Single outboard or twin outboard?

Been looking at used center console boats and discovered that there's alot of them out there. My question is what are the pros and cons between single and twin outboards? The boats in question are 23' and up. Great Lakes boat, no reason to get a smaller one. I'll be using the boat in the great lakes for multiple purposes. Fishing of course"with trolling in mind, possible kicker", family fun(tubing and what not) and traveling. Traveling to Canada and Put in Bay from mainly Oh. and Pa, "fast is good". I do not know of the benifits between single or twin outboards. Out of the used center console boats in the longer lengths I see that there is about a 50/50 ratio between single and twins. Do the twins fall under the saying double trouble?

Single outboard or twin outboard?
If you can get twins do so, two or four stroke. You will have better handling around the docks, better safety factor if one dies out, and better re-sale. Yes you will be maintaining 2 engines but the benefits outweigh the costs.
Reply:i agree with everything that has been said except for the docking factors. Unless your outboards are very far apart, it is like docking a single engine. With the engines close together there is no docking benefit to twins.
Reply:already been answered. however, as far as fuel problems go. if the boat was built with twins in mind, often they utilise seperate fuel systems. if n ot, worth looking at. isolated fuel systems will reduce the fuel problems a lot. as if one dies out, the other can run independantly without problem.
Reply:Twin motors are best in my opinion as they are usually smaller than a single engine.one can be run as a trolling motor without the expense of idling around on one big one.Depends on finances though.
Reply:I've been a boater all my life and in my opinion it is definitly better to have twin outboards over single. There are a few reasons for this...





1. If one dies you can still get home (Assuming its not a fuel problem)


2. Manuvering a boat with twin outboards is easier than single (when parking the boat, you can spin the boat in place by putting one engine forward and one in reverse)


3. You say you have "Trolling in mind". If you plan on doing a lot of low speed activities, you can use one engine at a time reducing overall hours used on each engine"





The only exception to these views are if you find a single four-stroke outboard and can afford it. Not only are they dependable, but fuel efficient and very torquey.





1. Four-stroke


2. Twin outboards


3. Standard 2-stroke
Reply:thinking if you want power knots for speed twins less HP needed. As single more HPfor the ratio.. You may consider double the trouble with twins yet mostly likely from fuel contamination... thinking along the line if twins used and 1 dies atleast you can get home. Check the price range ,your budget and safe boating.

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