Solo Power vs Twins Depending on the application, single outboards can be more fuel-efficient, put less weight on the transom and typically have lower maintenance costs when compared to operating twin powerplants due to fewer parts and con- sumable components. Plus the control box, wiring and gauge setup is sig- nificantly simpler and requires less critical dashboard space. When consid- ering boats that offer both single and twin powerplant options, the deci- sion comes down to the importance of key issues like upfront purchase costs, redundancy (especially if you travel offshore), close quarters maneu- verability, installation and maintenance costs, fuel efficiency and range.
When it’s time to winterize those outboards, twins are twice the price for oil and filter changes, mechanical issues, extra batteries onboard, plus those expensive trips to the dealer for required maintenance intervals (100-hour, 300-hour, 500-hour, etc.). Two engines can also present a challenge to prop correctly, requiring both right-hand and left-hand spinning wheels. When going through prop pairs to dial in the perfect marriage of speed and rpm, it’s uber expensive to go down this road. Stainless outboard props cost anywhere from $500-to-$750 each, depending on the size of your engine, with a pair pushing you into the $1,000- to-$1,500 range if you can locate those often hard-to-find L/H rotation wheels. And what if you don’t find the right pair on the first try? This can get to be an expensive adventure very quickly. And what about spares? This doubles the cost yet again for those potentially fickle twins. In some cases, the right single powerplant outfitted with the optimum prop can actually attain a higher top speed compared to dual powerplants of the same horsepower rating (like a single 300 V6/V8 vs. twin inline four 150s), all while reducing about 400-lbs of net weight on the transom. If you spend most of your time inshore, an annual membership to a towing service like Sea Tow or Towboat US can give you the peace of mind you need for your days out on the water running a single powerplant. The Case for Twin Power Twin outboards, inboards or I/Os offer enhanced maneuverability (like spinning the boat on a dime with one motor in forward
and the other in reverse), redundancy in case of failure when ven turing far offshore and potentially better acceleration, especially in larger boats. When approaching the marina’s gas dock or backing into your boat slip on a windy day, the benefit of twin powerplants can far outweigh some of the aforementioned negatives. It’s the difference between parking your ride like a seasoned pro using opposing throttles compared to the total feeling of panic you can get when the wind and current are making you look like a rookie working that single engine.
Yet another feature of twins that might be worth the added cost of ownership is the redundancy factor. If one takes an unscheduled
vacation due to untimely mechanical or electrical issues, the other will get you back safely. If there’s a common fuel problem (like water, algae, phase separation, etc.), it’s likely that both powerplants will be adversely affected. I have come back from 50+ miles offshore on a single outboard more than once and can tell you from firsthand experience, the peace-of-mind factor is a total deal- maker. In some cases, a single outboard from a twin power setup will plane the boat on one engine with the other tilted up, making solo transit a bit more tolerable. Twins are also a great candidate for joystick controls, although some single engines now offer the same handy docking maneuverability feature in conjunction with bow thrusters. Twin powerplants can also improve hole shots when taking off, but this might not always be the case due to the added weight on the transom.
For next month’s article, we’re going to take a closer look at some detailed factory performance tests for comparing single vs twins on identical hulls and twins vs trips on similar platforms, so stay tuned.
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