With the cost of fuel approaching $5.00/gallon and the emergence of bulletproof four stroke outboards such as the Yamaha 350, is it time to reconsider the notion that twin outboards are mandatory for offshore boaters? Would you consider a 350 instead of twin 200s for example? The purchase, fuel, and maintence savings are substantial.
Will Big Single Replace Twin Outboards?
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1,507 Posts
twin or single...
For a difference of only 4 gallons an hour at cruise, I will keep the piece of mind of twins.
That fuel difference, plus the cost of annual gear oil, impellors, filters, plugs...I wouldn't exactly call 'substantial'. But I do not commute with the boat either. I can fish near shore all day long and put only 1 hour on the motors. Everyones situation is different though.
What I would call a substantial difference between the two is being 40 miles offshore and one motor not starting or driveshaft snapping (yes it happens) and it being the only motor on the boat or not.
I can appreciate seeking to save money but if you travel offshore, nothing beats twins. Even the Inlets these days, with 1 motor and it shutting down, you can easily lose a boat to the jetty in less than 2 minutes without power. Been there, not fun. No motor is bulletproof. A motor is just a motor and they can all fail at any time and do. You do see all those boats tied to towboats all day long, right? Those are all single powered boats. That is what the towboats are for and making a good living at it.
Twins get you home every time.
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For a difference of only 4 gallons an hour at cruise, I will keep the piece of mind of twins.
That fuel difference, plus the cost of annual gear oil, impellors, filters, plugs...I wouldn't exactly call 'substantial'. But I do not commute with the boat either. I can fish near shore all day long and put only 1 hour on the motors. Everyones situation is different though.
What I would call a substantial difference between the two is being 40 miles offshore and one motor not starting or driveshaft snapping (yes it happens) and it being the only motor on the boat or not.
I can appreciate seeking to save money but if you travel offshore, nothing beats twins. Even the Inlets these days, with 1 motor and it shutting down, you can easily lose a boat to the jetty in less than 2 minutes without power. Been there, not fun. No motor is bulletproof. A motor is just a motor and they can all fail at any time and do. You do see all those boats tied to towboats all day long, right? Those are all single powered boats. That is what the towboats are for and making a good living at it.
Twins get you home every time.
Joined
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1,158 Posts
Full disclosure
Full disclosure - I had to get towwed back once because I ran out of gas within a mile from my marina ... independent tanks and I cut it too close and lost one, ... then 4 miles later, lost the other.
It took 2 hours for the tow guy to get to me, just tuff at 3am and she didn't think I really ran out of gas at all, but she was just flattering herself!
Where's my Piker Application?
Anyway, in view of a piker like myself, I am sure the newer engines are awesome, however, they will get old and midway through their lifespan, I would rather have 2 than one.
vk
Full disclosure - I had to get towwed back once because I ran out of gas within a mile from my marina ... independent tanks and I cut it too close and lost one, ... then 4 miles later, lost the other.
It took 2 hours for the tow guy to get to me, just tuff at 3am and she didn't think I really ran out of gas at all, but she was just flattering herself!
Where's my Piker Application?
Anyway, in view of a piker like myself, I am sure the newer engines are awesome, however, they will get old and midway through their lifespan, I would rather have 2 than one.
vk
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