Twins vs Single

Westfield,

Best reason for twins that I have found is the fun of making the boat spin in place. One engine in forward, one in reverse. You can waste a whole day practicing this and when it's done right, it's rather entertaining.

Positive for us (besides entertaining myself) is that our 22 can get up on plane with just one motor, but I doubt that the one running motor really appreciates this stress.
 
My old Mercury 2 stroke 65 horse was easy as cake to rope start if needed, no idea about the modern larger hp four strokes.

About the kicker on a big boat: High Thrust models are the way to go, much more control in currents at the lower speeds. Four strokes are so reliable, clean and quiet that I wouldn't consider using a two stroke little motor unless it's much lighter weight and better acceleration is important (like it is on my 12' aluminum duck boat or on a dingy where you are lifting in on and off and carrying it some distance -- This is not an issue with a kicker permanently mounted on a bigger boat). 4 strokes are so convenient when run off of the main tank. If you want the additional tank, clean source redundancy then you can still carry a spare 5 gallons and run either off of it with a swap of the tubes. The idea that one can readily switch an 8 or 9 horse 4 stroke kicker to a dingy is ludicrous. These sizes that work so well as a big boat kicker are extremely heavy, even when moving it off the boat when it is on the trailer and you are standing on firm ground. I can't imagine moving my Yamaha 9.9 while the boat is in the water. Without a hoist and ropes, it would get dropped or backs injured. C.W.
 
Thanks for all the good advice, I have been learning a lot. One more question, are singles reliable or is the redundancy of twins a big selling point. Power/wt ratio only, a big single seems like a good idea, but I worry about only having one engine. I don't have a problem with a single inboard diesel, but a single outboard worries me. I don't want to be anchored in the middle of nowhere and have my only engine fail to start. It's funny, but I don't worry about a running engine stopping, only a cold engine not starting. Is this just a bad memory from the 60's and 70's when I used to go boating with others that had outboard powered runabouts?
 
It is certainly your decision. But it boils down to what you are going to do with your boat. Are you going far off shore? If you are, have twins or tow insurance. Some times when an engine quits it is bad fuel. Bad fuel has a bad habit of entering your engine in rough seas, A small trolling motor can be a disaster in those conditions. My hands still tremble from those memories. In nice weather you can hang up a bed sheet and get by. Waiting for the tow boat can also turn your hair grey. The extra 40 or 50 may keep you ahead of breaking seas.

Maybe a thought you can think about.
captd
 
I've never had a powerboat without twins but I wouldn't hesitate go get one. Today, with the reliable FI 4-Strokes, they're almost invincible. I've had a CD22 with Honda 45's and now have a TC255 with Suzi 115's. Have had some (the 45's) quit with fuel/water problems but got them cleaned up and back running shortly. Separate fuel tanks/filters and spares onboard are the key to that! A single, with a kicker if you're fishing may be the way to go with today's engines (and this from a guy that's never had one)!! :!: :lol:

Of course I only go 20 miles or so out into Chesapeake Bay...

charlie
 
Westfield 11":2vo4wyy2 said:
Thanks for all the good advice, I have been learning a lot. One more question, are singles reliable or is the redundancy of twins a big selling point. Power/wt ratio only, a big single seems like a good idea, but I worry about only having one engine. ...
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How many engines does your car have? Ever taken a motorcycle trip or flown in a single engine airplane? For every person saying they have never had a catastrophic engine failure with their modern outboard, there will be one telling how they got home on one of their twins. I don't think there's a right or wrong to this question, only choices based on preferences.

Good luck with your decisions.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Ok, for Journey On, we use the 10 HP kicker both as a get-me-home motor and for the inflatable. Having 3 engines on board the boat is too much. Yes, a 10 HP Honda is heavy, and yes we use a hoist. Works great, is certainly a more secure way of installing any motor on the dingy than using muscle, and takes about 10 min. Here's a picture with more in the Journey On folder. I made this myself, but thataway/Dr Bob bought a Gaurhauer hoist. Judy just lifts the motor off the outboard bracket, I swing iit around and let it down on the dingy.
HOIST_DINGHY_1.sized.jpg


I feel a single engine is reliable for us, and we go offshore. Did lose a plastic adjustable prop, and the get-me-home got us to a dock for repairs. Now have a SS prop.

As far as starting a Honda 4-stroke by hand, forget it. 2 stroke bikes are easy to kick over, and 4 stroke bikes have compression releases for a reason. After all, a Honda 150 is a car engine, and they don't come with cranks anymore.

Boris
 
Just because I prefer a large single main to twins for my needs doesn't mean I do not firmly believe in the necessity of having an adequate, reliable secondary means of propulsion. A high thrust kicker still counts here, and I've come home on mine before. They shove boats along amazingly well, on less gas and quietly. I've come back 10 miles, fighting the river current home the whole way.... and got back in just over 2 hours. Not that big of a deal. The precision and rapid response of a tiller and high thrust is just the ticket for maneuvering in tight spots like hog lines or trolling in crowded conditions.

But were I to fish the Pacific more than I do the Columbia, and crossing that dangerous current-ripping bar more often, I'd have what most serious fishermen are going towards and that is twins. At the bar, a kicker will not do much for you other than to keep your nose into the waves until the Coast Guard Arrives or the emergency tow folks. Trolling out there is a matter of using downriggers at a fixed depth and there is no need for constantly mending the lines, so driving from the helm is possible. The most serious guys have a secondary helm in the cockpit of course which allows the captain to fish more actively.

So, as others have said, it depends on your needs. C.W.

ps. Ever since watching "Flipper" on t.v. as a child, I've always thought twins looked pretty cool. Remember that boat? And that dolphin was like Lassie on steroids -- cooler than "Gentle Ben" even.... why? Musta been that boat. Oh our addictions run deep and long don't they?
 
Hey Chris, I knew you were an alright guy, all along.....
ps. Ever since watching "Flipper" on t.v. as a child, I've always thought twins looked pretty cool. Remember that boat? And that dolphin was like Lassie on steroids -- cooler than "Gentle Ben" even.... why? Musta been that boat. Oh our addictions run deep and long don't they?
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Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
hardee":2aunwqni said:
Hey Chris, I knew you were an alright guy, all along.....
ps. Ever since watching "Flipper" on t.v. as a child, I've always thought twins looked pretty cool. Remember that boat? And that dolphin was like Lassie on steroids -- cooler than "Gentle Ben" even.... why? Musta been that boat. Oh our addictions run deep and long don't they?
Click to expand...

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
Click to expand...

Maybe that's why I am fascinated with the dolphins? I never missed "Flipper" (I always wanted to be Bud).
 
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