Someone elses answer on another thread got me thinking. What's the increase in cost of ownership from a large single to a small twin. For comparisons sake, let's choose Baja. Unlike Fountain, single engined Bajas are single engined. There is no twin option.

So let's hear it.

Is a Baja Outlaw 29 that much more expensive to run than a Outlaw 25 or 26? Let's keep the tow vehicle, larger slip, and those variable out. Let's assume you get the single as a 496HO and the twin with 502 or 496 mags. Fuel consumption, maintenance, winterizing, etc are all in play.

you get can get a single 29 outlaw or twin 29 outlaw, my neighbor has a 29 outlaw with a single 454mag.

The single 29 OL is a dawg. Twin 7.4s will run you 64ish,mph. A single 7.4 OL will run the same speed.

I would say the single smaller boat would be much more cost effective.

if you go to the Scarab fourm there are some threads comparing single 29s to the twin smallblock 29s......the twin outperforms the single everywhere including gas milage.

in the 29 fountains the big singles (500HPs and up) are faster than the 320hp small b twin by about 3 mph (72 vs 75)and up and handle better but are a dog out of the hole.....nobody on here has put alot of power into the twin smallblock set up......Im getting my new engines in my twin small b non step going as we speak (360 hp/410 ft/lbs) we'll see how it performs

We've built the 28 Active Thunder with twin SBC and single BBC. You won't find one that the owner has not absolutely loved.

Well, this isn't a comparison between a large single and small twins.
A real 28-30ft w/ a 496 isn't going anywhere fast.
A better comparison would be a pair of 383s vs a 525.

It take fuel to make HP.
I'd take a pair of 450hp sbc's w/ b1s over an 800hp single w/ ??drive. the big single could have more problems.

Go twins. You will not regret it.

Buy what you can afford. The single boat will only be cheaper when it comes to repairs, you have 1/2 as much to repair when compared to a twin boat.

I like measure how much fun I have had in the boat by the amount of hours I spent using it not repairing it.

My 25 Magnum Sport came with a pair of 302's @ 205 Hp each and Volvo drives. Boat was rear heavy, top end about 55 mph , guzzled gas (10+ gallons /hour) and overall handling was only fair. I replaced that pair with a Merc/Bravo 454 (500 HP). Boat draws 4+ inches less waterin the rear, handles and manouvres fantastically, runs 65-70+ mph (depending on prop) and can cruise all day at aprox 35 mph using 5-6 gallons an hour (somewhat comforting with todays fuel prices). Also, as previously stated, only one engine and drive to keep maintained and serviced. Personally I would never go back or would I have twins if a good single would do the job. Just my 2 cents worth.