Julian wrote: > YES the boat only ever did one trip of note from Hebden Bridge to York > in 5 years. The rest of the time it was on the Rochdale being used as a > liveaboard and not moving very much at all.
That's as I feared then, it's no wonder it bore glazed. > OK so there is double the power and half as many cylinders again but the > principle of light loading still applies to all engines. > If you consider that a 5hp engine will run a 5kw genset then a 40hp boat > engine is hardly being loaded even with a 5kw travel power attached > running flat out which unless you are running a big aircon or heaters it > wont be, even with a washing machine, 85% of the washing machines cycle > is without the heaters so will be about 3-400watts. > Most use of 230v on a boat (except for charging the boats batteries if > that is done from 230v) is well under 1500w total except for very short > periods, so inverters and a dedicated 24v charging generator makes far > more sense than a travel power both electrically and environmentally. Agreed, but for those that do not want the cost, or perhaps haven't the space for a separate genny then a TravelPower is a good option particularly if it is used while travelling. I still feel that used with intelligence and care, not sitting for weeks on end generating, and getting some decent load on the engine when you do travel will help to prevent glazing. It's all about the way you use it, as the Bishop said to the call-girl ;-))) Don't forget that, as well as the 5hp for the TP you are also charging using the standard engine alternator which will also load the engine, especially after a period sat moored up. The main down-side is that you can't run it on red and the engine is also over-specced as a genny but, as you have just the one main fuel you only have one tank also, saving room if that is a consideration. Roger
