Twins - weight factor

Paddy111

New member
I've enjoyed learning about the magic of the 22' Now when it comes to engines, does the weight of 2 x 50 hp affect the boat's performance vs a 90 or 115hp. There something so exciting about twins (must be a guy thing) You have to admit the 22 is not an extremely heavy boat. I'm guessing the flat bottom at the rear has something to do with this....your thoughts...
 
I just bought a 22 Cruiser with twin 50 HP Honda's. I wanted twins because I go out in Prince William Sound a ways for days at a time, and wanted a good "backup," that could take me 40-50 miles home, or to a safe harbor. They work fine. I have had concerns about the type of props to use... came with 14", and I am no using 13"... pros and cons.
If I was using it where a good "backup" was not needed, then I would go with a single, and feel 90 HP is plenty... I never need the full 100 HP of my twins. A single takes less space, less connecting hardware and cables, and cheaper to maintain.. ie, one prop.
Hope of some help.
 
Paddy,

My 22 with twin 45s will do 32 with full tanks, full water, and just me. If I have 4-5 adults and a cooler full of fish it does about 28. I prefer to go in the high teens to low 20s if possible as the boat just sips fuel at those speeds.

However, I will say the boat does not handle particularly well after around 30 mph and I am sure that the 115 will push it into the mid 30s if not more depending on the prop setup and the load. Maybe it is just mine, but things get rather busy at the helm going that fast. I'm sure others will chime in and offer their 2 cents too :)

Tim
 
My experience is that the 22 is not happy over 30 with a single either. I don't have a problem going many miles with a single. The modern motors are so reliable--a kicker or dinghy motor will get you home or to safety. Less maintance on a single engine.
 
We have twin Honda 50's on our CD22. It'll go about 28kts at full throttle with 4 of us on board and full tanks. At full speed we get about 2.8 mpg per our Honda fuel meter.

I purchased the twin's for a couple of reasons, but to be honest (and not so smart) I liked the look of the twins on the boat. The smart play is probably a single with a kicker - as long as the kicker can be hooked into the steering and throttle/remote start. More often than not, we'll run at trawler speeds with one of the twins out of the water (get around 5-6 mpg) - probably would work just as well and cheaper with a kicker.

I've tried to get the boat on plane with 4 of us on board and just one 50 down, but it is not even close - probably about 9kts max.

I'd buy twins again without hesitation, but if I were to purchase a single with a kicker - I'd make sure I could control the kicker completely from the helm.
 
Not apples to apples....but I strongly prefer twins over a single. As with diving (one of my passions) I say never have 1 of anything critical.

About a month ago I was diving near a rocky area. By the time we completed the dive, the wind had changed directions almost 180 degrees and coupled with the swells I was now moving toward the rocks. I went to fire up the starboard engine...notta. I could see bottom.....I quickly fired up the port engine and backed us away. Turns out when I had stopped the vessel (moving the shifter from reverse to neutral) and shut off the engines I accidentally moved the starboard shifter slightly forward into gear thus preventing a start. Completely my fault and error for not doing the "neutral jiggle" to ensure I was squarely in neutral when I shut the engines down.

Last year with 28 passengers aboard a 6 ton twin engine commercial vessel I was backing out of a lock chamber into a high current canal. This location requires me to back into a fast moving canal and use the twin engines to swing the bow 270 degrees to proceed down river. One of my engines flamed out right at the most critical time, when the stern was heading toward a wall. I had to quickly shift the reversed engine to keep us away from the wall.

I would not want to try either of these situations by running back, dropping the kicker, and getting it started. Again, not apples to apples but in my opinion there will be times when the running half of the twin set will be much safer than a kicker. Not to mention if you need to cover a long distance...I would not want to return to port from the Stellwagon bank on a kicker.

With all that being said, engines are of course very reliable these days, particularly fuel injected outboards.
 
Hey Paddy! Have enjoyed your search and work on these boats. If you want a fast boat....buy another boat, with a different hull design...to go fast. If you want a great boat with many, many wide range uses, that runs very economically in the water...keep on keeping on here.

Not sure why...and it may have changed over the years as engines have, but on the Honda's... I think I recall Les and maybe Bill on HALCYON that the gear ratio was "better suited" for the CD 22 as they are generally used....on the Honda 40s rather than 50s. Not being a cult Honda guy... and may have even got that wrong...I thought I'd toss it out... just for yourself..and others to chew on.

No Problem is the answer to your question on weight being an issue. Just too many time proven CD22s out there with twin something anotheres strapped on them.....and... I too kinda sorta like the comments made on the twins....and have experienced some issues where I sure was glad I had two of the same back there.... but, in good days when things are going as they should...which is no guarantee.... I wished I had the same HP with a single... but generally, that happens when it is time to change oil, filters and service the motors.... which...is again offset by the times things go wrong...and I am glad I have twins.

Simple answer. maybe. :mrgreen: :thup :smiled
 
Back
Top