What are the reasons that they stagger the engines?.......like the old Cigarette race boats were.

Engines / weight closer to the center line of hull, equals better balance, closer to center line allows for engines to also be lower in hull, also equals beter balance.

Stagered set up also allows weight to be moved foreward in hull which often helps with center of gravity, better balance fore/ aft.

Better balance, or weight distribution, makes for a better handling hull, especially in rougher water conditions. When the boat leaves the water the better balanced boat will fly flat vs nose high, as it might with all the weight at the transom, which is safer and faster when running in those conditions.

Many manufacturers are offering staggered set ups now. One drawback is often the reduced cockpit space, if you are a beach guy that may be a negative, if you are into performance and handling the benefits can vastly out weigh the loss of cockpit space.

Around a dock or ramp it handles more like a single than a twin setup. Just a little something to get used to, no big deal.

Here's mine.