Sailfish - microvave and refrigerator

[Legend]

I was reading the psot on shore power and have a few questions on a boat I am picking uo this Friday. Do these appliances have the capability to run when the boat is not connected to shore power. I always assumed they could only be used dockside with shore power.

Thanks

 

[dunwurkin]

If you have a factory genset, it should be sufficient to run these. If it is an aftermarket, check the KW output. Most are sufficient to run the normal appliances -- microwave, TV, AC and the like.

Good luck with the Sailfish, you will love it, a nice rig.

 

[gradyfish22]

You can use an inverter to power the appliances, but that will draw from your batteries which means you really need to monitor them. The only real solution is either the factory generator, or to buy a Honda EU2000i and either mount it on the bow or your eurotransom and use it when you overnight. The Honda will be cheaper then the stick Genset, but is not permanent and will only be put onboard when used, not kept onboard all of the time. On my boat, the fridge stays cold enough during a day fishing trip to keep styff in there, but for an overnighter it will not. Keep your stuff closer to the freezer part, that is the coldest part.

 

[Kenlahr]

Tom,
Do you run a Honda on your overnights? If so How do ya like it...

 

[BobP]

Refrigerator yes, microwave no.

You will need at least a 1000W inverter for the microwave, like I have.

When I run the microwave at sea to heat up soup or something else hot to drink or eat, in neutral gear, I bus both batteries together and run one engine fast idle, the other engine off. Since the microwave is running minutes not hours, the Ship's power system can supply the substantial 90A or so, of DC load.

Others use a smaller inverter for the cabin TV / playstation / DVD player setup to entertain the bored kids.

 

[gradyfish22]

Ken I did not last year, we brought 2 spare batteries with us, but I will be running one this year, I've tried to avoid buying one but cannot find any better solution. I've been on two boats with them, they are very quiet and did not burn the whole 1 gal tank after a nights use. We ran 2 sets of Halogen spreader lights and a hydro glow light along with radar, gps, fishfinder, and 2 radios all night. We also microwaved food at one point. Mine will be mounted on the bow, an option for you is to have it mounted on yur eurotransom, it should stay high and dry there and will be well ventilated, but if you need to get back there to pass a rod around the engines it might be in the way. Putting it in your forward walkaway might be a better solution. Onclr has one and I believe he mounts his in his walkway forward, I asked him about his and he said he loves it. They are fairly small and lightweight and are easy to install and remove. My friend had a few small tie down clamps put in and he had straps with clips that just snapped to it, similar to outrigger halyard clips and the eye strap.

 

[Boats Rock]

Do you run you frig on 12v or 110v?

 

[Kenlahr]

Tom, I think your right. I was thinking of mounting it up on the pulpit and running the pwr cord back attached to the rail with plastic tie downs. It could be set up when you set up for the night and when its time to come up on the AM troll just snip the tie downs, coil the cord and below deck it all goes.

 

[gradyfish22]

Yup that is easctly what I plan to do, I'll run mine down my walkway then tuck it neatly up under my coaming and out of the way, likely above the rod racks so it is away from gaff tips and flopping tuna!! I am considering as a project next winter, installing a receptical forward and just plugging the generator in there, then running wires internally and then under the cockpit and putting another receptical above my shore power connection, then just running a very short connection between the two to connect them, that way there are no power chords on deck at all, and I will need to have the adapter at the shore connection anyways. Not sure if it is worth the work yet, will have to see after a trip or two, if it seems to not be a problem I'll save myself the work. This also eliminates the need for an inverter, I'll be able to run my microwave on the water when offshore since the genset gets plugged into the shore power connection and then charges the batteries from there providing all the juice you need. Once that is installed, I'm going to add more or bigger spreader lights...more light=more bait, and hopefully that means more tuna!! Plus, we lost a sword at the gaff due to a lack of lighting, the stock spreaders just aren't enough for me.

 

[Kenlahr]

That sounds like a great plan Tom. Smooth and efficient. I don't care for deck gear. I like to keep the entire deck clear of everything. Even on my Gulfstream I refused to keep an "extra" cooler on the deck. Instead we got a smaller cooler and a canyon bag for ice and kept it down below. Now with the aft cabin, I have space for a large ice cooler.

I really like the idea of the for/aft outlets and running the cords internal. But, like you said its another winter boat job. We'll se how many overnighters I actually do this year and how big a pain it is.