Twin Motors vs One Main and an aux

[Donald Tyson]

Please excuse me for this post. I'm laying here in PA with my occasional insomnia, 1:00 AM and keeping an eye out for Drones . I know a few of you are perhaps bored with some of my immature ramblings but I'm on the market and you're my team, lol, so I come to you for answers and I have learned a Lot.

I often Bass or Panfish in local fresh water lakes that have a 9.9 limit. So I feel it is normal for me to have one large twin and a under 9.9 auxiliary hanging off the back in tethered steering fashion.

On the other hand, My dear wife whom is intimidated by open waters, understandably, wants the peace of mind of having two main motors (twins) while I simply don't have a preference btwn twins vs one large single. Would it be inconvenient to have a 9.9 back there as well, is there room? Or would I have to become content to simply use the Dinghy on those lakes and leave the mothership at home?

Since much legislation exists regarding these concerns I know that I am not over thinking it again. The laws are clear about 9,9 , 20 and electric only lakes.

So for those of you with twins may I assume you are not fishing in any 9.9 lakes with your dories?

For those with twins do I assume you're often not carrying a dinghy, You're working of of a dock to your fishing destinations and are mostly trolling rather than casting for quarry?

I'm bringing this up now as I'm beginning to think I might be wise to avoid twins in my search for our boat.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Foggy]

It's simple.

First you learned to crawl before you walked.

So, learn how to handle one engine, then get two.

Then, you'll know.

Aye.

 

[DaveInRI]

I read on some forum (perhaps here) that someone had towed/rescued boats with singles, boats with twins, but never a single with a kicker (with the implication that it's up out of the water and often on its own fuel supply). So, you'll have to balance twin maneuverability with true redundancy (which is not technically afforded by twins). Some people use propane kickers, too, allowing for sharing fuel between various stoves, heaters, etc., though I've read not all mechanics are comfortable repairing them. Some also put the kicker onto their dinghy, so that might be a consideration also. I've summed it up for me that if I find a boat with twins, cool I get a boat with twins (and then do need a dinghy w/ its own motor). If it's a single, cool I found a boat with a single (to which I'd add a kicker). I haven't found a reason to strictly narrow the search to one or the other, and I won't be buying new, so that settles it for me. YMMV

 

[Donald Tyson]

Dave in Rhode Island, one of my favorite places to go for St Patty's day. Red Parrot Restaurant in the square (Newport).
It sounds like you also don't have a preference. Just last night it dawned in me that when not on the loop, bays or big waters of the northeast, I'll be inland casting for Pickerel, Bass and Panfish. Almost all these lakes are Electric only or 9.9. And after fishing from Driftboats and Canoes all my life I'm really looking for a Bass boat or Cruiser to cast from. If I found a nice boat with twins I could always instal a larger front mounted saltwater minnkota. Thanks you for sharing.

I read on some forum (perhaps here) that someone had towed/rescued boats with singles, boats with twins, but never a single with a kicker (with the implication that it's up out of the water and often on its own fuel supply). So, you'll have to balance twin maneuverability with true redundancy (which is not technically afforded by twins). Some people use propane kickers, too, allowing for sharing fuel between various stoves, heaters, etc., though I've read not all mechanics are comfortable repairing them. Some also put the kicker onto their dinghy, so that might be a consideration also. I've summed it up for me that if I find a boat with twins, cool I get a boat with twins (and then do need a dinghy w/ its own motor). If it's a single, cool I found a boat with a single (to which I'd add a kicker). I haven't found a reason to strictly narrow the search to one or the other, and I won't be buying new, so that settles it for me. YMMV

 

[colbysmith]

Without wanting to get in the fray of single vs, twins, (you can find plenty of threads here on C-Brats discussing the advantages and disadvantages), I simply offer this to placate your wife. There are a lot of large commercial boats running on singles. A lot of military single engine jets as well. If you have a fuel problem, twins won't help. And I've seen twins that have hit logs and taken both engines out. (They are not that far apart.) Grounding? Yep, twins are probably both on the hard. That being said, I would never turn down a good boat because it had twins or a single. I've never ran twins simply for the reasons, the boats I've purchased came with a single. And if I had to repower, I'd most likely just go with a single. I have a kicker as a backup, although the new outboards are very reliable. I also use it for trolling! I also have Boat US tow insurance, but have never used it. Knock on wood. If considering a small kicker only as an emergency backup, then you probably should have a separate fuel source. Some of the smaller ones have an internal tank. If you have twins, you probably won't have much room to place a kicker.

 

[alainP]

[quote=And after fishing from Driftboats and Canoes all my life I'm really looking for a Bass boat or Cruiser to cast from.........

I would think these are two entirely different things.

 

[Tom Hruby]

If you need a 9.9 "kicker" to fish on certain lakes I would go that route (1 large and one small outboard). If the issue is redundancy and safety, the small kicker will get you home as a well but at a lower speed. You can expect about 5mph out of 9hp which is a reasonable speed (faster than most sailboats). I have cruised in small cabin cruisers (22-26 ft) on Puget Sound for 26 years using electric motors where my maximum speed was around 5mph and never had any problems.

 

[C-Wolfe]

Lots of options available, but like others have said, don’t restrict yourself too much on the search for the perfect boat or you might never find it. For me, messing around on my boat is ALMOST as enjoyable as using it, so the not so perfect boat is perfect for me.

 

[JamesTXSD]

You may want to check with the authorities on the lake(s) that have a 10hp maximum engine allowed, but where I've seen that, you can NOT use a boat with a bigger engine, even if that engine is not in the water.

Our C-Dory had a single and a small kicker (on an adjustable bracket on the stern), and we could easily put the kicker on the dinghy.

Over the years, besides our own boats, I have driven commercial boats with diesel engines; single, twins, and one metal boat that had 3 diesel engines. Only one time I had to come to the dock with an engine out, and that was due to a starter (the boat had twins). For our personal boats, I always had TowboatUS towing insurance... the only time I had to use that was on the road when we had a blowout on a boat trailer tire, crossing New Mexico.

Some like twins, some like a single and a kicker. From a maneuverability standpoint, I like widely spaced twins, but our own personal boats were always a single. They all work.

 

[Donald Tyson]

In other words my C-Dory will be my bass boat when in those bass lakes.

 

[Donald Tyson]

Well written, convincing. I should look for a good boat and make it work for me.

Without wanting to get in the fray of single vs, twins, (you can find plenty of threads here on C-Brats discussing the advantages and disadvantages), I simply offer this to placate your wife. There are a lot of large commercial boats running on singles. A lot of military single engine jets as well. If you have a fuel problem, twins won't help. And I've seen twins that have hit logs and taken both engines out. (They are not that far apart.) Grounding? Yep, twins are probably both on the hard. That being said, I would never turn down a good boat because it had twins or a single. I've never ran twins simply for the reasons, the boats I've purchased came with a single. And if I had to repower, I'd most likely just go with a single. I have a kicker as a backup, although the new outboards are very reliable. I also use it for trolling! I also have Boat US tow insurance, but have never used it. Knock on wood. If considering a small kicker only as an emergency backup, then you probably should have a separate fuel source. Some of the smaller ones have an internal tank. If you have twins, you probably won't have much room to place a kicker.

 

[BigSwede]

If considering a small kicker only as an emergency backup, then you probably should have a separate fuel source.

Why? I guess I can see that contaminated fuel that took out your main would also be a problem for your kicker, but on the flip side having access to the main tanks would allow for a longer run for the kicker to get home if necessary. Just curious on your thoughts here.

 

[colbysmith]

I guess I can see that contaminated fuel that took out your main would also be a problem for your kicker,

I think you answered your own question here. The Tohatsu 6 could run for several hours on it's internal tank of fuel. If your main died due to fuel starvation or contaminated fuel, even just having enough fuel to keep control of the boat or get to the nearest port would be better than drifting. That said, my 9.9 on my 25 does not have it's own fuel tank. I have it plumbed to the main tank. But I also have a small 3 gal portable tank in my bilge that I can run it from. So in that regard, I do have a back up fuel system. (I keep non-ethanol in that tank, I don't fill it from the same source as the main.)

 

[tsturm]

If considering a small kicker only as an emergency backup, then you probably should have a separate fuel source.

Why? I guess I can see that contaminated fuel that took out your main would also be a problem for your kicker, but on the flip side having access to the main tanks would allow for a longer run for the kicker to get home if necessary. Just curious on your thoughts here.

Fuel / water separator with extra filters on board.

 

[DaveInRI]

One other consideration is the weight of the kicker-- not for the boat's transom, but for your own! I just sold a daysailer with a 2016 5hp Honda carbed 4-stroke kicker (is it still a kicker on a sailboat?) and while it was only 60 pounds, it was a lopsided 60 pounds that made it a pain in the @$$ to move around. I figured a "plate" at the gym is 45lbs, and we move those around no problem, but I absolutely would not be interchanging that 5hp with a dinghy and boat, trying to use the same motor for both. Can't imagine doing that with a 9.9, or even with the 5hp trying to get it off/onto a dinghy/boat at anchor. I'd much rather go with an ePropulsion Spirit (3hp) that's 23lbs for the motor and 20lbs for the battery, which separate (and the battery floats). In my mind, the kicker is to get you back to within rescue distance, anchoring depth, or a beach to smash into and jump onto shore. Might have to wait out a tide at an inlet etc, but you're not stuck at sea. That is a motor you can swap with a dinghy, or a Jon boat, or a square stern canoe, etc.. You can run a 4stroke main at low RPMs without issue (just don't do it full-time) unlike older 2strokes. And there are plenty of electric-only lakes you can putt around with on another water toy using it (like many in Maine).

 

[Donald Tyson]

Dave, If this is really and issue (changing Motors to use it on a dinghy then I'd just row the dinghy I beleive. Done a lot of rowing and it light and cheap.

One other consideration is the weight of the kicker-- not for the boat's transom, but for your own! I just sold a daysailer with a 2016 5hp Honda carbed 4-stroke kicker (is it still a kicker on a sailboat?) and while it was only 60 pounds, it was a lopsided 60 pounds that made it a pain in the @$$ to move around. I figured a "plate" at the gym is 45lbs, and we move those around no problem, but I absolutely would not be interchanging that 5hp with a dinghy and boat, trying to use the same motor for both. Can't imagine doing that with a 9.9, or even with the 5hp trying to get it off/onto a dinghy/boat at anchor. I'd much rather go with an ePropulsion Spirit (3hp) that's 23lbs for the motor and 20lbs for the battery, which separate (and the battery floats). In my mind, the kicker is to get you back to within rescue distance, anchoring depth, or a beach to smash into and jump onto shore. Might have to wait out a tide at an inlet etc, but you're not stuck at sea. That is a motor you can swap with a dinghy, or a Jon boat, or a square stern canoe, etc.. You can run a 4stroke main at low RPMs without issue (just don't do it full-time) unlike older 2strokes. And there are plenty of electric-only lakes you can putt around with on another water toy using it (like many in Maine).

 

[JamesTXSD]

We've had various small motors for dinghies over the years: 2.5, 3.5, and 4 hp two strokes that were light enough to move around, but still a handful when going from the main boat to a dinghy. My least favorite was the Honda 5hp, which was hard starting (especially after being run for a while), and as Dave stated, a beast to move around.

As far as rowing a dinghy, we had several inflatables (all slatted floor) that were easy to load onto the main boat, but didn't row worth a darn, especially in any wind or current. An inflatable keel would be better for rowing. One Porta-bote that was a comfortable ride (once you got used to the "slither", as opposed to a pound or slap on the inflatables), but more to stow, especially considering the seats and transom when the boat was folded. On any of those, I would much rather be motoring than rowing.

We also used kayaks as dinghies - worked great for paddling/pedaling (Hobie), but didn't have the carrying capacity for groceries/laundry.

It is important to find what works for you, and on a C-Dory, finding the right balance of weight, carrying capacity, and ease of loading/deploying.

Another potential use for a dinghy is the occasional outing on a lake that only allows 10hp or less motors. To avoid putting the cart before the horse, get the boat first, then figure out what dinghy will work best with that.

 

[thataway]

The reason I had a 3.5 hp Mercury 2 stroke and the Suzuki 2.5 hp as Kickers on boats from the 22 thru the Tom Cat 255. They weighed about 30 lbs. The newer 4 stroke Merc or Tohatsu weight 41 lbs.

Even better the Torqeedo 1103 (about 3 hp) weight is 30 lbs, with on piece more than 15#. Easy for even elderly to move around and place on a dinghy.

 

[thataway]

The reason I had a 3.5 hp Mercury 2 stroke and the Suzuki 2.5 hp as Kickers on boats from the 22 thru the Tom Cat 255. They weighed about 30 lbs. The newer 4 stroke Merc or Tohatsu weight 41 lbs.

Even better the Torqeedo 1103 (about 3 hp) weight is 30 lbs, with on piece more than 15#. Easy for even elderly to move around and place on a dinghy.