Are single-engined mobos worth more?

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BoatingBeginner

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With diesel prices only going up, are single-engined mobos (around the 30-foot mark) now worth more then their less efficient twin-engined counterparts - all other things being equal?

I'm thinking of a semi-displacement vessel (like mine), and with serious problem with one of the engines. The option simply to convert to a single engine running a slower, larger prop is looking quite tempting... I'm never in a hurry to get from point A to point B after all. Plenty of single engines and sterngear items come up on Fleabay at giveaway prices, but pairs of anything don't often...
 
Would have thought it rather depended on the style of boat ie if its a Princess type tart trap with a flybridge etc, then it needs two large diesels. If its a Nelson look alike / displacement boat then one will do.

Either way as a mobo with high diesel prices its worth less than it was 5 years ago.
 
BoatingBeginner said:
With diesel prices only going up, are single-engined mobos (around the 30-foot mark) now worth more then their less efficient twin-engined counterparts - all other things being equal?

I'm thinking of a semi-displacement vessel (like mine), and with serious problem with one of the engines. The option simply to convert to a single engine running a slower, larger prop is looking quite tempting... I'm never in a hurry to get from point A to point B after all. Plenty of single engines and sterngear items come up on Fleabay at giveaway prices, but pairs of anything don't often...
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...less eficient twin-engined -other things being equal if you are in sheltered waters but the safety aspect off shore is another matter.
 
Are you asking whether the boat you have would suit having a single engine? Mobo forum might be better? Personally I think those twin engine outdrive leg things are horrendous but I like some motor boats, usually ones with one sensible diesel engine and a propeller on a shaft...
 
djbreeze said:
Are you asking whether the boat you have would suit having a single engine? Mobo forum might be better? Personally I think those twin engine outdrive leg things are horrendous but I like some motor boats, usually ones with one sensible diesel engine and a propeller on a shaft...
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Oh - I know it does because I've got the original brochure and having a single engine the normal option for commercial craft. Z-drive was an option, but outdrives certainly weren't.
 
djbreeze said:
Are you asking whether the boat you have would suit having a single engine? Mobo forum might be better? Personally I think those twin engine outdrive leg things are horrendous but I like some motor boats, usually ones with one sensible diesel engine and a propeller on a shaft...
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I'd go along with all that; the safety side of twin engines is bleeding ( pardon the pun ) obvious; lobster pots or otherwise fouled props being just one example.

I wouldn't go far in anything relying on one engine and no sails !

Surely at least a decent, workable outboard for Plan B should be carried.
 
The control aspects of twin engines are a real bonus.
Especially on a boat with a lot of windage and no keel.
A bow thruster seems to be a poor substitute in my limited mobo experience.
 
Seajet said:
I'd go along with all that; the safety side of twin engines is bleeding ( pardon the pun ) obvious; lobster pots or otherwise fouled props being just one example.

I wouldn't go far in anything relying on one engine and no sails !

Surely at least a decent, workable outboard for Plan B should be carried.
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So commercial Trawlers and the like than run on one engine day in and day out for years, wouldn't be safe then in your opinion?
 
Chrusty 1 said:
So commercial Trawlers and the like than run on one engine day in and day out for years, wouldn't be safe then in your opinion?
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They possibly have enough torque to be a little less bothered by the odd bit of string on the prop?
 
lw395 said:
They possibly have enough torque to be a little less bothered by the odd bit of string on the prop?
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Well I know this wont win me any friends, but I have to say that it's becoming very apparent that these forums are populated by quite a lot of worry bunnies.

Don't take that as a personal attack, it isn't, just a general observation.:)

It all seems to be about what ifs these days, it's a wonder that anybody goes anywhere or does anything.:).......It's a thought innit, maybe they don't?
 
Trawlers are a totally different kettle of, errr, fish; as mentioned they have a large engine hopefully installed with the purpose in mind.

That being said, badly maintained trawlers don't fare too well when the donk packs it in, as may be seen on the various TV programmes about them, Brixham etc.

A mobo yacht with one engine and no backup would appeal most to people who have a secret crush on lifeboatmen, IMHO !
 
Chrusty 1 said:
Well I know this wont win me any friends, but I have to say that it's becoming very apparent that these forums are populated by quite a lot of worry bunnies.

Don't take that as a personal attack, it isn't, just a general observation.:)

It all seems to be about what ifs these days, it's a wonder that anybody goes anywhere or does anything.:).......It's a thought innit, maybe they don't?
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I know what you mean.
I take risks. I have a 1000cc motorbike FWIW.
I do draw a line between doing stuff myself that I know has a risk attached, and telling others it's OK for them to do it.

If we explain and understand the risks, we can do stuff while keeping the risk sensible.

Take for instance climbing a mast. I will do it, but I will look at the gear and judge how risky it is, and make a plan accordingly. I don't want to say to some newby, 'yeah, no problem' and have him not recognise a rotten halyard or an idiot helper. I feel some responsibility to any less experienced person I offer advice to.

Mind you don't get blown over! :-)
 
Chrusty 1 said:
Well I know this wont win me any friends, but I have to say that it's becoming very apparent that these forums are populated by quite a lot of worry bunnies.

Don't take that as a personal attack, it isn't, just a general observation.:)

It all seems to be about what ifs these days, it's a wonder that anybody goes anywhere or does anything.:).......It's a thought innit, maybe they don't?
Click to expand...

Seamanship is largely considering 'what if' and doing ones' best to prevent it happening; second grade seamanship is allowing it to happen then dealing with it.

Miles Smeeton of 'Once Is Enough' claimed that he was the subject of the report " This Officer shows great skill at getting out of situations he should never have got into ! "
 
lw395 said:
I know what you mean.
I take risks. I have a 1000cc motorbike FWIW.
I do draw a line between doing stuff myself that I know has a risk attached, and telling others it's OK for them to do it.

If we explain and understand the risks, we can do stuff while keeping the risk sensible.

Take for instance climbing a mast. I will do it, but I will look at the gear and judge how risky it is, and make a plan accordingly. I don't want to say to some newby, 'yeah, no problem' and have him not recognise a rotten halyard or an idiot helper. I feel some responsibility to any less experienced person I offer advice to.

Mind you don't get blown over! :-)
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I take your point, I do tend to have a single handers view of these things, but it does seem to me that people do seem to get themselves in a proper state over risk assessments and such. When I started sailing, and I am sure there are many on here who have been sailing as long as me, there was no such thing, you looked at what you had to do, weighed it up, and then got on with it.............Ho hum, the world changes I suppose.:)

Hey take no notice, I'm just a grumpy old git.:D
 
BoatingBeginner said:
With diesel prices only going up, are single-engined mobos (around the 30-foot mark) now worth more then their less efficient twin-engined counterparts - all other things being equal?

I'm thinking of a semi-displacement vessel (like mine), and with serious problem with one of the engines. The option simply to convert to a single engine running a slower, larger prop is looking quite tempting... I'm never in a hurry to get from point A to point B after all. Plenty of single engines and sterngear items come up on Fleabay at giveaway prices, but pairs of anything don't often...
Click to expand...

Converting a twin engine boat to single engine is not a trivial exercise. Many SD boats were offered with options of twins , singles and even options of shaft or outdrives. Although the basic hull may be the same, the installations are completely different. Singles will have beds just for one engine and probably a keel and only one rudder. Twins will likely have no keel, P bracket shafts, twin rudders and of course beds for two engines. Outdrives will have different transoms and different internal layouts as the engines are in a completely different position.

So changing one to the other on an old, low value boat is normally just not feasible or economic. Whether one set up has higher value than another is impossible to determine without knowledge of what the boats might be worth and the cost of converting from one to another - if it is technically possible.

Old(ish) MOBOS are genrally low value and the cost of doing anything with them is way out of proportion to their value. The arguments for and against single and twin engines are well rehearsed and inconclusive. A well setup and maintained single engine is just as reliable and "safe" as a twin. Badly setup and maintained examples of each are equally unreliable.
 
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