Has anyone taken a twin engine outboard boat and swapped out the twin set up for the same hp single set up ? I was wondering if the loss of some weight and loss of drag from another lower unit helped or hindered.
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Has anyone taken a twin engine outboard boat and swapped out the twin set up for the same hp single set up ? I was wondering if the loss of some weight and loss of drag from another lower unit helped or hindered.
I've done it on fishin boats and the duals normally out-perform a single even of the same hp.
What type of boat are you looking to do this on?
More than once was glad I had two...
Quote:
Originally Posted by NAVISPEED1
Thanks for the video. Kinda what I was thinking the out come would be.
25 Fountain. I have twin 175's Mercs but was thinking about going 350 Verado , 400 If I could find one cheap enough which is highly unlikely i know. I was thinking one less drag in the water and the weight loss, but two motors is still two motors creating push and lift.
the answer is depends....and that will be on the prop load.
if you are short of blade area with a single then twins will be better
then the speed issue as drag goes up, so depends on the speed as well
Need to look back ..but something about less prop slip with twins and just Better performance..it out outweighs the drag of the other lower unit..
And handling is better
prop slip is still a variable with boat weight/dragQuote:
Originally Posted by mrichartz
Look at years of Mercruiser where you could choose 16" or 20" lowers, heavy boats needed the 20" light ones didnt.
Oh yes..
I just remembered something that with twins same setup etc that the slip was better...how much etc I don't know and vaguely remember. Don't remember what kind of boats the tests were done with. I just mentioned it was something to look up/at.. but either way I'd still say 2is better than one even if you lose a tiny bit...could be that day you get home..lol
That and with counter rotation the torque cancels itself. No drag from a torque tab or crabbing of the gearcase.Quote:
Originally Posted by mrichartz
Thanks..Quote:
Originally Posted by Forkin' Crazy
That's what I was getting at..I forgot to finish lol long day.
How much with that boat you'd have etc???.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrichartz
Not sure what your asking ? Right now speed is low 60's. I need bigger props because im hitting the rev limiter with 3/4 tank and two people on board.
Oh didn't mean actual question more rhetorical thinking out loud..kind of thing and that was nothing like what I said I didn't look at it before it sent
Was driving and guess it voice typed wrong..
How much torque tab drag etc, and crabbing etc . 25' w single are you going to surface it run it high? Don't know how your looking to use it a fishing center console racer etc and how you have it setup etc...
If that makes any sense...been up all night in pain from..well been up so hopefully that makes sense..
Toffen was faster in his Phantom with a single
to be expected, fast and lightQuote:
Originally Posted by David
If its a fishing boat primarily, and you often venture past cellphone range or make long range trips then stick with 2 just for redundancy. Other than those reasons I don't see how 2 engines are better. 2x maintenance. 2 gearcases to push thru the water, more weight on the transom. With a v bottom 1 properly setup will always be more efficient than 2. 1 engine and a seatow membership is cheaper than the operating cost of 2 .
On a 25' boat I think I would keep the twins. Think about docking or loading on the trailer in wind and current. Twins are much easier to maneuver. If I went to a single, I would consider a bow thruster.
I would at least prop it up. You might be happier with it when you get it tuned in.
I totally agree, twins are always better for docking , fishing, safety etc. I have had both many times. I have been plus 30 miles out with both twins down, I have been plus 30 miles with one out and made it home hammered and out of beer. I have Tow boat for a reason, cheapest insurance EVER. I was actually looking to go bigger with twins , it just seem impossible to find two decent 200-250's. So I was thinking one 350 might be the way to go. I would need a 30" shaft and those as singles are really easy to find still under warranty and not to expensive seeing as how a lot of trip set up boat are selling them. A 400 would AWESOME but that's not happening. I'm not dropping that kind of money for speed, wrong boat for all that money.
Oh so it wasn't really as much of a question as it was a tell me this would be worth it?
If you are going offshore, I definitely see the merits of twins.
If you have a heavy boat or large loads, twins have more blade area and more torque.
If you are talking speed, a comparable single, I feel the advantage goes to the single. My boat ran ~85 with twin 200 Johnsons on it. My single 400R is in triple digits. Dragging the extra gearcase costs more power than most realize, even if it’s surfacing.
No, it was absolutely a question of had any one replaced twins with a single. While twins make it easier to maneuver docks and such it is not an issue for me. Owned boats since I was 10 years old. Operating a boat is never an issue, I was really interested in the performance whether speed was lost or gained, fuel economy lost or gained etc. I'm familiar with operation and safety being better with twins
I was being semi sarcastic meaning you were hoping for the best.....I don't mean you didn't want to know... ignore that that post...
I only mentioned twins for getting home really and performance
I didn't think you'd be looking for handling docks performance part...hell that's not always true either mine with the extra weight makes it light a kite and a huge PITA
With even a breeze and there's no independentlly using the motors to maneuver it's like it will have a mind if its own...or its possessed..
No worries what so ever. I appreciate any and all feedback. I know what ever decision I make is not going to be the end of the world. But because of price and availability it seems a single 350 with warranty is the way to go. If I could run across a good deal on twin opti's I would jump in a heart beat for the ease of switching alone.