One set in forward the other in reverse, you are going to rotate on the axis I would assume. Or crab walk?

HCB 65' Estrella again:

Our Riva with 1400hp Mans is at Bayside Diesel getting a 800 hour service (they did away with 1000hr service on the newer engines, it’s smaller 400/800/1200, etc… now) done early (we have 760hrs on them) and bill is $35k. I would venture to guess 5-6 V12 600 Mercs will be more than that to run 800 hours.

Maybe we will have to wait and see but add up all the services the 400/800/1200 winterization etc. I am not saying that the diesels aren't good or going away completely they certainly have their place but the majority of new boat sales if not most will be outboards. Maybe it will change back but I doubt it.

Who doesn’t love a good ole fashion OSO debate…

ahhhh reminds me of years past…I miss it!!!!

I completely get the argument for outboards. The current technology is off the charts. Performance is only limited by budget. Engine replacement is a non-event (at least the physical side of it). The current backorder situation for engines and parts is a real buzz kill but hopefully will settle down soon. No question this is the future on more types of boats than we would have ever imagined..

However I somewhat recently (2018) wound up with a 55' Sunseeker with 1050 MAN's and Arnesons. If I ever have to pull an engine half the boat will have to come apart. But in the meantime I cruise 50,000 lbs, 2 heads with showers, sleeping for 6 in 3 ( I hate to call them staterooms but that is the term), a garage with tender and a decent galley at a little over 40 mph at 70 gph which = .57 mpg. The 750 gallons I carry gives me a safe 350+ mile range. With the Arnesons the draft is pretty much what I am used to at about 40". Will I run it up on a beach? Probably not but I have not ruled it out.

I did the dreaded 1000 hr service early and yes it was about 35K. At this point I have about 95 hours on the engines and they are just about broken in. The chances of a major failure appear to be slim. The boat stays in the water and current haul out schedule is every 2 years. Oil change interval is 200 hours. Looks like a new set of external hoses at 6 years, new boots every 4.

Unless I get a bug to really go fast this works very well for me.
I will say I see a 35 or so CC in my future as a day boat suitable for a quick lunch run. I doubt if it will have more than 2 engines

Mbam, you have yacht controller? If not, get it, it will be the best $15k you ever spent. Allows you to run the boat literally by yourself!

Yep I looked at one. Would be major!!

I'm all good if I'm just leaving the dock to go anchor out but forget it if I want to stop someplace where fenders and lines are required. TG I have a good friend who is the best deck hand ever lol.

While the man service is expensive, if you did a service that extensive on nearly any other brand of large diesel it wouldn’t be far off. Doing all the coolers, injectors, turbos, valve lash etc on a pair of c18 cats is easily 30k plus.
I’ll be doing extensive service on our 1850hp c32’s this winter. I’ll update what that cost when it’s done.