Honda generator backs-up power for Escapade Ecotour in trying conditions

Cruising the blue waters off Western Australia from Rottnest Island to the Dampier Archipelago in a fully-equipped Catamaran, sounds like the ideal getaway; for a lucky few it is a job.

Romanticism aside, there is a certain amount of risk every time a boat heads for open seas, but this risk is minimised by having a seaworthy craft, knowledgeable skipper and the full range of communications and safety equipment.

During the annual return trip from Fremantle to the Dampier Archipelago, 800 nautical miles north, luxury sailing charter business Escapade Ecotours and its skipper of the 12 metre catamaran Escapade, had to rely on a Honda generator as back-up power after alternator, inverter and battery charger all failed in trying conditions.

According to Escapade Ecotours, on the trip back down to Fremantle often strong winds from the south prevails, especially during spring.

Escapade Ecotours found themselves on a number of occasions in four to five metres seas and 40 knot winds, during which they had to keep the Honda EU20i generator running, as it was the only way to run power to the battery to keep the navigation systems and radio operating.

If one lost power, they could have lost everything, they have strapped the Honda down behind the cockpit and there were waves breaking over it, but it never missed a beat.

The 2000 watt advanced four-stroke EU20i weighs just 21 kg – less than half the weight of conventional generators and can be operated continuously for 15 hours on a single tank of unleaded fuel with the Eco-Throttle engaged.

Eco-Throttle maintains engine speed and power output at an efficient level under all loads.
The inverter and sine-wave technology equipped EU20i also provides power flow that is smoother than commercial supply, with low wave distortion allowing powering of frequency and voltage fluctuation sensitive equipment.