How many of you use a portable gas generator?

[Guest]

Here is AZ there aren't many places that offer utilities with the camp group facilities near the lake. I'm in the market or a small gas generator mainly for recharging the boat and wondering if anyone else has one. Any recommendations specifically for something I can use on multi-day tournaments with no facilities?

Not looking for something heavy duty but if I was car camping (i.e. sleeping in the back of the truck for a couple of days) I'd like something that I can fish a 3 day tournament with and maybe the George Forman grill .

Also with a gas generator does it make sense to use my on board charger (which typically is a trickle charge) or should I purchase a quick charge unit to power the trolling motor batteries quickly. Have any of you guys modified your tow vehicle to power your boat batteries, etc in place of a generator?

Thanks.

[Brian Ruthman]

Honda makea a real quiet generator it is a 2500 model i think , it also has a battery charge outlet . It wont run an ac unit on an rv but it will run everything else , a great little unit .

[ash]

Honda makea a real quiet generator it is a 2500 model i think , it also has a battery charge outlet . It wont run an ac unit on an rv but it will run everything else , a great little unit .

+1 on the Honda purrrs like a kitten. My parents run this unit while camping, lasts for years too.

[Brian D.]

last year and got some good input. I also consulted the tech folks at CSI battery chargers for the straight and skinny.

End result is that I purchased a newer /used 2000W generator on Craig's list. This is the minimum size that I suggest. Most brands are reliable and fairly quiet. But, if you are at a campground, most will have defined quiet times, so you better get your batteries charged early in the day. To charge 4- deep cycle batteries takes at least 6 hrs.

There is nothing better than having AC power in the middle of the desert for lights, mini microwaves, coffee maker, fans, etc.

As of charging boat batteries with your tow vehicle... unless you are driving a few hundred miles, it may not be the best solution to fully charge your TM batteries.

Good luck Vince

[Guest]

What about something smaller? I don't think my power needs are going to be that big especially for mainly recharging the boat. I don't have a cab over (yet) but if I do I'm mainly looking for something on the smaller size. Was mainly looking at the smaller pop up cabovers or just putting a shell on the back of the truck rather than having get a 2500 series truck/diesel to handle both the cab over and boat.

Brian(s) -- thanks for the info. I think I'll try the CL route.

[tunaman]

There is nothing better than having AC power in the middle of the desert for lights, mini microwaves, coffee maker, fans, etc.

Satellite, Tivo, A/C... yeah baby! Roughing it at it's finest!

Got an Onan in my motorhome, as they're pretty standard, but as I recall the Honda's were very highly rated for stand-alone generators.

Roger

[Jason P]

I believe the best Honda units are the EU series, which are the quiet ones, They make an EU 1000,2000,3000, and 6500 they cost more then your standard generator but they are great. I sell them, and we have very very little repairs on these units. Also the 1000 and 2000 can be carried around with one hand, also they make a link system that you can link them together to get even more power if needed. Honda is the best. The 1000 is around 999.00 i think the 2000 is around 1499.00 off the top of my head.

Jason P

[Guest]

I believe the best Honda units are the EU series, which are the quiet ones, They make an EU 1000,2000,3000, and 6500 they cost more then your standard generator but they are great. I sell them, and we have very very little repairs on these units. Also the 1000 and 2000 can be carried around with one hand, also they make a link system that you can link them together to get even more power if needed. Honda is the best. The 1000 is around 999.00 i think the 2000 is around 1499.00 off the top of my head.

Jason P

Sweet... and they come in Camo too! This is more along the size that I was thinking.

http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/prod ... egory=play

[Jason P]

That's them, you won't be sorry. We even had three of them stolen from us in the last two months. Crooks even love them

Jason P

[rexford]

Get the Honda EU2000. I have had mine for several years and it is
bullet proof. Quiet, light weight and plenty of power. They make a
1000 but they are only a couple bucks less then the 2000. Plus
the 2000 is enough to run your fridge should you have an extended
power outage at home. Make sure you get the EU as it has the inverter
to protect your sensitive electronics like computers and plasma tvs

I did allot of leg work on camping forums before I bought the Honda
and I could not be happier

Do buy a cable lock for it. I even lock mine in the garage.

GL.
Mike

[Rod Martin]

Think about adding an invertor to your truck. That with one or two extra batteries, hooked up right it wont drain your starting battery, and gives you power after you're required to shut off gens. also power outage at home plug into your boat , with an invertor in the house, no noise, no hauling gas.

[Guest]

So how would I be able to determine the Amps required to charge the boat?

3 bank charger in my boat

I'm thinking the EU1000 is probably too small as it's only rated for 8.3A whereas the EU2000 is 16.7A.

[i am ez]

So how would I be able to determine the Amps required to charge the boat?

3 bank charger in my boat

I'm thinking the EU1000 is probably too small as it's only rated for 8.3A whereas the EU2000 is 16.7A.

The eu2000 is the deal,, plenty power for recharge plus it will run a coffee pot ,hair dryer, or small heater (dry out damp gear)--ez

[Brian D.]

Contact the mfg of the battery charger. If you are at 15A per bank for a 3-4 bank charger, its best to go with a 2000W Gen.

Although a 1K would work, but it would take forever to charge the Batts. Think~ an 18ft. fiberglass bassboat powered by a 70 hp engine. It'll get ya there, but its not the best solution.

[Guest]

Contact the mfg of the battery charger. If you are at 15A per bank for a 3-4 bank charger, its best to go with a 2000W Gen.

Although a 1K would work, but it would take forever to charge the Batts. Think~ an 18ft. fiberglass bassboat powered by a 70 hp engine. It'll get ya there, but its not the best solution.

Yeah I'm thinking that's the way to go. Plenty of power, quiet and enough juice to get the batteries fully charged before the next day fishing.

Thanks guys for your help.

[Ringer]

Vince-I have the EU2000 honda and was the most popular guy at the two day tournaments. It charged my four 31 size batteries no problem. I also had a Stealth charging system in my boat and it was amazing how fast the batteries would pick up charge from the 250 Yamaha.

[Guest]

Vince-I have the EU2000 honda and was the most popular guy at the two day tournaments. It charged my four 31 size batteries no problem. I also had a Stealth charging system in my boat and it was amazing how fast the batteries would pick up charge from the 250 Yamaha.

Did you notice any long term battery problems using the Stealth charging system? I've been hearing about this for quite some time, but hadn't heard much on the topic lately.

[tunaman]

I've had my Stealth onboard charger for a couple of years now, and no problems what so ever... works great. I'm still running the original batteries in my Z20 (so far - knock on wood!), so I'm really glad I made the investment.

Roger

[Ringer]

No problems at all and you could get the four batteries down to 38+ volts and running from the Salt end to the Tonto end got them up to 41+. Have no idea how it could charge that fast.

[Brian D.]

Honda EU2000 for sale - $750

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/tls/993032104.html

[ACRon]

Charging off your big motor is a great advantage. I have one on my 200 Merc and when we are house boating it dramatically extends our trips. If you are making a big run to your first spot it will top them off and on the long run back it will give you a head start on the end of the day charging.

The Honda EU is the way to go. Make sure you put a chain around it at all times that it is outside. They are a major theft item. Chain it to you boat trailer when charging or to your vehicle frame at the Camper.

[Brian]

If you pay more than $800 for that EU 2000 you are paying to much. $850 tops.

[Steve45]

Had a guy from our Bass club with a Honda EU2000 that hooked my boat and two other boats up to charge with no problems. I'm looking at getting one myself, I tried a regular 2500 generator to plug in, to charge my batteries but it wouldn't work, it has to be a pure sine wave generator like the Honda with a built in inverter. Yamaha makes an inverter generator also but the Honda seems to be right around my price.

[N.A.R]

Can this EU2000 be used in a confined area say an SUV or a covered truck bed? Or does it require more ventilation?

[PF3352]

I got mine Honda EU 2000i from www.wisesales.com and was very pleased. Phone call took all of about 5 minutes. The cost was 899.00 with free shipping and no sales tax. I love every bit of this generator. And it does work great with my A/C unit (Mini Mach Coleman) on my cabover. I used it at the Oroville dam last month while prefishin. Had my batts charging while watching a movie. Awesome tool.

[ACRon]

N.A.R. no combustible motor should be used in a confined area. Absolutely not in a cover bed. That is the same as sucking on an exhaust pipe. It will kill you.