The 4 Best Small Boat Generators To Empower Your Sailing

Like any other equipment, boating enthusiasts need a reliable small generator to keep their gear charged. The right size and type of small boat generator will depend on the appliances you plan to use and for how long. For example, any small portable generator would work great to charge a sound system or a mini cooler.

Jackery is one of the leading solar product manufacturers that has been in the portable generator business for 11 years since 2012. Many small Jackery Solar Generators available in the market are great choices for boat owners. The most compact Jackery Solar Generator 300 Plus has a battery capacity of 288Wh that can charge most small appliances on the boat.

Products	Image	Capacity	Rated/Peak Power	Battery	Size
Solar Generator 1000 Plus		1.25-5kWh	2000W (4000W Peak)	LiFePO4	Length: 14 in (35.6 cm) Width: 10.24 in (26 cm) Height: 11.14 in (28.3 cm)
Solar Generator 700 Plus		680Wh	1000W (2000W Peak)	LiFePO4	Length: 13.4 in (34 cm) Width: 10.3 in (26.1 cm) Height: 10.0 in (25.4 cm)
Solar Generator 500		518Wh	500W (1000W Peak)	Lithium-Ion	Length: 11.8 in  (29.9 cm) Width: 7.6 in  (19.3 cm) Height: 9.2 in  (23.3 cm)
Solar Generator 300 Plus		288Wh	300W (600W Peak)	LiFePO4	Length: 9.1 in (23 cm) Width: 6.1 in (15.5 cm) Height: 6.6 in (16.7 cm)

Can A Small Generator Power Your Boat?

Yes, a small generator for boats is an excellent choice for powering a wide range of appliances on a boat. These electric devices can include anything from GPS mapping systems to mini coolers and even smartphones.

A small boat generator is usually powered by gasoline or diesel to produce energy, which is then converted to electrical energy to charge appliances. Over the last few years, solar generators have been another popular charging solution for boat appliances.

Boat or marine generators are important for boats as they provide steady electricity to charge audio systems, lights, refrigerators, and more. Only a small boat generator can make the difference between being lost in the sea and making it safe like home.

What Are The Types of Small Generators for Boats?

When choosing the best small generators for boats, you'll need to understand the different fuel types — gasoline, diesel, and solar. Each fuel type has its advantages, but you'll see a few disadvantages that can ultimately affect the purchase of a generator.

Among all the fuel types available out there, solar generators are relatively more popular. They are portable, quiet, and easy-to-use charging solutions when you're out in the water. Jackery Solar Generators are compact in size and can charge most boat appliances throughout your sailing journey.

How Does A Small Boat Generator Work?

The working of a small boat generator will depend on the fuel type — gasoline, diesel, or solar. For example, gasoline or diesel generators convert fuel energy into electricity. On the other hand, solar generators combine a battery backup and solar panels.

The Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels consist of highly efficient monocrystalline silicon cells that collect maximum sun rays that fall on them. The DC electricity generated is converted to usable AC electricity with the help of a pure sine wave inverter.

All the generated AC electricity is stored in the Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations, which can then be supplied to the electrical appliances.

What Size of Small Boat Generator Do You Need?

In the daily navigation on a boat, there's no means to charge the appliances — and that's where the need for a small boat generator arises. The exact size of the solar generator will depend on the number of appliances you plan to use and their running hours. In the navigation mode, the average electrical consumption is around 92 Ah and 1110 Wh.

Source: The energetic balance and the electric needs of sailboat 

Let's take the example of Jackery Solar Generators to understand better.

Suppose you are charging a few lights (50W), a fridge (42W), a sounder (12W), and a TV (48W) using Jackery Solar Generator 700 Plus.

Formula:

The working time will be as follows:

Working Time = Capacity in Wh × 0.85 / Operating wattage of the appliances

Example:

Working Time = 680Wh × 0.85 / 152W = 3.8H.

Jackery Solar Generators: 4 Best Small Boat Generators

Jackery offers portable solar generators and power stations for recharging electronic appliances during boating. They are portable, easy to use, and small boat generators ideal for most outdoor enthusiasts. The following sections reveal the best small boat generators by Jackery.

Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus

Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus has a LiFePO4 battery of 1264Wh and a high 2000W power output. With three Jackery Battery Pack 1000 Plus, you can expand the capacity from 1.25kWh to 5kWh. This compact, lightweight solar generator can charge 99% of your marine appliances.

Jackery Solar Generator 700 Plus

Jackery Solar Generator 700 Plus is a perfect outdoor companion for many. It has a battery capacity of 680Wh, making it the best choice for outdoor activities like boating, fishing, and camping. What's more impressive is that the solar generator kit weighs only 22 lbs.

Jackery Solar Generator 500

The Jackery Solar Generator 500 has a battery capacity of 518Wh and comes with seven output ports, meaning you can charge seven electronic devices simultaneously. It is the same size as basketball and features a solid handle for easy carrying.

Jackery Solar Generator 300 Plus

If you want power on the go, Jackery Solar Generator 300 Plus is one of the best small boat generators. The Jackery Explorer 300 Plus can connect with book-sized Jackery SolarSaga 40W Solar Panels that can fit into the backpack. It has a battery capacity of 288Wh and comes with multiple output ports to charge boat devices.

How to Choose The Best Small Boat Generator?

A portable and small generator for boats can charge anything from laptops, tablets, phones, fans, lights, and other small appliances. However, there's a wide range of compact generators available, making it hard to choose the right one. Here are a few things you'll need to consider before buying the best small boat generator. 

Fuel Options: Of all the popular fuel types, solar energy is the most efficient and reliable choice. Generators powered by solar panels emit no toxic fumes and are ideal for the environment.

Noise Levels: It's an important factor if you want to sleep peacefully every night. The small Jackery Solar Generators for boats have lower noise levels ranging from 30dB to 45dB, ensuring peace of mind.

Weight: You may also want to pick a small and compact generator that can be transported on and off the boat without hassle.

Price: Finally, you'll need to choose a boat generator that offers the best value for its price and helps you meet your power needs when you're out on the water.

Safety Tips for Small Boat Generators

Generators (especially gas or diesel) are common but come with certain hazards like fire. Here are a few safety tips for those planning to use a gas or diesel generator on a boat.

• If you are using a gas or diesel generator on the boat, never use it within a closed space.
• You should keep the generator and nearby area clean. If there's any snow, grease, or ice, make sure to clean it for proper functioning.
• It's advised not to use gas or diesel generators near standing water.
• Since you'll be carrying the fuel (gas or diesel) with you on a boat, make sure to keep it in a safe place and avoid fire hazards.

Final Thoughts

We've often seen people bringing a compact generator when they travel in an RV, camping, or road trip. With small generators becoming popular, many boat owners invest in small boat generators to charge their marine appliances.

Solar generators can be used indoors and outdoors, as we can barely live without electronic equipment. Jackery Solar Generators are designed to meet the power needs — and, most importantly, you can recharge the solar generator with solar panels.

Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus has an expandable LiFePO4 battery capacity of 1264Wh that can charge most boat appliances for long hours. You can connect the Jackery Battery Pack 2000 Plus with the Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus to expand the battery capacity from 1.25kWh to 5kWh.