What makes a boat suitable for coastal use ?

We had this conversation at the weekend. The owner of a large twin engined flybridge thought we were mad to take our 23ft single engined boat out to sea.

We have never at any point felt in danger by heading out with one engine, I would far rather have the one that we know and trust then two unreliable ones.
 
CX54WEK said:
We had this conversation at the weekend. The owner of a large twin engined flybridge thought we were mad to take our 23ft single engined boat out to sea.

We have never at any point felt in danger by heading out with one engine, I would far rather have the one that we know and trust then two unreliable ones.
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until one engine stops.......:):):)
 
Loggo said:
Thanks NR. My feelings exactly - single engine - sea friendly - well thought of.

Unfortunately Mrs. Loggo will not hear of a galley on the same level as the social area. It just has to be downstairs. So rejected with no chance of appeal !
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My Scand 32 Atlantic has Twin Volvo's, cruises at 18kts and has a galley downstairs! Takes the rough very well for 32' and sleeps 7 if you're friendly...LOL
 
Hmmm, it happens, and it happened to me.

I would want twin engines, Sorry!!

(First time was an engine overheat, second was a fuel blockage. Both despite recent impellor and fuel polishing!!)
 
CX54WEK said:
Where has the UK basis for leisure boats "needing twin engines to go to sea" come from?
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Don't know but it's been around for ages. Back in the 70s when dad was a member of a Thames based yacht club, down river cruising was discouraged (even on club-organised events) if you had a single.

That's one of the reasons why Dad later bought a twin screw Freeman. Mind you, Dad was no one's fool and ex-Navy, so it was probably a ruse to get Mum to agree to buying a bigger boat :D
 
I just wonder how many people bought a twin because they would head "out to sea" and then have never actually ventured out onto the salty stuff.

It really does seem a strange conception to me.
 
CX54WEK said:
I just wonder how many people bought a twin because they would head "out to sea" and then have never actually ventured out onto the salty stuff.

It really does seem a strange conception to me.
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I could not agree with you more, if you take your classic solent weekend boater, a decent single well maintained engine is more than enough, plus for most who only do short trips I have always said who cares if they get to the Folly in in 20 mins or go a little slower and it takes 40 mins, surely the best part of the day is being at sea, not sitting in a poxy pub!
Just my opinion of course
 
Loggo said:
Can I ask for a little enlightened input please.

The story so far - My wife and I are looking to expand out boaty horizons and, whilst our present riverboat with her 50 hp Nanni has been excellent on the river (and dipped her hull in the salty stuff on occasion) we would like to have a larger boat with a more powerful engine (s) to enable us to try a little coastal boating.

We have viewed a few boats around our target 34' length with shaft drive, semi-displacement hull and a single engine (Typically 200 hp Volvo or 187 hp Yanmar). Whilst this would provide the economy we would like whilst on the river and we hoped would give around 12-14 knots at sea we are being told that anything less than a pair of 200's will simply not be up to the job.

We read of Displacement hulled Trawler and Dutch steel boats with little more than 80 hp being used at sea regularly - although I guess slowly - and have been wondering if we can get away with a single engine at sea or whether we will be left wishing we had gone for a twin engine set up in the first place.

Any thoughts ?
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We have a Merry Fisher 925 which is about 32 feet all in with a single D4 260hp engine with a shaft and will happily do 16 knots and is happy at most speeds below this being a semi displacement boat. Though the idea of two engines has some advantages (and disadvantages too) the servicing cost would go up lots!
 
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Most of us with twin engines run on one on the Upper Thames, but enjoy the extra manoaevrability afforded by two. It also halves the engine hours, which extends service intervals, albeit at twice the cost eventually...

Servicing a Shaft drive isn't the end of the world. Trying to get home when your props snagged or single engine fails for some reason isn't an idea I would relish.

To say 'It'll never happen' really is very very foolish. I was taught never to treat large bodies of Water with this attitude ;-)
 
CX54WEK said:
I just wonder how many people bought a twin because they would head "out to sea" and then have never actually ventured out onto the salty stuff.

It really does seem a strange conception to me.
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It depends on their perception as to what 'out to sea' is.

Many boat owners consider 'out to sea' to be one or two miles off shore or when traversing a large bay.

For me 'out to sea' means being out of sight of land and I love the isolation this gives, but it is not for everyone.

Coastal hopping does not require large boats nor multiple engines and is great fun for all the family who most likely do not want to travel to far.
 
Thanks to everyone for their interesting replies - I have to tried see if there is a consensus (fat chance) but one thing I find surprising is that I imagined most people would sing the praises of twin engines because of the additional power but it seems many value having a spare engine in the boot should the other one fail.

Can I put a scenario to you then - imagine a medium size cruiser (think Broom 33 / 34 ) with a single Volvo 200 or something comparable from Yanmar. Cruising, mostly, in company with one or more other boats which should cover the breakdown scenario. Would this then make a reasonable 14 knot (with a bit in hand) estuary and coastal boat ?
 
Loggo said:
Thanks to everyone for their interesting replies - I have to tried see if there is a consensus (fat chance) but one thing I find surprising is that I imagined most people would sing the praises of twin engines because of the additional power but it seems many value having a spare engine in the boot should the other one fail.

Can I put a scenario to you then - imagine a medium size cruiser (think Broom 33 / 34 ) with a single Volvo 200 or something comparable from Yanmar. Cruising, mostly, in company with one or more other boats which should cover the breakdown scenario. Would this then make a reasonable 14 knot (with a bit in hand) estuary and coastal boat ?
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I wouldn't worry too much about having just the one engine, look at all the fishing boats with just the one. There are many reasons why you could end up stranded at sea and this is one of the reasons you should support the RNLI and the likes of SeaStart.
 
Loggo said:
Can I put a scenario to you then - imagine a medium size cruiser (think Broom 33 / 34 ) with a single Volvo 200 or something comparable from Yanmar. Cruising, mostly, in company with one or more other boats which should cover the breakdown scenario. Would this then make a reasonable 14 knot (with a bit in hand) estuary and coastal boat ?
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I think this is why some peeps might have told you you need two engines, a Broom 33/34 with a single 200hp is not going to be cruising at 14knts, it will be lucky to be flat out at 14knts, they are heavy old boats with shaft drive.
 
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I think this is why some peeps might have told you need two engines, a Broom 33/34 with a single 200hp is not going to be cruising at 14knts, it will be lucky to be flat out at 14knts, they are heavy old boats with shaft drive
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I was wondering Chris - it was just that the benefit of a dual engine set up was coming across as insurance rather than power.

Bet someone will be on here now with a Broom that gets on the plane with a 10 horse outboard :)
 
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