Two outboard auxillaries on a small yacht?

[graham]

Is there any real reason for not using two smaller outboard motors on transom brackets port and starboard as auxillaries for a yacht rather than one larger?

Say for example on a 25 foot yacht instead of one 10 hp would it be practical to use two 5 hp motors ?

The advantage would be that reliability would be increased . if motorsailing then just one motor could be used .

Also if linked to remote controls you would have much greater manouverability.

There must be drawbacks or lots of people would do it.

 

[richardabeattie]

One 10 horse costs a lot less and weighs a lot less than two 5s?

 

[upthesolent]

Drawbacks? Expense I would have thought. But, you would certainly have better steering if you lost rudder control.

 

[graham]

[ QUOTE ]
One 10 horse costs a lot less and weighs a lot less than two 5s?

[/ QUOTE ]

I just looked on the Suzuki Website A 9.9 weighs 45 kg 2x 5hp weigh 52 kgs So there is a 7kg weight disadvantage but on the plus side the 5s could be manhandled much more easilly.

Price wise a 9.9hp costs £1649 the 5hps are £779 each so would be slightly cheaper ,about the same once you had paid for the additional bracket.

does anyone know if the thrust from two 5hps is equal to one 10 hp ?

 

[andy_wilson]

Generally you will lose a little performance, you certainly do with faster craft. What you also lose is any chance of charging a battery. At least a 10hp will stand a chance of providing a few amps if suitably equipped.

Otherwise the idea has it's merits.

 

[catalac08]

the concept of having a spare engine against breakdown is appealing in principle and works on catamarans - but would not
a monhull heeling put an outboard on the lee side under the water at times?

 

[graham]

On lots of boats with a transom hung rudder the outboard is offset on a hingeing bracket to lift the prop out of the water when sailing.

In practice it works as a yacht doesnt normally bury its transom when heeled due to the greater beam amidships.

The concept is just a pipedream at the moment as i daydream about what my "perfect"small yacht would have.

You can get charging coils fitted to smaller engines these days. My 4HP Suzuki has one .

 

[Guest]

[ QUOTE ]
The concept is just a pipedream at the moment as i daydream about what my "perfect"small yacht would have.



[/ QUOTE ]

Um.......hows about a diesel engine? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[graham]

Hello Smiffy, I know that conventional thinking is that a diesel inboard is the answer but on a boat less than 24 feet I think you loose a lot of stowage space they are expensive and you have the prop dragging in the water.OKyou could at more expense fit a folding prop .

The space under my cockpit is taken up with drying legs fenders radar reflector etc etc. I only ever had one boat with a diesel ,reliability was good(never failed) reliance on battery power to start it worried me a bit and it took up the biggest storage space on the boat.

My ideal boat (no such thing I know /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) will sail well enough to not need to motor a lot.Be easilly driven so wont need much horsepower. And Im starting to imagine two outboard wells in the back of the cockpit.

 

[Guest]

[ QUOTE ]
Hello Smiffy, I know that conventional thinking is that a diesel inboard is the answer but on a boat less than 24 feet I think you loose a lot of stowage space they are expensive and you have the prop dragging in the water.OKyou could at more expense fit a folding prop .

The space under my cockpit is taken up with drying legs fenders radar reflector etc etc. I only ever had one boat with a diesel ,reliability was good(never failed) reliance on battery power to start it worried me a bit and it took up the biggest storage space on the boat.

My ideal boat (no such thing I know /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) will sail well enough to not need to motor a lot.Be easilly driven so wont need much horsepower. And Im starting to imagine two outboard wells in the back of the cockpit.

[/ QUOTE ]


Well mine is only 22 feet, and it has loads of room for it's diesel bulgin! The drag from the prop is next to nowt, and I can stand up in her, and I don't need beaching legs! and I didn't buy an Anderson 23! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

And........I'll get me coat /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

PS, and I don't need battery power to start it, and I................








Am just going. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[graham]

Horses for courses as they say. if you ask 10 yachties what their perfect boat would be you will get about 15 answers /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Guest]

More like 50! Just joshin' wiv ya Graham /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[davidmbooth]

I used to do it on a leisure 17

no problem , both fitted on a modified single bracket.

it is far more reliable at sea than 1 engine

 

[graham]

Thanks for that ,and welcome to the forum.did you run them both at once or was one a back up for the other?

 

[davidmbooth]

i used to do it with my leisure 17

two engines on one modified bracket.

twice as reliable!

 

[davidmbooth]

both at once , if in a rush

just the Honda 4 stroke if going for economy

 

[trouville]

Ive often said great boats built for the very economicaly chalenged have the advantage of no engine!!

If an outboard gives up (there very reliable touch wood) just undo two screws and let it drop overboard!!

To get up the rhone or speed up cruising just bolt on a 500hp!! Folkboat crusing at 60 knots!!??? (Fantisy incase some take it seiriously)

Now your post!!!!!!!!!!!! I said the same "if i mounted 2 OBs" i would have super manoverability!!!!

Saddy the distence between two transom OBs isent that far for great manoverability.

With just one OB and a prop with reverse you can have just as great manoverabitilty!!!!! Even offset with practice!!

I still dont have a prop with breaks & i cant find my stored link??? Where can i buy the super prop with reverse??????? I can manoverer but not stop!! No breaks! I have to either enter astern or run/rush forward to fend off when entering a mooring!!!!

OH and an engin is only REALY useful in tidal in non tide regions you need a motor when theres no wind (to moore) for large ports or when you can see your detination youve been up all night and the winds against! Saves tacking for hours!!!!!

Long live my 6hp outboard.

 

[Guest]

Um, a Leisure 17................now if I recall correctly? aint that a sailboat?........er, ya know, sails, wind? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[graham]

Re the braking power of an outboard,my old Yamaha 5hp wouldnt stop the boat very quickly so if berthing in a marina great care and lots of fenders needed /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I just accepted it as a fact of life.

When I changed to the Suzuki 4 hp 4 stroke despite less hp the engine will stop the boat very quickly making manouvering much less stressfull.

 

[Dyflin]

[ QUOTE ]

Well mine is only 22 feet, and it has loads of room for it's diesel bulgin! The drag from the prop is next to nowt, and I can stand up in her, and I don't need beaching legs! and I didn't buy an Anderson 23! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

And........I'll get me coat /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

PS, and I don't need battery power to start it, and I................


[/ QUOTE ]

What is this miracle boat you own??

Very interesting idea (from a a very practical boat owner!), unfortunately I've got a boarding ladder on the other side so that rules me out as a guinea pig /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif