"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Feb 8, 2:28?am, "RCE" wrote:


My other personal requirement for offshore boating is a boat with twin
engines. Many disagree.

I think twins are important if you are a gas boat. Less important for
a diesel. Once you get a diesel started it will run until you shut it
off unless it overheats (entirely preventable) or is denied
combustible fuel. (Fuel problems tend to affect both engines, so twins
are less of an issue from that perspective). Witness- nearly every
commercial fishing boat ever built; offshore for sometimes a couple of
weeks and running with a single diesel. May be less true than before,
with all of the intricate comptuerization now incorporated into a
modern diesel- but I suspect in most cases a diesel would continue to
run if the electronics crapped out- just wouldn't run very well.

And of course, don't leave the dock without a VHF and a decent
antenna.


I agree with your point of diesel vs gas although modern diesels are
increasingly reliant on electronics to run. There are, however, other
propulsion system failures or accidents that could leave you dead in the
water while doing offshore cruising and/or fishing. IMO being dead in the
water, 30 or 40 miles from land in rough seas is second only to fire in
terms of danger.

Eisboch