Aftermarket Must-Haves: Generators

May 2014 Product Lee Lovell

Houseboat magazine generally attracts three types of readers: those who own a houseboat, those who are looking to purchase their first one and those who love to dream of the experience of owning one some day.

Appropriately though, the main focus seems to be on the big picture: owning a houseboat of your own. Once you take ownership though, the picture changes at that point.

The accessories that you purchase are a big factor in determining how much you’ll enjoy the ownership of your new home on the water. The small things can make a big difference.

This roundup takes a look at some accessories we love that you can add to your new or existing houseboat. While are not able to cover every product that is available, the next few pages will give you a great starting point.

Generators

We all want our houseboats to be just like home. Usually that means all of the comforts that we enjoy, including several appliances. This also means having the power necessary to make all of them work.

Generators are a quintessential part of houseboating as it allows you to enjoy all that is on your houseboat and is a symbol of independence and, more importantly, safety. One important factor to consider when purchasing a generator is the amount of power that it produces measured in kilowatts (kW). The higher your electrical demands, the higher power production you will need.

One of our favorite manufacturers has been Kohler Marine Generators. They have a full line of gasoline generators ranging from 5 to 15 kilowatts. What we love about these units is that they have one-side serviceability of the fuel filter, cooling systems and lubrication systems. As an added benefit, all of their gasoline models are EPA and CARB emission compliant.

Kohler also recently introduced its new 6, 8.5 and 11 kilowatt diesel generators that are small and light and feature a new control interface.

Another favorite manufacturer of ours is Westerbeke. They offer a full range of gasoline generators for houseboats ranging from 8 to 22.5 kilowatts. The generator units run at a slow speed of 1,800 rpms, which means quieter operation for enjoying the calm of the water. We love that its units can achieve that low of volume without the traditional need for an enclosure. As a result they can be easier to service for both the aftermarket and fleet owners. The units are also low emission.

Centek Industries (Emissions Control)

229-228-7653

www.centekindustries.com

Coleman Powermate Inc.

402-758-9444

www.colemanpowermate.com

Fisher Panda Generators

954-462-2800

www.fisherpanda.com

Kohler Generator Marine

920-457-4441

www.kohlergenerators.com