[Crackofdawn]

Is it okay to run the generator while at cruise speed? I was wondering if the generator would get starved for raw water?
Thanks

[ReelMagic]

I run the generator on my 2003 38 Open all the time when cruising and never had a problem regarding overheating. Raw water pickup for the generator has a south shore strainer (looks like a wedge w/small holes to prevent eel grass from clogging the pick up)... Same pickup as the main engines....... M2C

[Uhehner]

On another boat, I had to change the intake to a forward facing scoop so as not to loose water cooling. It was the type used for engine cooling water with a grill type strainer.  Problem solved.  Capt.  George

[tglass]

Depending on what you have I would be somewhat cautious about installing a forward scoop on the generator.  I had a 1988 33 Open and the previous owner had retro fitted a Westerbeke with a forward facing pick up.  If the sea cock was open underway without the generator running it would force water past the water pump into the generator.  The Westerbeke needed the exhaust pressure while running to force the cooling water through the system and if it wasn't running water would fill the engine through the open exhaust valves.  This may have been specific to the Westerbeke but I know the owners manual specifically stated not to install a scoop through hull.

I should note this is not a problem on my 41 Open with an Onan generator

[ReelMagic]

The "wedge" shaped scoop I mentioned in my reply was installed by Tiara during MFG of the boat itself on both main engines as well as the generator... Have seen no issues with the configuration and have more than 500 hrs on the generator... Have run the boat for considerably more time at cruise w/o the generator running, again with no adverse affect.... A good raw water pump/impeller should prevent water from getting pass the pump and affect the generator..... My generator is an Onan 9  KW.....Again M2C

[bigboatben]

It's designed to run while the boat is under way at any speed


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[Crackofdawn]

Good to know, thanks for the replies

[sbw1]

Is it okay to run the generator while at cruise speed? I was wondering if the generator would get starved for raw water?
Thanks

I can only speak from experience with a 32 open. We run with a genny on in all kinds of weather and seas with no problems. Ours is a factory install. Friends with 42 opens do so as well. Never heard of a problem with those boats . There may be some issues with after market applications, but Tiara's designs are pretty good in this department. If it comes out of the factory with a genny it should work at cruise.

[HandsFree]

I have few questions.  1) Why would you need to / want to run your gen set while cruising? 2) Do you need to turn off your dc powered items when it is on or can you just turn it on and go?  3) Do you need to worry about over charging your batteries?  

[sbw1]

We run our genny while cruising on Lake Michigan in the springtime when the water is cold and we need cockpit heat and reverse cycle heat in the cabin. Our heat runs on alternating current. Our ice maker also runs on alternating current. In the summer we sometimes run the A/C while cruising which requires the genny.  We do not turn off dc powered systems as there is no need to do so. Our stereo is dc and so is the TV. Sometimes one or the other is on when we cruise. No need to worry about overcharging the batteries. The engine alternators and the Charles battery charger work together as needed to maintain the proper battery charge without overdoing things.