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Jack Redington Jack Redington is offline
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First recorded activity by BoatBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 178
Default Single 250 or Twin 150s?

JimH wrote:
"Jack Redington" wrote in message
...

Reginald P. Smithers III wrote:

JimH wrote:


"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
m...


On Fri, 5 Oct 2007 16:38:15 -0400, "JimH" ask penned the
following well considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:


"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
news:2t6dg3pp2a232o2ou4ij0ke1jpgmm3t0rc@4ax. com...


On Fri, 5 Oct 2007 14:18:47 -0400, Lance Osojnicki penned the
following well considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:


Howdy,

I am looking at a nice 25' center console fishing boat that weighs
3700
pounds dry and without power. Will a Suzuki 250 be enough get up and
go or
will a pair of 150s be necessary? I think 3700 is pretty light for a
25'
CC
compared to a Grady or Mako. Thoughts? My piggy bank would like to
say
single.

The principle reason to go with twins is redundancy. Your piggy bank
and your level of comfort with losing either some or *all* power will
have to come to terms.....

--

Another major reason for twins is maneuverability.


Twin outboards are usually placed so close together that there is very
little benefit in the minute amount of asymmetrical thrust that can be
produced.



My twins were on boats with I/O's. I could pivot either of them on a
dime and could easily stern in when docking. My single drives (I/O's
also) could not and my ability to maneuver in reverse was/is a bit
challenging. I could not imagine trying to stern in with an single I/O.

If there is in fact no advantage in maneuverability between single and
twin outboards (vs. when comparing with I/O's or inboards) perhaps it is
due to where the drives sit in relationship to the pivot point of the
boat and not the space between the drives.


There is a world of difference between close quarter maneuverability with
an I/O and a inboard. You really should be able to turn and/or stern in
that small runabout easily. You probably forgot how to use a single I/O
after using twins. You need to have someone review the basics and find
out how easy it is.




I have never had twins on anything, Backing down with a io is a no problem
at all. just like backing down with a outboard.

Capt Jack R..



I never said it was a problem. I did say that there is a world of
difference with close quarter maneuverability between twins and single
drives. Take a boat out with twins and your opinion will change about the
maneuverability difference.



I was not saying twins do not do well in close quarters. While I have
never had a boat had them. I have a uncle that had a 44 ft Trojan. I
could not beleive how he could get that thing in the slip he had. The
gas dock at the marina was right in front of his slip. Heck you could
not even see it when he pulled it out. After moving out it would turn on
a dime. And the same when he backed it in.

My brother currently has a 37ft crusier and it does nice as well.
Another buddy has a 33ft go-fast with io's. When he does tight moves he
leaves the drives straight out and just works the controls to get the
same effect.

All I was saying is that on io or outboards I have not had trouble
backing down. We had a 21ft cuddy (io) that I was always backing into a
slip. That made it easy to get out, and somtimes on short docks it was
the only way to go.

Now only over one weekend did I run a skiboat with direct drive. While I
really did not have alot of time to get use to it. I found it a beast to
back it down. The helm would not answer and it would just want to turn
to port. Maybe with a little more time I would have figured it out. :-)

Capt Jack R..