Posted: October 06 2007 at 20:41 | IP Logged

You can certainly add an inverter and extra batteries to your boat, I did.  You can make use of the microwave oven and could use small appliances, TVs, etc.  Adding deep cycle batteries and an inverter is pretty much what made overnight stays on the boat practical.  Is your stove a combination alcohol/electric stove?  If so, the alcohol option works well, the fuel is inexpensive, and is easily replenished.  Between the stove and microwave, we have full hot meals.  Most of the preparation is done at home, one wouldn't cook chili or stew on the boat but these foode are easily reheated.

I don't think trying to run an airconditioner or electric heat from a battery powered inverter is practical.  Neither is running an electric stove.  All these appliances draw far too much current. 

There are a couple photos here which show my inverter/battery installation.

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery.fcgi?p=999&gid=13606 135

BTW: Inverters have a standby current even with no load so be sure you or your dealer install an easily accessed power switch for the inverter.  Mine has an optional remote switch which I installed just beneath the cabin electrical panel.

Posted: October 06 2007 at 20:50 | IP Logged

We do indeed have the alcohol/electric stove and I suppose we could always make jiffypop on it instead of microwave popcorn... We just don't want to be like most cruisers that sit at the dock all day/night, hooked up to shore power so their AC and appliances work.... I haven't done the math on the AC/HEAT but I'm sure we'd be lucky to get just a short time of running either/or even with an inverter and extra batteries.. I don't really want the extra weight of 2 AGM batts either.. Well, if we get hot? I guess we jump overboard!.. Purchasing this GS-259 is a HUGE step for us.. We're very nervous and excited about it and don't really know what to expect.. Thanks so much for the reply... Your mods look GREAT on your boat.

Posted: October 06 2007 at 22:31 | IP Logged

I've never been sorry on my decision to install the inverter and three deep cycle batteries.  One is a replacement for one of the originals so in effect I added 130lb of batteries.  I used six volt golf cart batteries wired in series for the extra two.

It's been beaten to death on boating forums, but it's just not practical to store enough energy in typical storage batteries to get more than a few minutes of airconditioning from such a setup.

When we get hot, we do jump in the water.  We have some inflatable rafts that we tether to the boat.  At night, we use a battery powered fan.  Is it a five star hotel ?  No, it's a pop-up camper on a hull but we enjoy our time on the water.

What part of the country are you in?

As far as the trailer, if you really want to stir up something, post this question on any of the boating forums and you'll never hear the end of it.  Mostly, roller trailers are popular in the north, bunk trailers in the south.  I'm in the south but I'm from the north (sort of).  I'm happy with my trailer because I can winch the boat on without attempting to power load it.  Other folks would rather power load their boats and climb over the bow to exit the boat or they have a helper to drive the tow vehicle.

Enjoy your boat, we enjoy ours.   

Posted: October 07 2007 at 10:06 | IP Logged

We moved from Maryland to get a longer boating season.  We'll go out this Monday morning and return Tuesday evening. 

I don't know if you've been on any other boating forums but they can be a wealth of information.