Northern Lights Marine Generators

Sizing comes down to your total electrical load — air-conditioning is usually the biggest single draw, followed by galley appliances, watermakers, battery chargers and pumps. As a rule of thumb you size the genset to comfortably carry your continuous load plus the surge of the largest motor starting, without running the set lightly loaded for long periods. The Northern Lights range spans 4.5 kW to 38 kW; we run a load calculation for your vessel before recommending a model.

It depends on size, build quality and installation. Small portable petrol units start at around $1,000, but a permanently installed marine diesel generator — the kind suited to cruisers, motor yachts and superyachts — typically runs from roughly $15,000 into the tens of thousands once supplied and professionally installed, depending on output, single- or three-phase configuration, sound shielding and how involved the engine-room fit-out is. The Northern Lights range spans 4.5 kW to 38 kW. Because every installation is different, we quote on application rather than list a price: send us your vessel and power requirements and we will provide a written quote covering supply, installation and commissioning.

A marine generator is purpose-built for the saltwater environment. It is marinised for corrosion resistance, uses raw-water (heat-exchanger) or keel cooling rather than a radiator and fan, runs a marine wet exhaust, and holds close voltage and frequency regulation to protect sensitive onboard electronics — all in a compact, low-vibration package designed to run safely in an enclosed engine room. Petrol marine sets are also ignition-protected to reduce the risk of fuel-vapour ignition. A standard land or portable generator has none of this and is neither safe nor durable for permanent installation on a boat. Northern Lights builds its sets to marine standards — ABYC A-27, Lloyd's Register type-approval, CE marking and US EPA Tier III / IMO Tier II emissions compliance.

A well-maintained marine diesel generator typically lasts 10,000 to 30,000 running hours, and a high-quality set given regular servicing and the occasional overhaul can reach 20,000 to 40,000 hours — often 20 years or more of cruising. Lifespan comes down to load and maintenance: running the set within its rating rather than lightly loaded for long periods, changing oil and filters on schedule, and keeping fuel and cooling water clean. Northern Lights generators are engineered for long marine life with cast-iron and forged-steel internals, conservative heat-rise ratings and 200–250-hour service intervals — and we service the sets we supply to help them reach it.

Australian shore power and most onboard equipment is 230 V / 50 Hz, so Australian-flagged vessels almost always run the 50 Hz rating (shown first in our spec sheets). Boats built for the US market, or that cruise internationally, may be wired for 60 Hz. Northern Lights sets are rated at both frequencies — we confirm the right configuration for how and where you use the boat.

The design philosophy is mechanical simplicity: the DC control system uses robust relays rather than an unrepairable printed circuit board, the fuel lift pump is mechanical with a hand primer (no electronic pump to fail), and the seawater pump is gear driven. Fewer electronic components means fewer failure points and easier servicing — anywhere in the world.

Every Northern Lights set uses a cast intake manifold with the Sound Maze system to reduce noise at the source. An optional sound enclosure reduces it further and is strongly recommended for liveaboard comfort. We can also advise on engine-room insulation, soft mounts and exhaust treatment as part of an installation.

Most installations use standard heat-exchanger (raw-water) cooling, which is simple and effective. Keel cooling is available as an option and suits vessels operating in heavily silted or debris-laden water where raw-water intakes are prone to fouling. We help you choose based on your cruising grounds.

It means genuine parts, factory-backed warranty, and technicians trained on these specific engines — not a workshop fitting a brand it does not represent. As one of only a handful of authorised dealers in Australia, Marine Solutions can supply, install, commission and service Northern Lights sets to factory standard, and support them for the life of the vessel.

Yes. Marine Solutions supplies, installs, commissions and services Northern Lights generators from our base at Gold Coast City Marina. We handle everything from sizing and supply through to engine-room fit-out, sea trial and ongoing scheduled servicing — a single point of contact for the life of the set.