Question for the Twin Engine Guys
 

I own a single engine (496 Mag) and It's a pain in the ars to change the sea water impeller and spark plugs (engine sits low in the box). I've been considering moving up to twins for a few years but when I look at the engine compartment, I have to ask: How the heck do you change the plugs on the inner side of each engine? And how do you get to the water pump on the port engine? Seems like in non-staggared set-ups, the engines are so close that you couldn't get between them to work on them?? Every summer I feel I'm ready to move up. Until I do my routine maintenance and have to turn into a contortionist! Seems like it would be even worse with twins!:confused:

it is worse - much worse!

Lots of scrapes and scratches to hands, wrists, forearms, and biceps.

Yep its a *****. Plugs where not that bad. did btoh mototrs in about an hour.

have not done sea water pumps yet, but its my big fear.

I did my pump impeller last year and after many explatives, thrown tools and bloody hands & arms later, it was done. Took the better part of the day to remove everything in the way and then reinstall. This Spring, the pump is not circulating water so gotta tear it out again. Paying someone this time!!! I just can't imagine doing all this on 2 engines!! I need deeper pockets!

Guess it depends on the boat. Mine is pretty easy to get to the impellers. I am not a mechanical guy I hate working on engines and I can do mine pretty easy. I have never done the plugs but my brother does not say its hard or anything. I can say that getting a starter out is (*&^$%#@)$*%& PIA, and all I had to do was replace the bendix in it.

Starters would be a Worse then the empellars i think

Depends on the boat. I can stand in my bilge and work on mine. I can sit or lay on the step plates and get under them too.

that would be nice! I have to pull the pin on the hydraulic hatch to prop it open at 90 deg in order to stand in there. Guess I just have to look closely for access before buying anything.

i can reach my drain plugs on both of my pans. you learn to bend and flex in ways you never thought you could but once you get used to working on twins its not that bad. its worth having twins over the single!!

Done the plugs and sea pumps ,i found sea pumps easy if you remove pump , plugs best way is to crack em loose then use 4to six inch peace of vac pipe over the end of plug and twist them all the way out ,same for getting them back in .
This is my first twin and i must addmit the first time i worked on the motors my arms did look like chopped liver at the end of the day. 28ft pantera so a bit tight in there.

Yeah some boats can be a real *****! Two bolts on the hatch ram and I can pull hatch off. Takes 2 people because of the size but it's maybe 25 pounds. :thankyouthankyou: I've worked on a lot of other boats and I am very happy mine is set up like it is. Check one out if it fits your criteria.

yea my hatch is not easy to remove at all..... used a fork lift. haha

All depends on the boat. The closer the bulkhead to the pulleys, the harder it is to work on anything. If that bulkhead is full height, (up to the gunwales), FORGET about it. It's a PITA to do anything.

Staggered setups make things easier, but cost you cockpit space depending on the boat and configuration.

This is workable:
http://activethunderboats.com/37_gallery.html

Very very very tight!

I have found that for me the best way to service things like plugs and impellers is pull the starboard engine. With one engine out the other one can be serviced easily along with the one hanging from the chain fall. When I built the engines I made them very much plug & play. I can have one engine out in 30 minutes and takes about 45-60min to put it back in. I would spend at least that much time cursing and swearing at the sea pumps! ;)

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i4...b/078482c6.jpg

With the back seat pulled forward it gives a bit more room. I never knew it folded back until I fell against it one day trying to work on the engines. I said," Damn it boy, blind hog found an acern." I'm thinking about cutting a hole in the sides of the cat to get to the outside of the engines.

Depends on the boat.my twin bbc 29 powerquest was impossible to work on without pulling a motor but my top gun i can sit in front of the motors and get at anything.

Not to bad on my Scarab. You learn to get into really tight places and to make custom tools.

Buy a twin engine cat, plenty of room to pull the plugs.

Lot of space
 

Cat, cat, cat. Only 30ft Twin engine boat and Lot of space. Three man race cockpit and one seat in rear "between" engines. Have a plan changed full widht back seat for more seats but after working in engine room... wont change. If u buy someone to do all the jobs maybe no matters but when working yourself.
So nice to stand inside the engine room front of engine and done plug change, oils etc.
Four seat place in cockpit its Low but when open the hatch's.. :)

Staggered.

After changing plugs and wires in mine I look like I got into a fight with a racoon..and lost..be prepared for scrapes and bruises..Ive named my boat repeatedly while working on her but nothing the Coast Guard would find appropriate! :lolhit: I have TRS drives so my engines are shoved forward even more than my buddy with his Bravo drives..I have to lay my chest on hard fiberglass back seat upside down to work on em whereas he has a diamond plate platform he can stand on :angry-smiley-038:..spent last season with a permanent bruise across it..and no..towels dont help much..as far as raw water pumps..I didnt find them that difficult..just pull the rear housing and replace the whole unit..IMO should be done every season since winter is brutal on the rubber impeller..dry out easily! The formula is..10 hours of work for every one hour of pleasure but to me part of the fun is doing the work and getting the reward rather than paying someone else..plus I know its done right!

X2 I have no problems reaching any of that stuff...

Yup, you hit it on the head about the impeller! Hence why I'm ranting this week---changed it last Spring and started the boat last weekend and no water flowing thru! This was after laying across the engine and snaking my grease gun down to the coupler grease fittings. And squirting grease everywhere cause I couldn't get it locked on the fitting!! So after throwing things and cursing a lot, I took it to my mechanic for the impeller! Just didn't feel like dealing with it this year! But normally I enjoy doing my own work. Kind of therapeutic and like you said, I know it's done and done right!

Cold beer to soothe the scrapes and a shot of Jack Daniels to ease the pain! Battle Scars! :lolhit:

Touche.

A cold beer is never far out of reach!

I just got your handle, while stairing at ur avitar LMAO

nice by the way :Score-101010:

Invest in a GOOD set of workgloves.

Yes, much cheaper than two engines!