Twin outboards
#4
Registered

Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,785
Likes: 650
From: Lakewood, NY, USA
Well....I think a logical start would be what brand and model boat you are working with. There are many talented boaters on Offshore Only but in order to offer advise they need information. The more info the better.
Padraig
Padraig
#5
Yep ^^^^ tell us about your boat, what is it and what power are you replacing? Is it for fishing, cruising or is it a high speed boat....?
As a general rule, for high performance, you'd mount them as close as possible on a Vee hull. Helps with the centre of gravity for handling, turning etc. If you mount them further apart, it's better for low speed manouvering and docking. That said, all boats and applications are different. Lots of very knowledgeable guys on here who are always happy to help.
RR
As a general rule, for high performance, you'd mount them as close as possible on a Vee hull. Helps with the centre of gravity for handling, turning etc. If you mount them further apart, it's better for low speed manouvering and docking. That said, all boats and applications are different. Lots of very knowledgeable guys on here who are always happy to help.
RR
#6
Registered

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 848
Likes: 5
The closer the better performance. Plus you have to remember the wider they are from the center of the hull, the higher the engines have to be following the v of the hull. If your transom is shallow being that far out the engines might be too low.
#10
Registered

Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,470
Likes: 2,107
From: Milton, Fla!
Great post.
I would only add:
that as the hull lifts at speed, so do the wheels.
So engines mounted too wide on a vee would loose water/cavitate at speed.
In theory (as on a twin I/O offshore boat) you would want them as close together and high as possible for outright speed.
The negative aspect to above is, in this configuration they handle like crap around dock.
Narrower they are mounted, less levarge to rotate hull w/one motor in fwd, one in rvrs.
Higher they are only aggravates this.
I am guilty of looking like I’ve never docked a boat before, multiple times, in my twin O/B vee’s in any whisper of a wind.
To the point that even w/throttle, you cannot turn the bow into the wind.
Speed vs handling....., hummmmmmmm 🏁
I would only add:
that as the hull lifts at speed, so do the wheels.
So engines mounted too wide on a vee would loose water/cavitate at speed.
In theory (as on a twin I/O offshore boat) you would want them as close together and high as possible for outright speed.
The negative aspect to above is, in this configuration they handle like crap around dock.
Narrower they are mounted, less levarge to rotate hull w/one motor in fwd, one in rvrs.
Higher they are only aggravates this.
I am guilty of looking like I’ve never docked a boat before, multiple times, in my twin O/B vee’s in any whisper of a wind.
To the point that even w/throttle, you cannot turn the bow into the wind.
Speed vs handling....., hummmmmmmm 🏁



