Although you may not NEED a genset regularly, they are a "necessity" on those occassions where your electrical usage exceeds your expectations, such as accidently leaving some device operating and you batteries "die". Or a malfunctioning device such as a frig thermostat which does not shut off as expected. One safe recourse is to keep a battery bank set aside which is NEVER connected to house loads and kept for engine starting only. Another approach is to purchase a PORTABLE genset for those rare needs you may experience. I keep a 4KW gas genset ($699 from Home Depot) under cover in my cockpit even though I have a 12KW ONAN diesel aboard. When anchoring for several consecutive days ,when no other boats are nearby (so as not to disturb them) and to avoid unnecessary insdie heat on hot, humid days, I run the 4KW ...If I have to scrap it, it's still no more than one repair visit from a diesel mechanic. I use it for probably 2/3 of my gen running. And when I go out for a winter weekend (in Long Island Sound, NY) I like the safety of a "pull start"....I know I can always get it running even if all three of my battery banks are dead. Another (partial) approach is to travel via your main engine every day or two, when possible. Instead of a single run of,say, a 100 miles in one day, and then sitting for four or five days, make three runs of 33 miles over several of those days. This keeps your batteries charged and you get to see some additional harbors. Rob Brueckner '72 Hatteras Yachfish