Which brand?

[potter water]

I've watched very carefully the c-brats threads on fuel consumption versus boat load versus props, versus etc. etc. for both twins and singles. My boat has twin Suzy's. 50 hp each. When I compare my Lake Powell numbers for off plane and on plane economy I can't see any significant difference from a single 100 hp engine on a CD22.

Just my observation. The big engine and kicker thing is fine. But I can still get on plane with one of my Suzy's at 50 hp...not real fast, but on plane. A kicker just won't get you back to civilization very fast.

I think even if I paid a penalty in fuel consumption, I really like having two "big" motors back there. Medical or other emergency with the single big engine failing...that is when engines fail...when you need the speed and power the most, isn't something I'm willing to risk.

Lake Powell winds do a real number on kickers if that is what you have to rely on for power for a high wetted area (wind resistance) boat like the CD's. I don't consider Lake Powell a "protected water" after being in some of the winds that are normal at least one day on any given week during the season. Airplanes and boats all do better with more power.

And, I agree, there is just something sexy about those two engines back there. Symmetry they say is what makes a beautiful or handsome face. So it goes with boat butts.

[thataway]

How fast is your boat going "on plane" at lake Powell, with a single 50 hp Suzuki? What amount of strain are you putting on that engine trying to plane the boat with one engine? Since you are doing much of your boating at higher altitudes than sea level; are you using a lower pitch prop? Do you carry an extra low pitch prop for the times you need to run on a single engine? The loss of power is somewhere about 10% at Lake Powell due to altitude (although some might argue that there is more loss).

[potter water]

I keep both engines powered with a prop that gives me the full 6500 RPM at WOT though I just don't run them that fast other than to test the prop size. I spend most of my time in Yellowstone, Jackson and Powell, and Flaming Gorge. All high altitude relatively speaking. The one set of props does the job at all of those places. Of course, I'm not optimized for fastest top end because that isn't the way I roll.

The 50 Susy will just get on plane about 12 to 13 mph on one engine and it runs at about 5500 once I'm there. It take s the whole 6500 to get on plane. I'd only run a single engine there for any length of time-on plane-only if I was stuck with one engine operating and had an emergency that required getting somewhere faster than my normal off plane cruise speed of 8 or so mph. But, it will do it. I've never HAD to do that, but there is a bit of margin if and when I ever have to call on it.

Safe boating is all about carrying a little margin here and a little there with engines, safety equipment, com and nav and so on. You'll find two marine radios and two GPS's on my boat. Oh, and a compass and charts also. Two sets of flares of various types. Three fire extinguishers and a pretty complete medical kit. You won't find water in the water tank
an over abundance of clothes, BBQ's and many of the other weight parasitics that are found on many boats. Just one house battery and no electric down riggers, etc. So my 22 is relatively...only relatively...light.

Each to his own. As for me, I love my twin 50hp Suzy's.