Even though the magnetic circuit of a linear electric machine is very similar to a rotating electric machine, they diverge in one fundamental property. The linear generator is open in both ends, i.e., the magnetic circuit is non-symmetric. This paper investigates and discusses the drawbacks of this non-symmetric design in a linear permanent magnet generator, installed in a wave energy conversion system. A two-dimensional geometry has been utilized for the numerical calculations in a finite element method simulation tool. The results present an increased cogging force and significant core losses in the translator as consequences of the longitudinal ends in the machine. © 2020 by the authors.