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Which is the best way to go. Now that 4 strokes (and ETECs) are more reliable then in the past and probably easier to service - do you go with twin diesels or outboards. Some offshore fishing and lots of crusing are my plans.
Re: Twin 4 strokes or twin diesels for 30 foot boat
my buddy has a 24 ft.osprey with the volvo penta diesel.what an effecient setup. even with the new fuel efficient outboards today if you go twins shes gonna suck fuel,plus its two engines you need to maintain,heck,its probably not much more to go diesel.
Re: Twin 4 strokes or twin diesels for 30 foot boat
Single diesel on a shaft would be ideal unless you are way offshore or out of the range of help a lot. If the shaft can't happen I would go twin 4 strokes.
Twin smaller diesels will give you the extra safety of a twin setup, but in my experience many of the modern 'small' diesels are neither as reliable as modern 4 stroke O/B's nor have the same life expectancy. However, a nice big 370hp Cummins or similar with good displacement to HP ratio should have a good life expectancy and better reliability. Diesel torque, economy, and weight distribution in the boat are all plus factors.
One of the issues with 300hp+ diesel I/O's is that you are pretty much stuck with either a Volvo or another engine type with a Merc Bravo 2/3 leg (maybe the Yamaha engine/leg as a 3rd choice). They also tend to be higher revving diesels (not the slow revving 'long life' ones) as the legs can't generally handle the torque of the low revving engines. I believe that this is an fact a known problem with some of the Merc legs (hopefully fixed by the 'X' series), and Yamaha also had some issues which may be resolved now. I think that the 370hp Volvo D6 is probably as much HP as you can get at the moment on a standard stern drive.
Summary -
I wouldn't fit twin small hp high revving diesel I/O's due to the maintenance and life expectancy of the engines. Legs are probably not an issue at lower hp's however.
If shaft was a possibility I would look at a larger single diesel as a preffered option due to life expectancy and reduced maintenance costs
If you can't do a shaft, I would do twin O/B's (Yamahas, Suzukis or Hondas for me) as I believe this will be more reliable, lower maintenance, and have better life expectancy than many of the 'modern' small diesels
This is pretty much our experience from our charter fleet that includes all the different configurations above.
Re: Twin 4 strokes or twin diesels for 30 foot boat
Also you have to consider where you are. Diesels are great if you are always in deep water. On the gulf coast, inboards really limit where you can go and what you can do.
Re: Twin 4 strokes or twin diesels for 30 foot boat
Unless you are over 18 K lbs go Gas. Single deisels in a planing hull will be a slow boat to China. Go with twin 200 or 250 Suzukis. You will never regret it.
Re: Twin 4 strokes or twin diesels for 30 foot boat
I would go with twin 4 strokes. Low maintenance, very reliable and most important at least for me 2 motors. I think your speed would be better with twin outboards than with a single diesel.
Re: Twin 4 strokes or twin diesels for 30 foot boat
Are you going to have the boat more than 10 years? Do you put over 300 hours a year? If the answer is yes to both questions, then I would consider the diesel other wise, buy a 4 stroke outboard.
Re: Twin 4 strokes or twin diesels for 30 foot boat
If you plan on doing most of your fishing offshore(40+ miles), I'd go with twin diesels. Single diesel if you plan on staying closer inshore. But that's coming from someone who has always enjoyed the smell of diesel fumes.....
Re: Twin 4 strokes or twin diesels for 30 foot boat
Quote:
Afishinado - 10/30/2008 7:23 AM
I also believe anything with more than 2 engines is stupid unless you are racing the boat.
Oh no you di ent (insert head bob) don't mind stepping on toes, fish?
oh yeah, I agree
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RE: Twin 4 strokes or twin diesels for 30 foot boat
Had twin diesels, yanmar 240s, great engine, and now have twin outboards. Entirely different world when it comes to maintenance. I needed to be able to get the boat out of the water for hurricanes, so finally gave up on the inboards. To hard to trailer out.
If you rarely need to get it out than to trailer or not isn't an issue. The new diesels are "picky" with their electronic control. The Yanmar 240s were the last of their 4 cyl series and were very efficient, but given that still only got about 1.3mpg at 23knots on a 1987 Aquasport 290 Tournament master. I understand the newer 4 strokes do pretty well and maybe better than diesel. By cruising do you mean 12 knots or 30 knots? That will be a factor also since you can cruise at 12 knots with a diesel much better than you can a 4 stroke. 30 knot crusing I would go 4 stroke.
Gas price versus Diesel and availability should be another consideration. I bought off road diesel and hauled it my self, but still cost more than gas. Hauling gas is another issue here in Florida.
In either case I would go twin--. Now if you want to go single big diesel, I would have a kicker to use as well.
In my diesel experience, after the yanmar 240 series I would than stay with cummins if I would going to go diesel. Good luck.
Re: Twin 4 strokes or twin diesels for 30 foot boat
Twin 4-strokes.
Reasons: 1. less cost. 2. Easier maintenance. 3. Quieter. 4. More room inside the hull.
Anyone doubting number 2 should look inside the average 30 foot diesel and consider working on the far side of either engine or the generator which is usually buried in front or to the rear of the engine.
I would not go off shore with one motor, outboard or diesel. Kickers look dorky and are ineffective to maneuver the boat in high winds and high seas.
Fuel economy is an advantage with twin diesels but is more than offset by the higher cost of diesel, the higher cost of the boat and the higher cost of maintenance.
Twin 4 strokes or twin diesels for 30 foot boat
you di ent (insert head bob) don't mind stepping on toes, fish?
