Twin Outboards

Troutski · 12-10-2007, 05:26 PM

Does any one have any experience with twin outboard motors ? I am planning out a new boat and was thinking of twin motors instead of one large and one small kicker motor. My question is do you need counter rotating props when using twins ? Any one have any suggestions.

Chuck

cavdad45 · 12-11-2007, 08:34 PM

Why do you feel you need twin outboards. They are generally used on larger craft than freshwater fishing boats.

If you do decide to go with twin outboards, the motor on the left will require a counter-rotating gear case and a reverse prop.

Mokai · 12-11-2007, 09:29 PM

Get twin Jet Pumps..Jets rule...

Troutski · 12-11-2007, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cavdad45

Why do you feel you need twin outboards. They are generally used on larger craft than freshwater fishing boats.

If you do decide to go with twin outboards, the motor on the left will require a counter-rotating gear case and a reverse prop.

Well it was just an idea, the boats from my youth were mostly twins. It seems like every one I know has; lets say a 50 hp main motor and a 8 1/2 or so kicker on the size boat I am looking for. Well they all sit crazy cockeyed in the water, espcially if the person is alone, so I figure split the difference and balance the power. Twin 25 hp motors, a 25hp four stroke trolls down pretty slow on my 15 foot Alaskan so on a 16 foot Alumaweld with windshield a 25 would be just about perfect, and with an hour meter on both you could spread the time out equally over the power curve. When it was time to scoot along after a day of catch'en you could cruse back with plenty of power to spare, if you had a mind to. It is just an idea, thats why I put it up here; to get some feed back.
Do you remember those old P-14's with the small glass windshields and twin 15's, man I loved those boats..they had that lap siding look to them. Fiberglass if I remember correctly, just wondering why they stopped doing it.

Chuck

trollin4trout · 12-12-2007, 10:58 PM

Just some random thoughts in no particular order about it........

Do you mean cockeyed when the one occupant has to sit AT the kicker to operate it? If that's what you mean- I understand- seen it -don't really like it either.
What if the kicker steering was attached to the console steering of the main motor? Then when you sat at the console on the right side of the boat you would be counterbalancing the kicker on the left side. (of course with company in the boat- you would now be lopsided again)I don't know how much trouble it is to get steering and controls for both motors to the console?

For lakes at least I love being able to get in under the canopy out of the rain! What's the point of a bigger boat if you can't sit under the roof? I would not go for the first mentioned setup at all!

I wonder if steering pressure with two motors is "heavier" than with one? Just having to turn both of them while trolling, even if only one is running? That will get tiring after a long day fighting the wind.

Hmm- if you have to dodge rocks or logs and have to lift a motor with the power tilt- will it take longer / be more awkward to have to lift them both. Or would one be lifted anyway when trolling? Hmmm-how does the steering mechanism connect/ disconnect when one motor is up? Or does it?

Seems like prop replacement expense will be higher with twins? I usually have a spare at home for the unavoidable times you smack it on something while fishing. You would need two spares- of opposite pitch- yikes!

If you went the kicker route- you could get a TR-1 system-seems like that would be the cats meow right there! It would steer for you half the time.

my random thoughts are now thinking of sleep........zzzzzzzzzz later, Jim

cchinook · 12-13-2007, 04:50 PM

thats twice the maintinence with doubles - I have a 15' Alaskan with a 20h.p
2- stroke - man that 2-stroke realy moves but they do not like low r.p.m.'
so trolling is out - I use a ultra low emission 6 h.p. Johnson 4 stroke - it is the cat's meow - just do not mix up which gas tank get's oil and which one does not- disaster !

cchinook · 12-13-2007, 05:00 PM

oh , I almost forgot - nice and dry under a cover is o.k. I guess - but in my boat you wear your gortex and steer the kicker and suffer ! in my mind that is just the way of fishing , otherwise it is like sitting in you living room -
what the heck , I'm just jealous of boat's like that ! one thing I know for sure
is that the fish do not know how expensive your boat is -

Troutski · 12-14-2007, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cchinook

thats twice the maintinence with doubles - I have a 15' Alaskan with a 20h.p
2- stroke - man that 2-stroke realy moves but they do not like low r.p.m.'
so trolling is out - I use a ultra low emission 6 h.p. Johnson 4 stroke - it is the cat's meow - just do not mix up which gas tank get's oil and which one does not- disaster !

Disaster...sounds like theirs a story there. I to have a Smoker Craft and fish in it all year long...................at least up to this year, seems the older I get the colder the wind gets......

The friend I fish with has a Windshield boat and when the wind blows....you will find me sitting right behind it. The idea of getting a new boat has been poking me in the wallet for a couple of years now and I was just kicking around some ideas and wanted some input. The thing about the boat I have now is "its paid for", Big obstacle when these boats don't come cheap, or cheap to operate. Not like a 18 foot North River with a 200 hp mounted on the back, my my those are some sweet boats..

Thanks for the feed back,I do appreciate it.

Chuck

fphowell · 03-02-2008, 08:19 AM

Can't comment of counter rotating engines as never thought about it.

I own two boats with twin engines. The first boat I bought is what I call my
"bought before I thought" boat. An old Seaswirl 14 ft with a 35 johnson and 6 johnson. Alas, I didn't do my homework as the engines are about 1956 and 1959.
I had to replace the coils and plugs on the 6 hp and bust loose the tiller mechanism. I decided to change out the impeller on the 35. Disaster! The first thing I did was bust the screws holding the water pump housing to the LU. Then when I tried to drill them out, using an easy out(sp?) I broke that in the case. So ended up finding new lower unit and got one, but discovered that the water pump from old won't work on new one as it had an unusual design that needed unique pump. So either another lower unit or find right pump. Back to the drawing board and searched Craig's list for newer boat. Now have 15' Alaskan with mid nineties Mercs, a 25 and 6. Much better!

Still have not caught fish with boat, but hopefully that will change when I go to Greenpeter in May. I did take the boat to the Jetty Fishery in Nehalem last year and trolled for Salmon, but no luck. Did better with crab traps and was amazed by crab population in bay.

I am still new to Oregon, having retired from AT&T after 42 years from California. Does anyone know what the fishing is like right around Salem on the Willamette? I suspect there are bass in waters along with trout and Salmon, but not sure. How about Sturgeon, or are they more a downstream fish, like below the falls?

12-10-2007, 05:26 PM	#1
Troutski Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Springfield, OR. Posts: 1,550	Twin Outboards Does any one have any experience with twin outboard motors ? I am planning out a new boat and was thinking of twin motors instead of one large and one small kicker motor. My question is do you need counter rotating props when using twins ? Any one have any suggestions. Chuck __________________ Practice C.P.R. (Catch Photograph and Release)

12-11-2007, 09:29 PM	#3
Mokai Angler Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: on the river Posts: 199	Get twin Jet Pumps..Jets rule... __________________ Andrew

12-13-2007, 04:50 PM	#6
cchinook Apprentice Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Portland Posts: 86	motors thats twice the maintinence with doubles - I have a 15' Alaskan with a 20h.p 2- stroke - man that 2-stroke realy moves but they do not like low r.p.m.' so trolling is out - I use a ultra low emission 6 h.p. Johnson 4 stroke - it is the cat's meow - just do not mix up which gas tank get's oil and which one does not- disaster !

12-13-2007, 05:00 PM	#7
cchinook Apprentice Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Portland Posts: 86	motors oh , I almost forgot - nice and dry under a cover is o.k. I guess - but in my boat you wear your gortex and steer the kicker and suffer ! in my mind that is just the way of fishing , otherwise it is like sitting in you living room - what the heck , I'm just jealous of boat's like that ! one thing I know for sure is that the fish do not know how expensive your boat is -

03-02-2008, 08:19 AM	#9
fphowell Neophyte Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 10	Twin motors Can't comment of counter rotating engines as never thought about it. I own two boats with twin engines. The first boat I bought is what I call my "bought before I thought" boat. An old Seaswirl 14 ft with a 35 johnson and 6 johnson. Alas, I didn't do my homework as the engines are about 1956 and 1959. I had to replace the coils and plugs on the 6 hp and bust loose the tiller mechanism. I decided to change out the impeller on the 35. Disaster! The first thing I did was bust the screws holding the water pump housing to the LU. Then when I tried to drill them out, using an easy out(sp?) I broke that in the case. So ended up finding new lower unit and got one, but discovered that the water pump from old won't work on new one as it had an unusual design that needed unique pump. So either another lower unit or find right pump. Back to the drawing board and searched Craig's list for newer boat. Now have 15' Alaskan with mid nineties Mercs, a 25 and 6. Much better! Still have not caught fish with boat, but hopefully that will change when I go to Greenpeter in May. I did take the boat to the Jetty Fishery in Nehalem last year and trolled for Salmon, but no luck. Did better with crab traps and was amazed by crab population in bay. I am still new to Oregon, having retired from AT&T after 42 years from California. Does anyone know what the fishing is like right around Salem on the Willamette? I suspect there are bass in waters along with trout and Salmon, but not sure. How about Sturgeon, or are they more a downstream fish, like below the falls?

12-11-2007, 08:34 PM	#2
cavdad45 Master Angler Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: oregon city Posts: 370	Why do you feel you need twin outboards. They are generally used on larger craft than freshwater fishing boats. If you do decide to go with twin outboards, the motor on the left will require a counter-rotating gear case and a reverse prop.

12-12-2007, 10:58 PM	#5
trollin4trout Angler Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 145	Just some random thoughts in no particular order about it........ Do you mean cockeyed when the one occupant has to sit AT the kicker to operate it? If that's what you mean- I understand- seen it -don't really like it either. What if the kicker steering was attached to the console steering of the main motor? Then when you sat at the console on the right side of the boat you would be counterbalancing the kicker on the left side. (of course with company in the boat- you would now be lopsided again)I don't know how much trouble it is to get steering and controls for both motors to the console? For lakes at least I love being able to get in under the canopy out of the rain! What's the point of a bigger boat if you can't sit under the roof? I would not go for the first mentioned setup at all! I wonder if steering pressure with two motors is "heavier" than with one? Just having to turn both of them while trolling, even if only one is running? That will get tiring after a long day fighting the wind. Hmm- if you have to dodge rocks or logs and have to lift a motor with the power tilt- will it take longer / be more awkward to have to lift them both. Or would one be lifted anyway when trolling? Hmmm-how does the steering mechanism connect/ disconnect when one motor is up? Or does it? Seems like prop replacement expense will be higher with twins? I usually have a spare at home for the unavoidable times you smack it on something while fishing. You would need two spares- of opposite pitch- yikes! If you went the kicker route- you could get a TR-1 system-seems like that would be the cats meow right there! It would steer for you half the time. my random thoughts are now thinking of sleep........zzzzzzzzzz later, Jim

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