (which was why it had failed). I would not want to rely on that alone for my family's life.

I anticipate that is why a number of the responses involve a number of CO sensors in use, if they make the personal decision to run a gas genny at night. I don't have an ax to grind one way or another, I just want to be sure whether or not to run a gas genny at night is an informed decision.

I think the previous poster was talking about an in-cabin CO detector wired into the stop/start circuit. I'm pretty sure I remember seeing something like that from Fireboy/Xantex(?) when I replaced my OEM CO detector a couple of years ago.

I think it's ultimately one of those grey areas in terms of risk. The systems are in place to make it as low risk as possible, but not no risk -- sensors fail, stuff breaks, fires happen. I added 2 additional CO detectors when I bought my boat and if there's any breeze I don't really worry about it. But like another poster above, it's louder than I or especially my wife cares for, so its run less often and not overnight.

 

[Alex F]

...
Never assume the wind and weather will be constant while you sleep. That is almost never the case. Never use two anchors with a gas genny running. That almost certainly is unsafe.

Agreed and instead of assuming one should keep a close eye on the forecast.

My recommendation on using stern anchor applies only in rare case when the current has a great chance positioning a boat against the wind.

Main point is that there are lots of people anchoring with genny running all day and all night. It's all doable (gas and diesel) and all there for you to use. Just be smart about it and know how to do it safely.

The only time we don't run gas gennies is in a raft. We have a group agreement to shut gas gennies during the night and plug into larger boats with diesel gennies. It's obvious move due to the fact that larger rafts don't swing, especially when we deploy stern anchors.

 

[Alex F]

I guess my thought is if current and wind are 180 degrees apart and boat is held by current (so stern anchor in most archorages, unless lakes to different) the wind will not be blowing toward the vent intakes as some are slanted to work with the apparent wind on the bow. So blowers will be important to push the air out of ER. You point makes sense if you know going to b d that you need and can do a stern anchor and will not effect other boats on the swing. We never use two anchors overnight, blowers on and sleep well.

Considering the fact that our boat's ERs are not really water/air tight, I see your point on CO getting in via vents into ER and sneak into salon. Really a long shot, but it's possible. In that case the blowers will help. I hope yours are quite, though......LOL.

This is where low CO diesel generators make a huge difference. By the time anything left of CO gets to the vents, it's pretty much gone. Not so much with older gas genny, though.

 

[Dabble]

Just move to the PNW. No need for AC overnight, ever.

 

[Air O'Nautical]

I currently don’t sleep with the Westerbeke running...I really dislike the uncomfortable heat and humidity without AC at night. Im considering relying on adding several more CO monitors and letting it run this year...

 

[sbw1]

Considering the fact that our boat's ERs are not really water/air tight, I see your point on CO getting in via vents into ER and sneak into salon. Really a long shot, but it's possible. In that case the blowers will help. I hope yours are quite, though......LOL.

I believe the greater danger is from CO being drawn into the sleeping area from the A/C air intakes on the side of the boat as opposed to CO seeping into the cabin from the engine room. Our detectors have gone off from that source on very still nights as well as during a thunderstorm when the was lots of air movement, some of it resulting in CO getting sucked into the cabin when the boat was moving around a lot. Also the diesel guys who idle their engines in the marina letting things "warm up" set off the detectors when our boat is running A/C down below, so there is a risk to diesel as well. It is less than gas, but still there. The storm event was kind of a freak occurrence, but I was surprised by how long it took for the detector to return to standby. This took perhaps 5 minutes with hatches opened to let fresh air inside. We did that in pouring down rain.