Generator or Inverter for a small cruiser?

Thanks everyone, this has been a very helpful post for me.
 
I am leaning towards the 2005 no genny, outdrives, fresh water one. It's been used on the Great Lakes and Delaware river. It's my plan to use the boat on the upper Potomac again, and dry stack/shed store it. I do not see the added value of inboards, I do see added value (performance and fuel efficiency) for fresh water river boating with the outdrives.

On the 2004 genny, inboards, salt water use one I noticed the port engine risers/manifolds looked newer. I asked the broker to ask the owner why. The boat is advertised as "serviced with an open checkbook" and the broker shared with me all the service is done by a shop. The owner told the broker he replaced the port engine ones himself recently, has the parts for the starboard but never did that engine. Seems, odd given the service history comments. Also, if the owner has an open checkbook, why was the genny never repaired, especially in prep for a sale. The fuel tanks were sitting on empty as well, so much so the broker did not know if we could get it to his marina for a haul out for survey. Seems odd, again. Feels cheap to me, cutting corners if you will, and why risk sucking up trash from the bottom of the tanks? The boat had a very recent "tune up" as well, which makes me think something was, or is wrong. Starboard engine backfired on start up. Could be simple like the IAC valve, but who knows.

You ever just get a feeling about a boat, that they history/story is, off with reality?
 
It is a little outside of the box and the input power needed for recharge may be too much, but take a look at Tesla Powerwall as a combination battery bank/inverter.
 
quote:
Originally posted by easttnboater

It is a little outside of the box and the input power needed for recharge may be too much, but take a look at Tesla Powerwall as a combination battery bank/inverter.

Click to expand...
Has someone made the Powerwall suitable for mobile usage? Or deal with the possible harsh movement of a boat environment?
 
Didn’t have a genny on my old boat and was always worried about conserving battery power during long days on the hook. If you don’t spend a lot of time on the hook then you probably don’t need the genny.
I love having the genny on my current boat and use it more than I thought I would. But it’s diesel and fairly economical to run.
 
Not genny vs. inverter related, but I think you would find, if you were able to run both boats, the IO would by far, out handle the inboards in a cruiser of that size. Backing those inboards, with the props tucked up in tunnels is a pain. Also, the inboards would be V-drives and space in the engine room in that size boat would be all but non-existent.
 
Just my opinion but I would take inboards for maneuverability over IO’s any day. Might just be what I’m used to.
Jim
 
Me too! My twin inboards handle much better around the dock than my old twin I/O boat did.
 
I agree on the inboard versus outdrives comments for maneuverability around the docks. Once out on the water though, under power, I prefer the outdrives.
 
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