Hybrid electrical power system

Having to replace his generator, Willie Renilson comes up with the perfect solution for comfortable cruising with air conditioning

- Willie Renilson

When we bought our Jersey 36 Jersey Lass with a very basic setup, we knew she had some power issues that needed resolving. She was virtually unused and I was confident that I could address these. I'm not a mechanic so having new engines on an exceptionally seaworthy boat sounded like a good idea. The new Vetus 4KVA generator had less than 10 hours on the clock and was driven by a Farymann engine. I thought that this would be good to go for years. Alas not.

With hindsight, our power problem could have been half caused by my lack of mechanical knowledge, but here starts a very sharp learning curve.

Original problem with diesel soot coming out of the generator exhaust

Our pride and joy Jersey Lass

Original 'new' generator with less than 10 hours on the clock - but a glazed cylinder led to problems

Maiden voyage

On the initial voyage up from the River Crouch to the Norfolk Broads our surveyor's iPad ran out of power so we turned on the generator to charge it and keep the Navionics app working. During this and future trips, we used the generator wherever needed for whatever purpose.

I mistakenly thought that running the generator on less than full load would help 'run in' the engine. But after a few months of use we realised there was a black oil-like stain on the water and it was coming from our boat!

After extensive investigation and picking various brains we found that we weren't leaking oil, we were in fact leaking diesel soot from badly burned diesel. This excess diesel soot would then mix with the used raw water-cooling water and pump out the exhaust in the form of black stuff...not a good look when you are predominantly cruising in the beautiful Broads National Park.