[Chinny]

Great advice. I too like the concept of more horsepower, provided fuel economy doesn’t go out the window and additional maintenance costs don’t cancel whatever advantage I would have gained from more torque. Like all of the boats I have owned in the past, a thorough engine survey is worth it’s weight in Gold. One additional question I have is related to the generator. Do most of the operators use their generators or are they an unnecessary piece of expensive equipment clogging up engine access. A few of the boats I have seen do not have them or did, but were removed with wiring still in place. Thoughts on that?

Thanks in advance,

Christian

[ReelMagic]

I owned a 1997 31 open for 10 years and never really missed a generator... I agree it takes up a lot of space in the engine room making serving difficult to say the least and adds to the maintenance costs/issues ... If you cruise as we did, staying at marinas, I don't think it's a necessity.... We cruised extensively over the 10 years, many trips in excess of 3 weeks. Covered lots of water including Chesapeake Bay, Hudson River/Lake Champlain to Montreal, East to Boston, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Block Island and points north to NH from our home port on Long Island Sound... Never felt we needed a generator even when we stayed on the hook for a day or so... Believe the 31's were split between those with and those w/o a generator. I now own a 38 Open with a generator and continue to cruise the same waters... Most of the time I run w/o the generator running although it's great to have the cabin cool, ice from the ice machine when tying up for the night. It's also nice when spending a night or 2 on the hook ensuring the batteries remain changed & ice for drinks. We never go to sleep w/generator running. Just open the hatches and port hole windows.....M2C

[Sans Peur]

I am in Florida and it gets HOT! My genny is running before I leave until I get back to shore power. When offshore it sure is nice to duck into a really cold salon. We run it on the hook as well. I make sure the CO detectors are in good working order and sleep like a baby.
I have never boated up north and maybe the weather and bugs are better but down here and in the Bahamas it is a must have. Wouldn't be without it.

[Misdirection]

Normally, I do not run my generator much. However, during a fishing trip this year it was rather hot and my wife wasn't feeling well. Kicked on the generator to cool down the cabin and that made all the difference. Besides, being able to make popcorn underway makes everyone happier:-)

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[Chinny]

Normally, I do not run my generator much.  However, during a fishing trip this year it was rather hot and my wife wasn't feeling well.  Kicked on the generator to cool down the cabin and that made all the difference.  Besides, being able to make popcorn underway makes everyone happier:-)

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That's a great point. It would be nice to still have the option to run it if nothing else...

[justrollin]

I was actually fortunate to tour two 3100's this morning. Both for sale and only 10 feet apart. I was surprised with how roomy they feel once you are on them. Pictures alone don't do them justice. I was amazed by the beam of the cockpit, and more impressed by how spacious below decks seemed. Both were the same year (2000) and both had Crusaders (350 hp). 
One of the boats I got on had an after market swim platform, so the owner could pull his inflatable dinghy up on it. Has anyone else done that, and what does it do to efficiency in cruising? I'm use to towing a painter behind me with the dinghy attached in my previous life as a sailor and was curious to how this actually was in theory having it hoisted up. 
Another question I had deals with just that. Fuel efficiency. the broker mentioned you only burned about 18 gph at cruise, but I have seen others post here that it's about 32 gph at 3200rpm. where in lies the truth? He may have been referring to a slow, river cruise speed.

Thanks in advance for all!

Christian Sava
Newburyport, MA

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He is talking both engines