First - it ts the lack of the single modification that has kept my wife from being invited aboard for a cruise, and
Two - it is something that I couldn't have done alone.
The generator is officially 'permanently' installed on the roof of Big Duck and is wired in.
When my son-in-law Trey decided we needed a generator for the camping trailer, he opted for the EU3000i with remote wireless start. I made a temporary enclosure for the generator to keep it out of sight unless it was in service.
The enclosure needed a 'door' on top so we could fill the generator without taking the enclosure off. I put a marine hatch on top.
Then we needed a way to yank the pull starter when the battery was low. I used a marine access port.
Then I put in a front access so we could see the indicator lights and switch the eco-throttle on and off.
Then Trey said, "Let's put a vent on the back for the exhaust so we don't have to take the enclosure off while it's running." So I installed the exhaust vent and lo and behold we had a generator that could provide power to the camper while being totally out of sight.
When I bought Big Duck, Trey said the camper generator would be a good fit for the boat. I said, "You bought the generator - it should stay with the camper."
Trey said, "You paid for half of the generator and bought everything needed to make the installation - including the 'temporary' enclosure, fittings and wiring. It belongs on the boat."
I'm still not sure who paid what, and it doesn't matter. What does matter is the relationship we have. And today he helped me make the EU3000i a permanent part of Big Duck. And it seems like the temporary enclosure is now...permanent.
The generator enclosure had a base on the camper tongue.
The enclosure slid down over the base. That base was mounted directly to the tongue. For installation on Big Duck, I put rubber doorstop feet on the base to allow circulation below the base when mounted on the roof.
The roof of my Land-N-Sea is about a 3/16" fiberglass layer over several inches of foam with another fiberglass layer as the ceiling inside...not the best strata for a firm grip. My solution was to mount the base to the boat's roof with two 3/16" stainless studs. This was accomplished by getting a couple feet of stainless all thread and making 4 2" discs of 1/4 plastic. Careful measuring suggested that the mounting studs could be configured to exit inside the overhead locker in the head. We'd then slip the base over the studs and bolt it down.
We got lucky on the holes and they came through exactly as planned inside the locker. A nut, then stainless flat washer, then the plastic disc were used on the all thread inside the locker, then the all thread was pushed up through the hole and measured topsides for the proper length through the roof and enclosure base.
The stud was secured to the roof by placing first the plastic disc, then the stainless washer, than the nut torqued only snug, using appropriate selant and loctite. The base was then placed over the stud and fastened with a stainless washer and nut. This way the roof wasn't deformed by compressing the foam, but we still got a very secure attachment.
We then fitted a power cord from the generator to the shore power inlet that I had put in on the port side of the cabin at the stern. An exceptionally clean and very satisfying installation.
Fill hatch:
To top it off, Trey wired in a small battery maintainer for the Honda starting battery in the dinette seat locker. This would maintain the battery while on shore power in the back yard. I need to sanitize it, but it's fully functional.
Trey had a little more time so he decided to hard wire a 30 amp outlet to the outside of my garage for the shore power cord. I had him put it up at the eve so I wouldn't have to lift it while mowing.
I made a commitment to take Trey and my daughter Sara Jane and my 15 month old grandson Patrick shown at the flybridge helm,
Kasey and Merlin on a previous boat outing.
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