Finally replacing Optimus stove with Yamaha Generator + small hot plate. I am shopping for a little hot plate to make coffee in the morning. Checking inventory of local WalMart online...

Other benies:
*powertools
* 12v (13.9) connections
* battery charger
* charge iPAD, GLD39D, GPS, GoPro, cellular telephone, IRIDIUM etc.
* pre heat (Winters, Oregon, not Winters Alaska))

Not sorry to see it replaced!


I love my little Yamaha:

I've got it's big brother, a 2400. Had it for about ten years and it has been a good backup unit and field power source. Too big for my little savannah, though. I stuck to the MSR stove.

With the little guy, you could use a crankcase heater, recharge all your electronics, and run your coffee grinder! Even preheat the cab for your flying comfort.

Talkin' about my generation: Hope I die before I get old! Great song, but my definition of old keeps getting pushed out.

tom

Savannah-Tom wrote:Talkin' about my generation: Hope I die before I get old! Great song, but my definition of old keeps getting pushed out.

tom

You're only as old as you act...

Here is a EF 2000 turning a Shopvac (drying the bilge after a fishing trip in Kona).



Ladies and Gentlemen... "The Who"....

I've never thought about using a generator and a hot plate...I like that idea.

I have that same Optimus stove and it has served me well. Ran on a steady diet of mogas or 100ll without complaint. I'll probly always carry it even if I switch to a generator and a hot plate.

Don't forget the air conditioner, the wine fridge and the TIG welder in case you have to perform some minor repairs caused by all that weight......

MTV

mtv wrote:Don't forget the air conditioner, the wine fridge and the TIG welder in case you have to perform some minor repairs caused by all that weight......

MTV

The Optimus might still have a job. The weight of modern living might be a little too much in the little seaplane.

Fun to think about however... TIG hum...

The benefits of having a small generator on board are indisputable but you can't beat a jet-boil or an MSR Reactor for coffee in the morning.

Light and fast. I've never timed mine but it is considerably faster than the kettle I have at home. Small and light too.

Better make sure you check the data on your hot plate, most use 1000 to 1500 watts. That gen set probably has a continuous rating of 7 or 800 watts. I have heard good things about it, as compared to the benchmark Honda, for one thing it's 1 lb. lighter.

This thread kinda reminds me of an airplane camping trip a number of years ago. A bunch of us were sitting around the campfire, and then someone asked "where's Bob?". Turned out he & his wife were at their tent watching their battery powered TV.

courierguy wrote:Better make sure you check the data on your hot plate, most use 1000 to 1500 watts. That gen set probably has a continuous rating of 7 or 800 watts. I have heard good things about it, as compared to the benchmark Honda, for one thing it's 1 lb. lighter.

Tested 1000W heater and the onboard computer seemed to compensate for the load. The heater simply didn't have the same output. But, everything worked. I was hoping the same output occurs on a hot plate?

I have never had an issue over loading a heating element with the Yamaha. But, I would be more careful with an electric motor if we used it.

But, as MTV mentioned it maybe better to use the basic Optimus stove for coffee. Weight is an issue with a Scout on amphibs (not wheels).

Thank you for your comments!

albravo wrote:The benefits of having a small generator on board are indisputable but you can't beat a jet-boil or an MSR Reactor for coffee in the morning.

Light and fast. I've never timed mine but it is considerably faster than the kettle I have at home. Small and light too.

Great for high latitude cooking too. They are winners.

hotrod180 wrote:This thread kinda reminds me of an airplane camping trip a number of years ago. A bunch of us were sitting around the campfire, and then someone asked "where's Bob?". Turned out he & his wife were at their tent watching their battery powered TV.

In the Australian Outback watched movies on my iPAD in a one man tent!

Driving my truck from Oregon to LA last year (HWY 395) I could track the airspace on ForeFlight and the Roads on Google Maps. With Verizon cellular data and ADSB we are pretty much on line in most places too.

No more LORAN-C TD tracking! One touch navigation/communication is here forevermore!

Electronic navigation is fine, although IMHO some people get a little carried away with it. But if you're gonna haul all the gadgets along on a "wilderness" trip, might as well take the motor home. Or just camp in the backyard where your wifi & extension cords'll reach. The roar (or even whisper) of a generator is something I can do without when partaking of the great outdoors.

hotrod180 wrote:Electronic navigation is fine, although IMHO some people get a little carried away with it. But if you're gonna haul all the gadgets along on a "wilderness" trip, might as well take the motor home. Or just camp in the backyard where your wifi & extension cords'll reach. The roar (or even whisper) of a generator is something I can do without when partaking of the great outdoors.

Good point. But, I do enjoy tech. I like retracing my flight, videos, photographs, communication to home etc...weather onboard, NOTAMS, RADAR. I feel being informed and recording adventure may make it safer and it certainly has been in many places. Leaving information behind is great for a coffee commercial on TV, not for real adventure anymore for most.

Nice! I have the 2000is. Still new in the box after receiving from my retirement from Yamaha in 2013. I talked to the main guy in the generator/small engine department at Yamaha and he said perfectly fine to run on 100LL Avgas. In fact, he said the Avgas would be better for storage, too.

Can't go wrong with Yamaha and Honda generators.

58Skylane wrote:Nice! I have the 2000is. Still new in the box after receiving from my retirement from Yamaha in 2013. I talked to the main guy in the generator/small engine department at Yamaha and he said perfectly fine to run on 100LL Avgas. In fact, he said the Avgas would be better for storage, too.

Can't go wrong with Yamaha and Honda generators.

Your post "Is music to my ears (eyes too)". Good old leaded fuel to be used from time to time!

If Yamaha is good enough for Valetino Rossi, it's good to go for me too.

hotrod180 wrote:Electronic navigation is fine, although IMHO some people get a little carried away with it. But if you're gonna haul all the gadgets along on a "wilderness" trip, might as well take the motor home. Or just camp in the backyard where your wifi & extension cords'll reach. The roar (or even whisper) of a generator is something I can do without when partaking of the great outdoors.

Where one draws the "line of hipocrisy" is dependant on the individual and the mission. For instance, you might feel pretty good about yourself for not being in the tent watching your battery powered TV or running a generator to charge your cell phone but you did fly a $70k airplane stuffed with everything you thought was important into the backcounry in order to enjoy your {definition} of a "wilderness" experience instead of hiking the 20 miles to experience it the "right" way. And even if you did hike in, you likely would have driven to the trail head instead of...etc. etc.

Personally, I've done just enough minimalist camping to know that if I have room for a few extra creature comforts with minimal environmental impact, I'm going for it!

CW

clippwagon wrote:

hotrod180 wrote:Electronic navigation is fine, although IMHO some people get a little carried away with it. But if you're gonna haul all the gadgets along on a "wilderness" trip, might as well take the motor home. Or just camp in the backyard where your wifi & extension cords'll reach. The roar (or even whisper) of a generator is something I can do without when partaking of the great outdoors.

Where one draws the "line of hipocrisy" is dependant on the individual and the mission. For instance, you might feel pretty good about yourself for not being in the tent watching your battery powered TV or running a generator to charge your cell phone but you did fly a $70k airplane stuffed with everything you thought was important into the backcounry in order to enjoy your {definition} of a "wilderness" experience instead of hiking the 20 miles to experience it the "right" way. And even if you did hike in, you likely would have driven to the trail head instead of...etc. etc.

Personally, I've done just enough minimalist camping to know that if I have room for a few extra creature comforts with minimal environmental impact, I'm going for it!

CW

Perfectly said (would be nice if I could articulate that well). I usually go where I can not disturb anyone with my "things". In those remote places nobody cares (or at least knows) if I run a generator an hour each morning.

I respect others too. Safety (=comfort) is the biggest impact to me.

clippwagon wrote: Where one draws the "line of hipocrisy" is dependant on the individual and the mission. For instance, you might feel pretty good about yourself for not being in the tent watching your battery powered TV or running a generator to charge your cell phone but you did fly a $70k airplane stuffed with everything you thought was important into the backcounry....

If I was interested in only a "pure" wilderness experience, I would be a backpacker instead of an airplane / car camper. (fat chance, with my BMI! ) My thought was when I go camping, part of the enjoyment is getting away from all the BS & distractions at home: TV, internet, phone calls, etc etc. But then again I'm not a technology person like some folks are-- if you prefer to have all that stuff along, more power to you. To each their own, I guess.

As far as generators, my first thought whenever they're mentioned in a camping discussion is the several times I've been car camping and someone in a big motorhome ran their noisy-ass generators into the wee hours....which kinda fucked up the experience for the rest of us. I guess these new-generation small generators are much quieter & user friendly, so maybe my gripe is an antiquated as I am.

Instead of a hot plate, maybe the accessory to go along with a generator is a little microwave-- not only boils up your coffee but heats your Hot Pockets etc. It'd sure take a lot of work out of fixing supper.