Light Off Shore 1 motor or 2?
 

Looking for a little expert help. We are lake dwellers that moved to the Destin, Florida area and obviously the Gulf/Inter-coastal. We are upgrading to a Baja and my budget allows for either a couple year old single 25/26 Outlaw or a few year older twin 29/30.

I dont think I will be jetting across the gulf to Texas or running it from here to the Bahamas so Is a twin motor a necessity?

Im thinking if I break down I could always call Sea Tow so a second motor isnt needed?

Is the extra fuel cost worth the extra power?

Is there a big difference in the two boats with only adding a few feet?

Did the technology change enough to warrant purchasing an 07 up 25 over a 2003-2007 30?

Thanks for the help! See you on the water

Personally going from a 25/26OL to a 29/30OL is a totally different boat. Having gone from a single to a twin on lake Michigan, I would never have a single again.

Better ride on a twin, a bit more speed depending on the power, having a spare motor if something happens, are great. The fuel usage is not that much more having twins. You don't have to push them as hard to go faster.

I would go for the twin if money was the same any day. A clean boat of only a few years difference in age not gonna be big technology difference.

3 is 2, 2 is one and one is none when it comes to ocean boating. What's your budget?

x2

3 is great, 2 is good, 1 better have a strong backup plan. And we boat offshore often! 3 is like a security blanket now

Answered line by line in red above.

Well said

I moved from ohio to florida 10 years ago. I ran a 29' twinn 454 Power Quest on lake erie, when i moved here to florida i purchased a twinn thinking that the gulf was rougher and more vast boating area. I quickly learned diffrently. I have had single 27-29 Bajas and fountains ever since. Many of my friends have twinns, and i out run them and the diffrence in fuel , weight and maintance is a huge bonus to me. I needed a tow one time in 10 years 'called sea tow' and i boat the entire west coast of florida. Over memorial day weekend we went from tarpon springs to naples. I think lugging an extra motor and drive around is a waste of money. the big lakes up north are way rougher than the gulf.

3 boats ago I went to twins. In that 8 years, I've never once wished I had a single engine boat back. Jason's post was right on.

Thanks for the replies! Definitely gives me some things to think about.

Hey guys... Considered going to twins earlier this year until I topped off tank at 50 gal and decided... Well may be I should stay with a single...

So the question... Mpg.. I burned around 40 gal for the tckfaw 200 with my 25ol w 454 mag. Around 50 mile ttl run that we ran pretty hard on first part of trip... Would I expect to burn double with twins... Say.. 29 ol with mags??Jason? Or even a 30 ???

Well that is relative. No you would not burn twice the fuel. If you were to run the same speed as you did with your single you would burn a bit more, but not a huge amount. You have to remember that you will be in a larger boat as well.

The nice part with a twin is you are going to be able to run the same speed as a single, be able to handel larger seas with more comfort. Going from a single 26' to a 30' twin is night and day difference.

My large run of the year is the St.Clair run. We probably run 120+ miles that weekend. I am no speed monster, but I do short blasts here and there. I burn about 90 to 100 gallons with twin 454 mags.

My local boating having gone from a single to a twin, I can't say I really burn any more fuel. I am driving out to the lake go for a short ride and sit on the hook for most of the day. I am far more comfortable when doing it, and I can go out now at times I would have stayed home in the single.

I have to agree. Fuel and maintenance costs alone..... I would have to say, are close to double. Keep in mind, the boat you're considering twins in weighs probably another 1500 lbs from size, and 1000-1200 pounds for another drive and engine. That bulk is gonna suck some gas, no way around it. And every maintenance item will be double, and substantial. When it comes time to repower......

I love twins, but I think people who say that "it hardly burns more fuel"..... are kind of like people who say "I like taking the bus....". You don't have a choice, and gotta justify it.

The redundancy is nice if you need it, there's no doubt. Of course strapping an outboard into your engine bay of a single would give you redundancy too, but most of us don't. Good maintenance and a compliment of tools on board, should make for reliable returns.

The majority of people I know who own twins, seem to go full bore for 10 minutes or so to thrill their guests, and spend the rest of the time floating or heading back to dock ..... because that meter's always runnin'.

If cost is no object, go for it. If economy matters to you at all, and it probably does if you're looking at used boats, you can't go wrong with a strong single either. I know some will disagree....:drink:

I guess my main motivation is ride comfort when we have the kiddie! Well the adults too as lake pntchatrain likes to get 3-4 quick. The 25 will make it but you have to slow it down an plow and getting on top is white knuckle time!

We can handle 2's ok, but the kids don't like the rough at all! (2 and 5 ur olds)

Would upgrading smooth it out enough to justify??

The only way i could justify going back to twin engines is stepping up to a .38 Special with 500 efi's. On the fuel issue, If both motors are spinning 4500-5000 rpm's they are consuming fuel period no sugar coating it....

For me it would, but everyone has a different opinion.

I went to twins for the exact same reason (comfortable ride and overnighting with small kids). We went from a white knuckle ride to where the kids could sleep through a 3' slop.

Again, my opinion, the ONLY thing I do not like about having a large twin engine boat is when it's on land. My boat can be a handful to drag around and maneuver in tight spots.

Again as most has said. Size matters. The space in a 29-30 compared to a 25-26 is just in another class. To me, the only logical reason for not choosing the 29-30, would be a question about the size on land and money. The comfort in the bigger boats cocpit and cabin not to mention the ride is just on another level. That is what makes you enjoy what you have. In most cases, folks step up from a 24'-26' to a 30'+, not the other way around. Speed is often one reason, but there is more to it than that, and there is a reason for why so many do it.

+1, I have ridden in all sizes of boats and countless Bajas from 18 foot to 38 feet and there is a huge difference. Yes my fuel burn is more than my friends 272 and my mtc costs are double for sure, but the ride is not even comparable. I have never owned a single engine boat and wouldn't ever consider it. In fact I think I'm gonna go bigger soon!

And when they say double for maint. Your looking at fluids, oil filter, water seperator, and impellers. That's maybe $100-150 if you do it yourself. I know some guys change plugs and everything every year. I do it when needed.

Fuel burn is again all in how you drive it. No different than a car if you are in the throttles all the time you are going to burn fuel, no doubt about it. The thing is with a single to get 55 you are standing on it the whole time. With a twin you are closer to a cruise and not in the carb the whole time.

I can honestly say that my fuel usage went up about 50 gallons going from my single to my twins. For that extra $300 - 400 a year cost (gas and maint), I get a larger more comfortable boat, better ride and the peace of mind knowing if I have a problem with a motor I have a spare to get me home.

There is no comparison in ride. A 25OL is a nice ride, a 29OL or even my old 280 is night and day. I went from a 260 to my 280. Running in 3' was torture with the 260. 3' in the 280 is fun water.

My kids were younger as well when I got the 280, 10 and six. They were scared to go out when it was more than 2'. The first time we went out in the 280 they knew going out the channel that we were going out in big water. I boat out of St.Joe Michigan alot. If the lake is tossing 3' you have 4-5 rollers going down the channel.

We got out on the lake and my daughter says don't go fast daddy. It take off and get on top of the waves and at first she was wide eyed and scared to death. Pretty quickly I see that fear change to a big smile, and she says can we go faster...:kiss:

There are all kinds of opinions, sounds like you are more interested in a nice comfortable ride with affordability and dependability also. I happen to have a nice 29' Fountain Fever with a strong 540 700 hp with only 50 hours on it. That way you get the length and the stepped hull for rough water and efficiency. Its in the oso classifieds.

What is the riding surface on a 29 fever?? My buddy had a 27 and it didn't ride as good as mine?? His hull was really about 24 w/o beak and platform.

Thanks for the comments from every one. Sounds as though twins wouldn't be that bad!

A 29 Fever is a 26' boat. I owned a '98 with a single 500. They're fast but you don't get the smooth ride or room of a real 29-30 boat. I'm not bashing. I like Fountains. I sold the Fountain and went to a Baja 302 when I had kids. On my third twin engine Baja now.

thanks... sounds like I need to get a 29-30 hull if I upgrade.. Hate to mess with the 25OL.. its been a pretty managable boat having to drag it around.

See, I have the exact opposite view of you. I do about 200-250 hrs of boating per year here and wouldn't ever, ever, ever run again without twins. Started with a single 23 and then a single 275. Great boats but more suited to a lake/bay or very near-shore boating on calm to 1 ft days. The ride between the 275 & the 30' is night and day! I'll take the twins any day (especially if they are easy to maintain motors like the 496s) - for both performance and reliability. Boating up and down the shore of the west coast here and there is one thing but if you are going out every weekend and also going to places like the Keys (via Naples straight across Florida Bay) or to the Bahamas I couldn't imagine relying on one motor. Plus, if you have ever been caught up in fronts or summer storms, you will appreciate the size of a bigger boat (especially if it is a true 29/30 ft boat) and the power of twins for getting you safely through the swells.

If you are going to a 29/30, I feel twins are a must. If you plan on being a calm-day, near-shore or bay boater, a smaller boat with a single will just fine. Another thing that will make a difference is how much you will be using it. If you go out just about every weekend and want to go to your destination regardless if the sea is flat or sharp 3-4's, a larger boat with twins will allow you to do so comfortably and safely.

At the end of the day, it comes down to money and use. If it works for you, step up to a larger twin-boat. If you don't think you will use the boat that much you may be better sticking with a smaller single-engine one.

Thanks everyone for the replies. I learned a lot reading the posts and have decided on a 30 or 33 Outlaw or a 32 Sunsation. Im leaning towards the Baja because I have always loved the look. The Sunsation seems to be a lot more boat but comes with a lot more of a price tag.

My boat will be a crab island/gulf boat and the intercoastal brackish water.

Im assuming closed cooling is what I need to look for? Reason?

Drive shower? whats the purpose?

Anything else a salt water boat needs besides an aluminum trailer?

Thanks again!

what hasnt been mentioned about maint costs... twins vs singles..think of it like this...

your pulling a wagon with a couple hundred pounds up hill, sure you can do it, but the rope eats into your hands and your backs getting a little sore plus your hungry enough after all that work to eat 4 big macs....

next day, two ropes on the wagon, you and your buddy pull it up the hill. Sure you can do it by yourself, but with your buddies help its a whole lot easier on your back, you and your buddy dont work up as much of an appetite because the work load is easier so you each have 2 big macs and niether of you is sore the next day.

less strain on the engine and drives when using twins provided you operating the boat at about the same demand.

Single or Twins
 

Dude, I boat in Gulf Shores and Ft Walton Destin FL twice a month! I sometimes boat all the way from Gulf Shores AL down the intercoastal to Destin and back in the very same day!I trailer from the Gulf Coast of MS over there easily down I-10. I have a 25 Baja Outlaw and have NEVER been stranded or had any problems boating in the intercoastal. Other than the Emerald Coast poker run, nobody is really ever running out front in the Gulf (nothing out there to do and you can go just as fast in the intercoastal). You want the extra maintenance and upkeep? When it gets that rough, nobody is out there anyway or if they are, there are very few boats. I guarantee you will spend 90 percent of your time at Noriega accross from AJ.s, or at Crab Island, or at HelenBack, or at Scullys, or maybe once a year to Juanas or PCola beach for the air show. I have sea tow-125.00 a month with roadside assistance when trailering. Thinik about it long and hard before you spend that kind of moneyf or the next 10-20 years of your life given the current economy. I agree with that pulling the wagon post and strain on the motors, think about the strain on your back and wallet too when you are working on twins!

Hey thanks for the reply. I wondered how much people were actually in the Gulf. And I do agree that all the places you mentioned is where I will most likely stay. I do want to go over for the air shows and may occasionally run in the Gulf. Its a big decision and I just want to make the right one from the start.

Single or Twins
 

Shoot me an email man at [email protected]. Let's talk.

A very good way of looking at it.

The maint. is not that different, as others said.

Yes a 25 or 26 is a little less than the 30 or 33 to care for and handle, but it's also way less boat on the water. And cleaning or maintaning 5-8 feet of boat more is not a big deal, to say the least. Use your truck for logging it around, don't use your back for it.
You are not gonna get stuck with a 30-33 boat for 10-20 yrs. It's a very popular size of boat with reliable power. If you fiddle around with the engines and make your own upgrades, yes plan on keeping it for awhile. Leave well enough alone, or get engines from a reputable builder/manufac. if you wnat more power some day. Better yet, find a boat with more.

When it comes to the safety aspect of it, there is sea tow, but you'll have to wait for them to get to you. If you are in a storm ect. it's a rotten place to be with no power, If anyone is ill or injured, waiting is no fun either. Do you have major drive damage, or a bad rubber boot in the drive, you run the risk of sinking. I know these are worst case senarios, but worth considering. The safety of twins is not only about getting home, but mentaining control of the situation, where you are, and where you are going.

Single Engine Boat
 

Single or Twin-you make the choice that makes you happy. You are going to get 1million responses to this age old question. Remember who is paying the boat note and insurance, the fact that you need money to enjoy it also and there will ALWAYS be someone BIGGER and FASTER. (nuff said-peace out-good luck).

p.s. you can swim from side to side in the intercoastal! (let the boat sink and claim insurance!). HA.