Marine Electronics Q&A with BOE Marine - Pursuit with Honda generator question

So I recently got frustrated with my westerbeke 3.0 bpms and ripped it out of my 2006 34 Pursuit Drummond. After looking at my power consumption for my water heater, microwave and air conditioner, I decided a Honda eu2000 would be sufficient even if I had to only power one thing at a time. Tested it out in the driveway yesterday. Every time I turn on the water heater the main 120 breaker switch pops on the panel in the cabin. It works fine plugged into my house. The microwave works on the Honda. I will test the A/C when I get in the water.

Last yr after the hurricane we were showering on the boat running off my 3000 or 3500 watt cheapo loud home generator and it was working fine. I will test that again. The water heater draws 10 amps according the the meter on the boat. If I were asking for too much power from the honda I would expect the breaker on that to go first or the overdraw light, but not the boat breaker. Main breaker right after shore power connection is fine as well. Any thoughts? Anyone running similar boats on Honda generators? Thanks guys.

I don't have any thoughts on this. AC power is not my thing. I think you'll find your answer when you try the el cheapo gen to see if it works.

I bought a Yamaha (little bit more decibels, but my marina dealer would let me check how much load it would handle before buying) 2KW portable generator last year, not just for the boat but for condo power loss....already saved me $1000 in fish in a saltwater aquarium when I had a "brownout" from a faulty meter contact...kept 'em alive for 8 hours until the problem was fixed (on a Sunday, of course!).
It will run the AC (biggest load I need...in Florida), the 'frig, and the microwave simultaneously ...after I get the AC running (past the initial compressor start up draw).....
I'd have to look at the draw from the water heater..... though I'll probably never use it (unless I get divorced and need a place to sleep/shower.....lol!)....
I have a 2002 3070 Pursuit, btw.

Thanks phre. I can't imagine it's a power issue. 10 amp draw on my water heater. I can measure it. Your A/C and micro have to draw more than my heater. It seems like it has to be something else. I will try the A/C unit this weekend on the generator.

If I can't get hot water, it means we're always going to be paying for a dock when we travel. There might be a Honda with really low hours for sale if the 3000 was really the way to go.

And today, doing nothing differently, it works perfectly. Of course. I test out air and water after launching tomorrow. At least I'm not shopping for a larger generator...yet.

Probably a grounding issue. Make sure all prongs are connecting. Glad it is working now.

I have the same boat and generator, my westerbeke has had major work in the fall and again in the spring. leaving me less than impressed. Please keep updating on how you make out with the Honda. Do you have any pictures of the Honda installed?