2 engines or 1 engine

[sb99]

I would go for a triple engine setup if available and finances permitted, however they don’t so I am currently restricted to a single engine.

As some may know this is my first year in boating and I am based in Cardiff so tend to use the Bristol Channel, weather permitting.

I have ventured out into the Channel 5 times (About 30 times within Cardiff Bay) this year, with kids and wife on board. I like to think I take all reasonable safety precautions, fixed DSC Radio, hand held VHF, Flares, Life Jackets, Passage Plans, grab bag, check on all sea cocks, regular serviced engine , pre-trip engine checks, kids fitted with harnesses and anchored to a secure point within boat, twice the fuel required for journey, tender with outboard on davits at back(Though this would be useless in rough conditions and is mainly used to keep kids occupied when we are within Cardiff bay but you never know)

Is this considered mad or irresponsible? I like to think I am being responsible but always have that nagging doubt about the single engine element.

For those that have actually broken down can they offer some advice? My reaction in such a dilemma (assuming we are in open water when it happens) would be to first try an anchor if the circumstances permitted, try and investigate the problem if possible. If I could not resolve quickly then I would Pan-Pan for assistance.
I am sure that in calm conditions this would work out but would b ea lot more stressful if the conditions were not so favourable.

As always advise appreciated

 

[1971Lou]

you are mad to anchor kids to the boat. maybe attach to you and you to the boat but not the boat direct. i was told one engine was madness. i have read what has been said here and it seems to be different for everyone. i am going for two engines as some of the things said today have scared me

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I think the comparison between single engined commercial boats and single engined pleasure boats is not valid. Firstly, commercial boats tend to use continuous rated engines which are deliberately detuned for reliability. Many are what we would refer to as old fashioned luggers ie. heavy, slow revving, large capacity and normally aspirated. On the other hand, engines fitted in pleasure boats are designed for maximum speed ie light, high revving, small capacity and turbo and/or supercharged. In fact leisure rated marine diesel engines are actually very highly tuned power units. IMHO it's totally unrealistic to expect the same kind of longevity and reliability out of a leisure boat engine as a commercial boat engine. They're different animals
Secondly, a commercial boat usually has somebody on board who knows how to fix the engine and probably carries the necessary tools and spares. How many leisure boat owners really know how to bleed their engines, for example? Thirdly, leisure boats are used far less often. Commercial boats are used and maintained regularly. Leisure boats are left for months and then blasted up to near max rpm for a couple of hours. Is it any wonder they break?

 

[whisper]

I don't think you are being irresponsible at all.
As it happens I had engine failure whilst out on my own earlier this year.
I couldn't re-start our single KAD44 after having drifted up Channel about 5 mls out from Prawle Point.
Running aground was not going to be a factor so I tried to find out what the problem was. I didn't succeed so as you suggested, I made a PAN PAN call and got towed in (very publically) by the Salcombe Lifeboat.
As it happens the cause of my embarrassment was a knackered starter motor.
This hasn't made me worried that we've only got one engine but having two in this case would have saved me from both shame and a towage bill from the Harbour Authority.
By choice I'd go for two engines but the extra maintenance costs would be a nasty addition.

 

[BrendanS]

that's interesting, how do the harbour authorities charge you for a tow by an RNLI lifeboat, when it's not their lifeboat?

 

[whisper]

Hi Brendan,
They didn't, the HM charged me for the tow from Salcombe up to Kingsbridge - about £40 I think /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[BrendanS]

ah, OK. Had me puzzled for a moment

 

[T43]

Ari ! you misunderstand, the question was would you set off in a car without a spare wheel & tyre (not what would happen if you had a blow out).

 

[oceanfroggie]

Compared to a single engine aircraft an engine break down on a boat is a piece of cake! At least you can stop, and your not heading for a hard obstacle at 140kt. If you hit rocks or a quay wall you'll only be doing 1-2kt, you won't explode, and if the boat is nearly sunk you can always jump in the water with your PFD and life raft. Jumping out is not really an option in leisure aircraft! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Break down in a mobo is usually just an inconvenience unless your out in bad weather or being blown on to a hazard that will actually sink the boat. For most mobos it is a matter of waiting for a tow and chucking out the anchor - embarrassed faces and an extra donation to the RNLI or CG.

 

[Its_Only_Money]

[ QUOTE ]
you are mad to anchor kids to the boat. maybe attach to you and you to the boat but not the boat direct.

[/ QUOTE ]

I disagree completely, depending on their ages and number you are comparing the very very remote risk of a sudden fire or sinking (so sudden you have no time to unclip the kids), with the (relatively), quite likely possibility of them falling overboard by accident....

If clipped on then my kids are clipped to handrail next to the helm - I can't actually leave the helm without passing it....

Horses for courses but I can't recall ever hearing of anyone going down with a boat due to being clipped on....

 

[Scubadoo]

Well you've seen my post regarding a S28 single, for me it is down to costs.

I had single engine boats for 18years and only once I broke down in the middle of the southampton water (that was 1990), it was a stern drive gearbox seal failure and actually welded the gears together. Anyway it was a matter of getting a tow but was straight forward, the boat was brand new i.e. factory defect.

Although I can understand the safety of two engines, I tend to put more effort in maintaing my single and not sure that would be the case with twins. I keep onboard "standard" spares like belts, filters etc and feel confident in replacing them if needed.

However my main reason is the cost of maintenance, I simply don't like high annual bills and when I think of what it costs just for my single and the time I spend on prop cleaning/antifouling it would put me of with two units.

I do think about engine failure when in diffcult situations (close to cliffs, shallow water, rough weather etc) but I just think through what I would do. I did buy a 10hp outboard as backup but it was too heavy and now sits in the garage. Instead I joined seastart so I would not have to use services like RNLI.

I must be one of the few who would buy a single used boat in the UK, maybe that may change when diesel is more expensive. The up side is singles boats seem to be cheaper to buy but maybe hard to find.

With twins you must have seperate fuel tanks and I would have thought fill each tank from a different supplier to be sure of true resilence.

But saying all that, if money was no object then I would have twins and have someone else maintain them.

 

[capnjack]

[ QUOTE ]
you are mad to anchor kids to the boat. maybe attach to you and you to the boat but not the boat direct

[/ QUOTE ]

How would you know this to be true? I am under the impression that you have never owned a boat. This being the case, perhaps a more balanced view of "I would have thought this a little dangerous from a novice angle" would be more realistic. Your very specific statement that the poster is mad to do such a thing has elements of experience and expertise in it.

Perhaps I am completely wrong and missing something and you are an experienced mariner who has no boat at the moment, so apologies for the mistake.