Twin engine first time

[tfitz01]

My new boat will have twin drives. I need some advice on operating this vessel. I have owned a single I/O for five years but would like your imput.

 

[paulie0735]

Re: Twin engine first time

You won't really notice much difference in the way the boat drives. Twin engine can make maneuvering a little easier if you know what you’re doing. Biggest thing you will notice is... 2 engines = 2 x the maintenance, 2 x hp and 2 times the fuel burn. Good luck.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Twin engine first time

i love it when you can put 1 in forward and 1 in reverse and pivot. keep you rpms identical.

 

[tfitz01]

Re: Twin engine first time

You won't really notice much difference in the way the boat drives. Twin engine can make maneuvering a little easier if you know what you’re doing. Biggest thing you will notice is... 2 engines = 2 x the maintenance, 2 x hp and 2 times the fuel burn. Good luck.

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[tfitz01]

Re: Twin engine first time

I already foud out about double everything. Bellows, shift cables, gimble bearings, oil change and tume up. Iwanted to get unkown maintance issues behind me before I get her in the water.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Twin engine first time

make sure the has the function, that each engine has separate batteries, but by turning the battery switch you can srater either engine with the same battery, in case one battery dies. ususally standard.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Twin engine first time

I have recently made the same transition.Not to brag ,but I was always considered one of the best around at docking my single engine 27 footer.Not an easy boat to dock with any wind at all.I was very confident and not tentative and approached each docking situation differently according to wind speed and direction.I have found that twin drives have made many situations, that I would previously have had to totally avoid,much easier .I however dont display the confidence or knowhow that I did previously.It is not as easy a transition for me that I would have liked it to be.I cant seem to keep my hands off of the steering wheel.Try not to get hung up on the "double trouble" baloney.If the size of your boat requires 2 engines then thats all there is to say about that!!

 

[skipperjohn]

Re: Twin engine first time

One of the hardest adjustments moving into a twin screw is learning to forget the Helm (steering wheel) when at idle speed. Practice using just the gear sticks no throttle either. Take some time when you can be alone at the helm with no interruptions. Learn to pull her aft both screws in reverse. Then nudge the port screw ahead and watch the bow shift to Stbd. remember you don't always leave either gear engaged. Sometimes you just shift into gear long enough to make headway then stick it in N and watch how she acts. Then nudge which ever screw needs to correct. After a while you will become very comfortable in spinning her on her axis in a channel only 1' wider then your boat is long.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Twin engine first time

I think the best advice has already been given for docking " Keep the hands off the wheel " other than that skipperjohn makes a great point about short shots in gear, try to only make short quick changes by putting it into and then out of gear many times to achieve your maneuver otherwise it can get away from you pretty quick, all part of the learning experience... good luck!