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03-20-2017, 04:35 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
City: New Tazewell
Vessel Name: Saoirse
Vessel Model: 1983 Nauticat 44 Ketch
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 151
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Twins? Should I be intimidated by twin engines?
As I shop for a boat, some of the Grand Banks models have single, and some have dual engines.
I've never owned or operated a twin engine boat - my initial impression it is just twice the maintenance, upkeep and cost. But, mebbe redundancy is good.
What are the pros and cons of twin engines? Would you recommend twins, and why?
Thanks.
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03-20-2017, 04:42 PM
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#2
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,119
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They make operating insanely easy over a single with no thruster.
They give you more options for relatively modest increases in operating costs.
They have given you cause to start up one of the great debates of boating....that has lots of opinions and a whole lot less absolutes.
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03-20-2017, 04:53 PM
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#3
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Guru
City: Sydney
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,646
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Twice the weight twice the fuel twice the service cost twice the repairs twice the noise twice the shaft seals twice the gearboxes twice the props twice the rudders 1/2 the area to work on and they get you to the same destination as a single at 8 knots
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03-20-2017, 04:56 PM
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#4
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,119
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I would mildly disagree with some and strongly disagree with other statements made above...not everything is double, or even close to double.
Some things change depending on your work and wishes.
I am sure you will get a lot of input on both sides of this fence, but most will agree not everything is double.
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03-20-2017, 04:56 PM
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#5
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Enigma
City: Slicker?
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 16,540
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__________________
RTF
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03-20-2017, 04:57 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,119
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Bring the matches, I will bring the gas....
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03-20-2017, 05:21 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: Bellingham WA
Vessel Name: Hatt Trick
Vessel Model: 45' Hatteras Convertible
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,971
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Your topic is right in there with national politics, guns, and brands of scotch whiskey in terms of highly- pitched opinions. I'm with psneeld....I like having two engines downstairs. I just like that warm fuzzy feeling that I've got an ace in the hole if I need it, and I'm willing to pay the price tag for it. For me, it's really that simple, although the handling in close quarters with twins is also nice. There are lots of happy single-engine owners at this site who I'm sure will give you their $.02.
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03-20-2017, 05:27 PM
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#8
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Guru
City: Sydney
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,646
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To add to the discussion we should think about triple Volvos so when 2 go down you at least have one left .
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03-20-2017, 05:29 PM
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#9
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Guru
City: Mississippi
Vessel Name: ADAGIO
Vessel Model: CHB Present 42 Sundeck
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 919
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ok, Ill play. If your boating is open ocean, ie PNW, going up to Alaska.... then twins for safety are a good call and worth the extra expense. But if you boat on inland waterways, do the loop, stay within towing insurance range, then one engine is all you need. Granted two engines do make for easier handling, but a bow thruster is a whole lot cheaper to maintain than a second engine. Fire away all :-)
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03-20-2017, 05:31 PM
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#10
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TF Site Team
City: Ex-Brisbane, (Australia), now Bribie Island, Qld
Vessel Name: Now boatless - sold 6/2018
Vessel Model: Had a Clipper (CHB) 34
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,100
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I suggest you do a search using the search function, because as others have alluded to it, there has already been MUCH discussion on here re this very subject.
__________________
Pete
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03-20-2017, 05:50 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
City: Comox
Vessel Model: 1989 Wellington 57 motorsailer
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 281
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Here's my take on it. I have a planing hull with twin Cummins eng's. While I can go fast with it (saw 23 kts on GPS at WOT) I don't plan to use it like that very often. Most of my travel will be cruising at 7 or 8 knots and I won't need both engines to get to where I want to go so will be running on one engine to get there, the other to get back but have the option to use both when I want. Hopefully the new autopilot (still in the box soon to be installed) won't have any problem keeping the boat on course with the boat wanting to pull to one side. Maneuvering in tight quarters way easier with twins (unless you have a bow thruster).
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03-20-2017, 06:15 PM
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#12
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Guru
City: Vallejo, California
Vessel Name: Mahalo Moi
Vessel Model: 1986 Grand Banks 42 Classic
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,093
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We aren't forced to own a boat. I do it for pleasure. I think it would be a blast to have four engines.
__________________
Ray
"Mahalo Moi"
1986 GB-42 Classic
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑβΕ
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03-20-2017, 06:29 PM
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#13
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Moderator Emeritus
City: St. Marks, Florida
Vessel Name: Morgan
Vessel Model: Gulfstar 36
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,673
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FoxtrotCharlie
ok, Ill play. If your boating is open ocean, ie PNW, going up to Alaska.... then twins for safety are a good call and worth the extra expense. But if you boat on inland waterways, do the loop, stay within towing insurance range, then one engine is all you need. Granted two engines do make for easier handling, but a bow thruster is a whole lot cheaper to maintain than a second engine. Fire away all :-)
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I don't know why anyone would want to fire away at that, since it is pretty much true. But a lot of us buy used boats, for reasons of economics, and you pretty much take what comes with it, be it twins or a single. I doubt many sellers would be willing to remove one engine, just to close the deal, or to install a second engine.
__________________
John
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03-20-2017, 06:41 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
City: Wherever the boat is
Vessel Name: Kismet
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 458
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Ya the real question is which anchor should you use if you have twins vs single.
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03-20-2017, 06:49 PM
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#15
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Moderator Emeritus
City: St. Marks, Florida
Vessel Name: Morgan
Vessel Model: Gulfstar 36
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,673
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kev_rm
Ya the real question is which anchor should you use if you have twins vs single.
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That one is easy. If you have twins, you use a Danforth and a Fortress. If you have a single, you use a Danforth.
And no, as a moderator, I am not going to debate.
__________________
John
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03-20-2017, 06:58 PM
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#16
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Guru
City: Campbell River
Vessel Name: Okisollo
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 783
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Not mine, but.....
How about full displacement with keel, skeg and rudder with
pintle bearing on the skeg?
Add twin engines, run either or both together.
The prop is between the deadwood and the rudder.( I have seen
pictures with shafts "in the open" )
Think the draft is too much for the loop.
Ted
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03-20-2017, 07:06 PM
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#17
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Guru
City: Sarasota/Ft. Lauderdale
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,438
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gaston
Twice the weight twice the fuel twice the service cost twice the repairs twice the noise twice the shaft seals twice the gearboxes twice the props twice the rudders 1/2 the area to work on and they get you to the same destination as a single at 8 knots
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03-20-2017, 07:14 PM
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#18
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Guru
City: Palm Coast, FL
Vessel Name: Coquina
Vessel Model: Lagoon 380
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,570
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Anything over about 23' long all the way to 1000' long SE boats need so much help docking. They scare me. [emoji41]. Sometimes seen with one or two sticks out the top.
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03-20-2017, 07:16 PM
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#19
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Guru
City: Galveston, Texas
Vessel Model: 24" El Pescador
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 743
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Quote:
Twice the weight twice the fuel twice the service cost twice the repairs twice the noise twice the shaft seals twice the gearboxes twice the props twice the rudders 1/2 the area to work on and they get you to the same destination as a single at 8 knots
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But you can go MORE than twice as fast as a single if ONE engine fails.
I only have one engine.
__________________
Ken Diestler
Galveston, Tx
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03-20-2017, 07:19 PM
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#20
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Enigma
City: Slicker?
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 16,540
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14 posts to get to anchors...shame...Someone is asleep at the switch.
__________________
RTF
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