If you are a boater like many others, you may experience the “two-foot fever”. This is a gloomy condition that makes you imagine how much happier you would be if your boat was two feet longer. Well, the feeling continues even after you purchase the boat you believed would end your 2-foot fever, and soon the boats you are considering are 30 feet or longer. At this point, you may need to choose between one engine and two. Needless to say, it is always good to run this idea by an experienced marine surveyor Baltimore. The boat surveyor is not only there to help you evaluate the condition of a vessel but also to offer expert advice. You can ask the surveyor any question you may have.
Back to the issue at hand, it is a tough decision to choose between a single and a two-engine boat. This is because the choice has numerous variables including maintenance cost, fuel consumption, and a range of other expenses. The main issue, however, is how your experience will be once you get on the water.
For most boaters, having twin engines makes more sense for boats that run in the ocean or larger water bodies. This is because the twin-engine offers more power and control. However, if your vessel is less than 30 feet, getting a boat with two engines may not be worth it. The use of twin engines starts at 26 feet or thereabout for outboard-powered vessels.
One thing your marine surveyor Baltimore will tell you about a twin-engine is that you will not have any problem maneuvering with it around the docks. This is more so if the engine has a propeller that rotates outward. While a single-engine boat with a dual, counter-rotating drive is good, it is not as handy for the dock because it tends to push the boat faster at idle speeds.
The beauty of a twin-engine boat is that it operates with less load. This means you will need less RPM to achieve the desired cruising speed. For fuel economy, there are some vessels with fuel-injected small blocks which help achieve better fuel mileage than a single large big block. Needless to say, twin outboards will definitely consume more fuel eventually than a single engine.
When considering boats in the size range that requires making the decision between single and twin engines, it is always wise to involve a marine surveyor in Baltimore. The surveyor will make you aware of all the facts you need to know before making the final decision. The input of a surveyor can save you from a lot of frustration.