Tom
You are right, I don't need the gen for a/c while anchored. It is more a battery charging issue. As far as solar is concerned, I simply do not want any more "stuff" added to the boats exterior. I know solar panels work. We use them to charge the battery on our 16' Airstream... Yes they are quiet but the reality is that we need a fairly large array to do what I want and if I did decide to install solar panels the flexible ones I prefer are very expensive. Then too they have a fairly limited lifespan. I can keep a properly loaded diesel running for a long time, pretty effortlessly.

Believe me, I am torn here. Not sure what I wil do yet…
The other obvious answer is to simply conserve on the use side. Not sure I really want to...

Bruce