[HWLaser23]

a coulpe of years ago i went to catalina and someone lost an engine momentaraly do to conditions. he had two so he was good... my question is when you have twins ive been told you cannot operate your boat on plane right? if you were doing 70ish and lost a motor would you immediatly lose 30 mph and stay on plane, would you rip that non working drive out the back. why couldnt you trim the dead motor all the way up and hammer down. would you then be fighting the steering wheel. my next boat will have twins and i was just wondering if anybody has had any experiance with senarios like this. i would like to hear you stories/opinions

 

[DILLIGAF]

Never had twins but I would suggest you just take it easy and limp back in. Why put added stress on your boat in that kind of failure?

 

[HWLaser23]

Never had twins but I would suggest you just take it easy and limp back in. Why put added stress on your boat in that kind of failure?

this is the correct answer for sure i was just wondering if any one has been in any of the above situations

 

[angiebaby]

There was a thread about this a few weeks back. Maybe a couple of months, actually.

 

[sintax]

Reading this thread makes me think back to Pegged.

During the poker run when they lose the engine and it says "f it, keep on it"

 

[dschifan]

i have done it, when one of my outboards starting crapping out a month ago. i just stayed on plane, shut off the bad motor, started trimming up the bad motor as high as it would go. i kept goin till i made it close to the launch ramp then backed off to see what was wrong. saved me alot of time from having to idle on one motor back in. i can't get on plane with just one motor so once i'm on it i just keep goin so i will be closer to the launch and not have to put. and yes there is tons of steering torque

 

[ChumpChange]

That was earlier this year on the Lavey run with LHC30. That was a good time. There was no way to stay on plane in those conditions that day but had it been flat where you didn't have to worry about throttling on and off when coming out of the water....maybe.

Fortunately it was an easy fix when we realized what happened. I remember all of us getting pretty sick by going down in the cabin to try and fix it in those swells though.

 

[HWLaser23]

That was earlier this year on the Lavey run with LHC30. That was a good time. There was no way to stay on plane in those conditions that day but had it been flat where you didn't have to worry about throttling on and off when coming out of the water....maybe.

Fortunately it was an easy fix when we realized what happened. I remember all of us getting pretty sick by going down in the cabin to try and fix it in those swells though.

yeah man i remember the stories that was lch30 boat right???

 

[HWLaser23]

my bad i answered my own question i guess i should read more carefullysphss

 

[Keith E. Sayre]

Back in 1993 I was given a ride by Ken Brown the original owner of Magic Boats in a 34 Sorceror V bottom with twin 502 Mags. Half way across the lake he gets this dumb look
on his face, maybe a sneaky smile and he says watch this, he shuts one off and trims it up and we went from 75 mph to about 55 mph and we could have kept going that speed.
I have it on video, so it can be done. Only problem is that some twins only have one power steering pump and Murphys law says that the motor that you lose will be the one
with the pump leaving you to fight the wheel, especially if you have full hydraulic steering.

Keith Sayre
Nordic Boats

 

[Big Warlock]

If I lose a motor on the Donzi, no way to remain on plane. Plus it's a huge burden on the remaining motor. Boat is 11,000 lbs dry. Can hold 260 gallons of fuel and 60 galloons of water.

 

[LHC30]

Yup, it was my 30 Victory...Matt is right, there was no way to stay on plane in 4ft seas....It was even more fun on the way back in 8+ seas with BOTH motors working!!!!

Now on the flat lake it woulda been a lil different.

Another thread awhile ago revealed that most twin engined boats wont get up on plane with only one motor working...the exception, if I remember right, was a staggered engine w/big power.

Twins are the way to go!!!!!

And Keith, that is why my power steering works off either/both motors - thanks IMCO!!

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

I think it depends on the boat. Most "offshore" boats with 24 degree dead rise and more weight won't plane on one engine. The flatter bottom "lake" type boats may but either way I would just idle back on one motor than put the extra strain on it.

 

[Dan_Lorenze]

Just curious If guys with twins ever use just one motor when crusing places like marinas or the channel, or does it make the boat harder to operate?

 

[LHC30]

Rarely will I go on one motor...Especially in congested areas like the Channel...Too many times I needed maneuverability NOW to have only one going...I may be idling one and driving the other, but both will be on.

 

[Keith E. Sayre]

I agree with LHC 30, I'm always going to keep both engines running, even if one is only in
neutral just in case you need it for maneuvering quickly.

Keith Sayre

 

[pixrthis]

I heard Carson Brummet finished the Catalina Ski Race on one engine a few years back in the Satisfaction boat. That's impressive if true.

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

Just curious If guys with twins ever use just one motor when crusing places like marinas or the channel, or does it make the boat harder to operate?

I always run both motors and quite often am driving with just the sticks instead of turning the wheel. Never touch the wheel when docking. My motors are pretty tame so wouldn't really save any operating costs by running one motor.