New Generator

[tonytrakovich]

Well one of the 1989 Onan 20kw generators on Bella Sophia just pooped the bed. Rather than trying to fix, I am going to replace with new. What is the best bang for the buck? Looking at Koehler and Phasor now. Would like to find one in stock somewhere. I need to have it installed and tested by July 12 Bahamas trip. We are in Lighthouse Point Florida. Is there a market for the old one? It was making good power last year. Sat for a while and now it doesn't crank. Borescope says probable fresh water in one of the cylinders.

 

[scottinsydney]

Could you please take photos and notes of how you do it as I have a dead Kohler 20kva that needs to come out. Thanks.

 

[Pascal]

I'd look at Northern lights. Well built, simple, low tech... the Johnson 70 I ran till last year had two NL 20s. In the 8 years I ran the boat I did one raw water pump on each, one circulation pump on one, a couple of engine mounts and one injection pump. Not bad for almost 10k hours on each

 

[gbharrington]

When I bought my boat I was told that the gen was locked up and would need replacing. Turned out to be a bad starter solenoid.
When I was shopping generators, I decided on a Phasor. Simple, easy to maintain and a good value.

 

[RonNP]

What is the typical installation costs of a 20 kw generator? Looks like I could get one for $13k and change before install costs.

 

[Scarlett]

I removed my Onan 20k gen and found it to be easy by removing exhaust manifold and generator part first then the rest came out pretty easy. I put in a Phasor and so far I like it. I would second Pascals comments on Northern Lights I see a lot of them when doing surveys and they seem to be pretty reliable. John

 

[Cricket]

Call Alan at Phasor, they're nearby in Pompano. Our 15kw has been bullet proof for 15 years, have to love those Kubota engines. NL are good units too, especially if you're on the west coast.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I've had a NL for years and love it. I just wish I could fit a hush hood on it, but there isn't room.

 

[bobk]

I've had a NL for years and love it. I just wish I could fit a hush hood on it, but there isn't room.

Jim,

How much clearance do you have around the machine? If a couple of inches, you can build your own hush box. I can send you some details if you wish.

Bobk

 

[MVCaprice]

I second the Northern Lights recommendation. They are simpler, easier to maintain and easier to get parts for than all the other generators. Definity not the cheapest generator, but if you plan on seriously using the boat they are just a better longer term solution.

 

[MVCaprice]

Jim,How much clearance do you have around the machine? If a couple of inches, you can build your own hush box. I can send you some details if you wish.Bobk

Keep in mind that factory sound shields are designed for the right amount of airflow. We built our own on our old boat wife a 12kw NL and it ran hot. The NL sound shields draw air in on one side and exhaust on the other. Definity a science behind it, particularly if you are not in a cool climate.

 

[rwetherington]

Good Morning everyone I use to work at Hatteras in the service department. give me a call and I can get you a Kohler generator a below dealer price 404-630-3868

 

[bobk]

Keep in mind that factory sound shields are designed for the right amount of airflow. We built our own on our old boat wife a 12kw NL and it ran hot. The NL sound shields draw air in on one side and exhaust on the other. Definity a science behind it, particularly if you are not in a cool climate.

I worried about air circulation when I built mine. The simple answer was to hook in a squirrel cage blower and allow a baffled exhaust for the cooling air flow. I wired it directly to the generator out put (w fuse) and never had an issue.

Bobk

 

[Freestyle]

I replaced my broken Onan 20 with an Onan 23 3 years ago with Sun Power. I went with Onan and at a favorable price because one of the members of the forum is friends with the owner of the distributor.

I have never had anything but Onans so can't speak to that.

All in, the project was $17k. The tech was Richard Harris and he has done a ton of these on old Hatts so he has the A Frame and all of the stuff to remove and install pre-built. I think he did an amazing job and very fast. No problems other than owner inflicted injury since.

I think I got $700 for my old one which they lump into a stack of old ones and then rebuild them and donate them to Haitian relief. So no value really.

Bruce
Freestyle
62 CPMY (54 with cockpit extentsion)
Tampa

 

[MVCaprice]

I worried about air circulation when I built mine. The simple answer was to hook in a squirrel cage blower and allow a baffled exhaust for the cooling air flow. I wired it directly to the generator out put (w fuse) and never had an issue.

Bobk

Yeah that's a good idea. Most generator packs have a fan within the generator pack/ flywheel and use that, but more air cannot be a bad thing.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I actually had a factory sound enclosure offered to me by the NL dealer here in Annapolis- it was a leftover from a boat show- but we couldn't make it fit. Just not enough room.

Most of the noise that comes through is kind of a low-pitched rumble, which makes me think it will be difficult to reduce or get rid of. I think I have pretty much decided to live with it.

There are much quieter generators, like Fischer-Pandas, but they have a terrible rep on reliability.

 

[Tim Powell]

Good Morning everyone I use to work at Hatteras in the service department. give me a call and I can get you a Kohler generator a below dealer price 404-630-3868

Roger i know you were very active in the developement of the on board monitering system. Did you teach or pass on your knowledge to anyone in the morehead city area. Mine is really screwed up lights come and go at will about ready to totally throw it overboard. if so send me a tex and let me know what my best option is Please
Tim
919 255 0882

 

[R D Young]

Tony, You might want to try Freddy Pereira at BMZ/Alpha Generators in Pompano (754) 366-4714. He makes a 20 a KW using a 4 cyl. Isuzu engine and Stamford back end. Bullet proof - I've had two on the boat for over ten years and only problems were the Jabsco water pumps. He's since sourced an improved model.

 

[tonytrakovich]

Hey guys. Thanks for all of the suggestions. I have decided to go with Roger and buy a new Koehler 23kw unit. As promised, he has taken care of me on the price. He has been a good friend to the forum and has given me a lot of good advise and contacts over the years. The Phasor and NorPro units were cheaper but the Kohler has more power and more features. Also he has the Kohler in stock and will ship tomorrow.

 

[MVCaprice]

Hey guys. Thanks for all of the suggestions. I have decided to go with Roger and buy a new Koehler 23kw unit. As promised, he has taken care of me on the price. He has been a good friend to the forum and has given me a lot of good advise and contacts over the years. The Phasor and NorPro units were cheaper but the Kohler has more power and more features. Also he has the Kohler in stock and will ship tomorrow.

Very cool!

Does the Kohler have a NEMA2000 interface? I read somewhere that Kohler is shipping those now. I know on the Northern Lights they have a new J1939 canbus connection that they recently released which does some of the telemetry.

I would love to be able to get fuel consumption, engine hours and vitals from a nav/chartplotter system. That IMHO is a huge benefit of the newer big name gensets.