Second. With all the chart plotters having wifi and supporting a second station on a Pad , including full control of your system, do you really need a second MFD?
Tom, it depends on what you want. In my experience (Garmin and RayMarine) although the I pad mirrors and controls what is on the MFD, it cannot bring up separate displays. For example, I like to have close view charts, far view charts, the depth sounder graph, and radar--although that would fit on a single 10" screen, it is way too small to be of much use.
I can only find "easy start" units for larger AC units. They usually cost in the neighborhood of $400-500. Are these the units people are talking about? Seems like a lot of money for starting a $100 air conditioner (at least in my case).
As for the
Easy Start
The EasyStart 364 is up to 4 ton units, and works well on any of the RV or marine air conditioners for $299. You can buy the board, and it starts with units as low as 10,000 BTU, but it is mostly for building your own circuits--and not well supported by the tech support.
The "Smart start" is by dometic is $467.50 at one of the online discounters. It was made specifically for the small RV units.
To run a 5,000 BTU ($119 at WalMart) you only need a EU 1000I Honda--and no need for a smart or easy start unit.
There are cheap single capacitors, (Supco) which do decrease the starting load for abut$12, but they don't resolve the issue of running a 12,000 BTU RV air conditioner on a 2000 watt Honda.
Even a single running all night is more vibration, noise and fumes than we would want on the boat. Other Brats find no issues. Some have had good luck with Harbor Frieght and other Chinese knock-offs, but getting service or parts can be a problem. There is room on the TC255 engine bracket for two generators, but you'd have to store them somewhere else and that would eat up WAY too much storage space. The bracket is awash and sprayed coming on or off plane.
The reason we went with the Polar Cub 9200 BTU AC (no smart start) was that we could run it on a Honda EU2000i--and did run it, with zero issues on the boat at night. We had a 3 gallon aux tank. I find that the Honda generator is less noise and vibration etc, than many of the diesel generators (5 to 12 KW) that I have had built in my larger boats. I know of people who have built in diesel generators, and run a Honda at night as a preference. If you are going to be at the dock every, or most nights, then by all means go with the larger air conditioner. If the Honda with an EasyStart, will run a 12,000 BTU air conditioner and that is what you need, then go for it.
We found that the only need for air conditioning for us, was at night. I do fine working at home in 85 to 95 degrees--it is called "conditioning". We have spent over 3 years total in true tropical waters on sailboats with no air conditioning--and only a couple of nights was it really uncomfortable (solution, find an air conditioned bar and party all night--that was 40 years ago~!) When we went to trawlers and motor boats, in Florida with no breeze, then we wanted air conditioning at night. Even on the hottest day, we find we can cool the boat down at night with the 5,000 BTU cheap window air conditioner on a 22 or 25 C Dory. With a Honda EU 2000i, and the small air conditioner, it allows us to use at least one induction burner, and the air conditioner at supper time if necessary. (The current 25 uses only induction plates for cooking, plus a small microwave.) We could not heat water and run the air conditioner--but when it is that hot, a sun shower takes care of the water issues. In cooler weather we use the Honda to heat water, cook and use one or two small ceramic heaters. Even at 600 watt setting in SE AK it would take the chill off, using our 1000 watt Honda.
We are at the opposite end of the spectrum from John and his usual modus of staying at docks and having 30 amps of power. (Although as we age, it is a bit more appealing).
As for the knockoffs: I near more tales of failures. A good friend bought one for some heavy duty use--came with a good warrantee from Home Depot. It failed after about 300 hours. The warrantee was denied because the generator company claimed "inadequate oil changes" and wanted $200 to replace or repair the engine.
The unit ran 70 to 90 hours a week, and synthetic oil only was used, with weekly documented oil changes. False economy to buy the cheap generators. I have a Honda which is now close to 40 years old, and still runs fine (only 800/500 watts).
