Outboard motor

[Captainkirk]

I am getting a 22' NWAC boat built was hoping you experienced boaters could help me out ? I was thinking about mounting a 2012 225A Yamaha on with a 9.9 kicker , After talking and reading I under stand lots of boats have two engines whats the pros and cons in both ? I could run twin 115 Yamaha and a kicker , but the weight goes up lots ! I do plan to fish off shore west coast Vancouver Island . I don't want to be under powered also ..your help would be appreciated
Ron

 

[scott craven]

There are horror stories with all outboards, thankfully they are mostly isolated cases.
If i was looking for a new motor, i would certainly look at Yamaha,Honda and Evinrude E-tec.
The weight of twin 4 strokes may be an issue, but with twin 115's you may not need a kicker.
I see lots of boats running twins trolling on the main.
Just a thought ?

 

[Clipper]

There is no end to the pro/con discussion re twins vrs a big single. Lots of advantages and disadvantages for each setup so the decision really needs to be yours. The biggest issue for me is weight. Twin 115 Yamaha 4stks will weigh in around 830lbs while a single Yam 225/250 runs 558lbs. That's 272lbs difference (an extra fat guy on board ). Add a T9.9 kicker at 98lbs to each set up if you don't want to troll on a main. What's a good weight on the stern for you boat?

 

[bryce]

twins spaced out kicker in the middle...

 

[Captainkirk]

I hear you clipper, I am leaning towards the single 225 with kicker for sure, just was wondering why people go to the twins ? fuel consumption , reliability ,what about maintenance cost .

 

[Peterman]

Twins are nice for big loads and heavy boats... more torque, because there is more prop in the water... But for your application I would think a single plus kicker would be ideal...
That 225/9.9 should be a great combo..

 

[badassbaits]

Understandably the fact that you want to run off shore is a great scenario for running twins .yes there is double the maintenance but at least you can get back in quicker if things go sideways on the west coast. as we all know how fast it can fetch up out there. twenty five miles off-shore on even 100 hp at even twenty miles an hour compared to a 9.9 at maximum 5 miles an hour hmmmmm. If your are thinking of just running in the straights (east coast V.I and only sometimes running on the west coast, then yes i would go single big with a kicker. the more west coast you do, should help you make your options a little clearer..

 

[Gomphus]

I came from an area where twins were the preferred option. There, the feeling was that if a motor went bad you would still be able to return. You would also have a motor if one had to be taken off for repair. Granted, there the repair facilities were few and far between. By the time a motor was sent to the repair shop, fixed and returned, the summer could be over and with a single you would have missed out. Out here, the repairs are easier and, if you are on good terms with the shop, you can get it back quickly.

As mentioned the choices are weight, higher initial cost, and higher maintenance, versus ability to get back in with a bad motor and ability to be out fishing if one motor is being worked on.

In the end only you can make this call. Good luck.

 

[Mike_R]

Another point to consider is better fuel economy with a single outboard

 

[Nitroholic]

Make sure you can still get on plane if running one of the two outboards, otherwise it will go just as fast as a kicker will

 

[nedarb2]

idling your main uses less gas than a kicker. I burn 1 LITER an hour trolling at 3knts with a 200 etec

 

[vetteman]

Make sure you can still get on plane if running one of the two outboards, otherwise it will go just as fast as a kicker will

That's an excellant point. I've got a friend who has twin 140HP Suzukis on his Jaxon. It flies along on both motors but will not plane on one. The best he can do is 8 or 9 knots.
Dave

 

[Sushihunter]

Ah, single vs. twins...

If you are planning on doing a lot of off-shore fishing, twins are very nice to have for safety reasons. They are also great for docking.

One thing to remember, is that you will take a 15% hit on performance by switching to twins. Say you have a 200hp single outboard, replacing with 2 x 100 hp OB's you will lose 15% of your performance. You will need to upsize to twin 115 hp to stay even. Then you would have to consider if one 115 will get you up on plane if needed.

As you are looking at a single 225, then you should be looking at twin 150's. That should equal about 250 hp.

Mount them as far apart as possible for docking manouverability, keeping in mind that you don't want your downrigger cables getting into the props.

If you get twins, then forget the kicker. Alternate running on each main.

When this is all done and in the water - we want photos!

 

[willydw]

My brother inlaw has twin 150 mercs on his boston whaler. It will not get up on a plane on 1 motor.