Twin OB with both Engines standard rotation?

[slpcamaross97]

Looking for everyone's 2c on running twins 200 merc and both lowers are standard rotation. Good, Bad, Dangerous, Poor handling etc?

Boat is a mid 80s 24x7 design, Motors are Merc Blackmax 200s on Gil Offshore setbacks. Engines are mounted rather close to each other.

Boat has been rigged since new with this setup.

Im considering buy this boat, and wondering if this is something i should change to a more typical setup with one counter-rotating lower unit.

Thanks All.

[bmedfo1]

If the boat is a good deal the worst that could happen is replacing one lower. maybe price one out and make an offer less that cost.

[Instigator]

I bought a 24’ Sonic w/twin RH motors and despite the experts views, only place I could tell was around dock.

My boat had an 8’ beam so so you me see a bit more than I did.

[Wayne Cammidge]

The counter rotation engines cancel out the steering torque
That will probably be the most noticeable difference

[Chaz]

Frosty ... tell em about the 17' Action with "same direction" twin 200's in the Aerojet canal .. :D

[nitro_rat]

Frosty ... tell em about the 17' Action with "same direction" twin 200's in the Aerojet canal .. :D

Probably travelled at a 45* angle...

[lilabner]

I put two Evinrude XP gearcases on my 33 ft Oceanhawk, knowing the units only came standard with a skeg that helped counter act torque, like a trimtab does. I made one a counter rotation. Well after all that work I only ran it once. You could NOT turn right with any throttle setting but slow..I guess I answered my own question. No one I spoke with had ever tried it. They sure looked great though.

[slpcamaross97]

Probably travelled at a 45* angle...

funny you say this.... out on a run with the boat, it would always lean the boat over on the Port side at slower and median speeds. needed tap to get to run flat and even.
Does that make sense for standard rotation units?

[slpcamaross97]

I put two Evinrude XP gearcases on my 33 ft Oceanhawk, knowing the units only came standard with a skeg that helped counter act torque, like a trimtab does. I made one a counter rotation. Well after all that work I only ran it once. You could NOT turn right with any throttle setting but slow..I guess I answered my own question. No one I spoke with had ever tried it. They sure looked great though.

So your boat ran worse with one unit running the counter rotation direction? That seems very strange

[nitro_rat]

funny you say this.... out on a run with the boat, it would always lean the boat over on the Port side at slower and median speeds. needed tap to get to run flat and even.
Does that make sense for standard rotation units?

A small SOB will "crab walk" sideways at high trim settings. With two motors running in the same rotation I imagine that the effect would be amplified. You could have a situation where you're travellig as far to the right as you are forward at any given time.

[Chaz]

Probably travelled at a 45* angle...

At half throttle ... :eek:

Anything more ... and it was headin for the rocks .. :cool:

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=315424&d=1424870517&thumb=1 (https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=315424&d=1424870517)

[FUJIMO]

https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=315424&d=1424870517

[FUJIMO]

i could'nt own a twin outboard, or sterndrive boat, that wasn't counter-rotated. too many advantages.

[Chaz]

i could'nt own a twin outboard, or sterndrive boat, that wasn't counter-rotated. too many advantages.

Honourable-FugiMoto ,

The engine cowlings decals will "Absolut" remember better than me. But I'm gonna say it was sometime between when I grad-gee-ated high school in 1976 and maybe as late as 1980 1, 2, 3 at the latest. Frosty will remember better than me ... :nonod:
40+ years ago, I didn't know they made counter rotating lower units. Didn't matter, $3.00 to $5.00 an hour jobs, none of us could afford one anyway ... :)
B-sides , I don't think counter rotating would have helped keep the boat floating coming off the trailer .. till it was put in gear and got moving ... :eek: ;) :D

Speakin of guys who could afford it .. Andy , whatever happened to Howey T's boat .. :eek: :eek: :eek: :thumbsup:

[FUJIMO]

Honourable-FugiMoto ,

I don't think counter rotating would have helped...till it was put in gear and got moving ... :eek: ;) :D


...Thank-You... And I agree 100% ;)

[lilabner]

So your boat ran worse with one unit running the counter rotation direction? That seems very strange

The skegs are both twisted for single engine boats..Boat also runs on a slight tilt..But it won't turn right..

[FUJIMO]

toe out the front of the drives if outboard rotation. that's right, toe them out...lol. file flat the skeg tabs on both skegs. adjust both zinc tabs to straight ahead or exchange for flat type. installed height can make a difference. prop types can make a difference.

[lilabner]

Been there done that.. The skegs are cast at an angle, no skeg tabs and no way to grind them.. you would have to cut them off at the gearhousing and weld new ones on. And hope the gearcase didn't warp. Evinrude gave me brand new units and a counter gearset to put in to try this out.. We did every thing we could. I returned the units to Evinrude and thanked them. Not much has changed since 1957 when I started out rigging. The principles are the same. The boat had jackplates and trim tabs. No zinc tabs on these units, the skeg did it all. Had plenty of props. The biggest mistake I made was getting rid of my V8's and losing about 15 mph.
The boat ran perfect with them. It would cruise at over 60 and top out at 75 @6700 with Bravo 1's or Mach 4 blades. Ran Mirages most of the time though. Monty dynoed the engines at 330 with air box and cowls on around 1998. Now I don't have any boats and miss them..
Here is a picture of the XP next to a Stock ETEC with a Bobs nose cone. And my badassboat with the V8's.

[slpcamaross97]

Sounds like i should start shopping for a lower unit!