Still Looking!
 

I am still looking for my first go fast boat and was pretty sure I wanted a single but now am considering twins. I would like to get at least a 28 ft or larger so that I dont feel like I need to upgrade right away.
Is there any pro's or con's to a twin engine over a single?
In 28 to 30 ft boats it seems some have twin SBC's which seems like a good idea to me, will 2 350 Mags out perform say a 454 Mag or a 502 in the same boat?
Some of the boats I have been looking at are Donzi 28ZX , Baja OL 29, Scarab 29. I would like to stay around 30k.
Anyone have any opinions please?
thanks RB

Scarab/ Wellcraft tend to have major rot issues. All the above listed are nice boats. Really depends what you are looking for. Reliability wise I think twin small blocks is hard to beat. If your trying to go fast it costs twice as much to build two motors. Every make has there pros and cons. Sometimes it's best to buy not exactly what you want but what you can find in the best shape.

I know a guy thats selling a single 29 OL, 502 MPI with trailer, if you change your mind about twins

If you are interested in a boat without motors I know a guy with a nice Active Thunder, he will sell for a good deal and you can get any motors you want to put in it.

Go with twins. My motto has always been two to get you there and one to get you home.

A donzi 28zx with twin mpi small blocks will take you easily into the '70' s with some suprising holeshot performance . Well built boat if you can score one for 30k

Thanks for the input! my first 2 choices would be 28 ZX or a 29 OL with either a single or twins which ever I can find in a nice boat.
I didn't know if you could run 1 motor on a twin to get back home but apparently you can, this would be helpful as we plan to run the Miss. and Ohio rivers.
I am looking for a very nice turn key boat, that is reliable.
Will twin 350 mag MPI 600 hp total outperform a 502 Mag MPI? What is the weight diff? Will one ride better?
thanks RB

At just 7 mph

? I guess I don't understand.
thanks RB

The 28ZX will be faster with the twins vs the single 502mpi.

A friends 28ZX 502MPI was a 60+mph boat. Like under 65mph boat.

Twin engine boats under 30 feet are often VERY difficult to work on. Keep that in mind.

If I had the money I'd have triples... nothing says BAD ASS like three shiny drives hanging off the back! When I work on mine I wish it was a $ingle... in retrospect that's what I should have bought being our first boat and all, so we settled in between. Practicality= single, ego and speed= twins lol. So far this has been my experience as a new go-fast owner.

I am still trying to find the right boat for me. I have run across a cple. of Challengers does anyone know much about them? I noticed they are not listed in the classifieds on here
thanks RB.

the 7 mph is about all a twin boat will do with 1 non-running engine. BUT that is 7 mph faster than a single engine boat with 1 non-running engine...buy the highest quality best condition hull you can. engines are the easiest and cheapest part of a boat. stay away from old novas with twins for 5000 bucks...

No longer in business, and my limited exposure to them was not good.
I helped a random guy in FL years ago try to track down an electrical malfunction that affected everything from his stereo to engine hatch to drive trim; on his BRAND new boat. All he could do was start and stop the engine. In peering around looking for fuses and such, came across cabin/helm construction that was nothing more that black painted plywood and wood screws. I am sorry to say it, but that experience left a bad taste in my mouth. For the price point though; they are right for someone.

True points on single vs. twin. Twins almost always get you home at some point.

FWIW, I can bring my twin up on one engine/drive and run about 30mph or so when needed, but it's not a great idea with all the stress on that drive.

Brian, I might have to disagree with this statement. Small blocks leaves a lot more room than the big blocks. Now the Active is more accessible from the front though.

That's why I said often. A lot depends on gunwale/bulkhead/engine hatch/back seat configuration.

Brain how's the Jet coming.....

I've made a few changes in the barn; and am working on getting the Speedliner Cat in the water for Spring.
I see you guys have a new horizon as well.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o50474-en.html

Been for sale for quite some time.

Twins take more maintenance but in some ways are cheaper per HP. You want 700 hp, 2 350 hp engines are a LOT less exotic and sensitive than 1 700 hp engine. You can use fairly mild cams where you arent checking valve springs every 100 hrs. Standard bravos hold up to that much power better than any bravo based drive holds up to 700.

Twins. I had a 272 sr1 formula. Great boat. Most work wasn't bad to do but starters are a b1tch. It would plane on one engine and run about 30 however I wouldn't do it for a long time. I won't go back to a single.

I downsized from a 34 with twins to a 26 with only one engine. Cost of operation is a big difference. IF you want to make an improvement to the HP you have to do it to two motors with twins. Just about everyone makes improvements. I also wanted a lake boat.
I liked having twins ( mine would not get on plane with only one running. BUT I have gone boating with only one running where otherwise I would have had to stay home. ( One time the engine wasn't even in the boat - Sand bags to keep it level. )

I had a single for ever and now that I have twins I will not go back. That 28zx up top is a nice boat I have the big brother version of it and love it. I think you could even talk him down on the price sence its been up for sale for so long. If u put the 29 ol up against the 28zx with the same power the zx will be faster do to twin step. Stepped bottom boats r able to run faster with less hp then straight bottom boats.

The zx boats also look good in the water too imo [IMG]http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/...ps395d436f.jpg[/IMG]