355 kohler issue

Sounds like a problem at or with the main source breaker.

Hi,

Is your genset actually producing electricity?

If not getting juice to the relay, I would check the generator control panel. There is usually a circuit breaker for each leg of out put. The breaker could be shot.

Did you running the gen with the shore power on.

You can run the gen while on shore power, and it will have no effect. You're blocked from feeding the panel from both sources.

I know that cavers did not come with switch for shore power or gen power unless that person put it in. On my 356 carver you need to disconnect your shore cable before you run you gen. It is in the owners manual, once you start the gen the gen take over all electric. If you are hook up to your shore power and run your gen you have electric from both ends something is going to short out.

Call me amazed that this is even permitted by NMMA specs or the CG. These should be called fireboats, as in yours will one day be on fire. Sounds like these boats were not made to have gens and whomever retrofitted didn't go the extra step.

I think it is a bad idea but why would you run your gen at the dock. If I have shore power to it I do not need to run gen.

NY cap sounds like you hope my family and me burn up in the boat you must make a great captain . I did not design the boat I like cavers that is why I have one. Thank you for hoping my family and I burn up.

There is actually an automatic switch that is pretty common in boats. On mine you can actually hear it switch over when the generator is started just like if you were to flip the switch manually.

God NO! It sounds like whomever designed that system is the one who didn't care. I've dedicated my life to keeping boaters safe. Systems like this are supposed to be idiot-proof. That's why most installations require you to block one side or rotate a switch so it's not possible to get juice from both the shore and the gen. One thing I've learned over a long life and especially a long life on the water is that the moment you assume nobody would ever do something, they'll do it. You should do what the original installer failed to do, and install a swith-over or even a slide bar at the panel that prevents the possibility of merging both sources. Even if you know better, a friend could decide to "help" you or even the next owner.
A prime example of how disaster could strike is you're at a marina when the power goes out. So you fire up the gen. Then the power comes back on. My bud works for the power company and that's his biggest fear when doing storm restoration.