Gas Generator Replacement

[Bottom Line]

I am considering replacing my 20 year old gas Onan 6.5 MCCK. I'll be making the rounds at the Miami Boat Show next weekend but was wondering what others have bought. Thanks.
Mike Ford

 

[yachtsmanbill]

I say keep it and buy a new color radar !! My 1969 MCCK still runs like new. No soundshield and quiet. Ive owned this one since 1972! Couldnt give me a new one either. ws

 

[REBrueckner]

There were/are recently used parts for sale on this model on E-bay boat parts.....
unless you run a lot of annual hours on your genny, wait until it needs something expensive....

 

[REBrueckner]

Just looked at E-bay..there's an entire engine for this model up for auction starting at $300...$400 buy now price...
If you do this work yourself, you can keep this baby running forever..if you have to pay for labor, perhaps a new genny will be the simpler route when this one fails you...

 

[Pascal]

if you replace it, definitely look at the low/no CO units that are now available.

i had a Westerbeke 7.5 on my previous boat (1998) great genny. i put about 900 hours on it in 6 years, only replacing impeller, plugs, etc... once after 5 years.

from what i've heard on various boards about gas kohlers, i'd stay away from them. looks like they chew impellers and foul plugs easily with infrequent use / light loads.

 

[67hat34c]

for gas gens you only have one choice, Westerbeke. it is a 1800 rpm gen just like the onan. the Kohler is a 3600 rpm screamer. I herd one of these run and no mater what they tell you they are loud. sound shield may help but the westerbeke will run without one. the kohler has a very light weight aluminum japanese engine on it. the winding is much smaller and lighter since it turns so fast. so size and weight is a benefit for the kohler. westerbeke is going to save you some space over the onan and is going to be about 100 to 150 lbs lighter.

I too have an old onan 4.0 mcck. runs perfect and is quiet, uses no oil etc so we will keep it.