twin outboard spacing 34 x 12.5ft Silverton

[naturewaterboy]

I've talked to quite a few people all with different opinions about the effects of engine spacing. There are pros to narrow spacing (faster) and pros to wide spacing (more control at low speed).

I believe that on a hi speed boat, a twin engine boat should have the engines close together. The boat will plane and the props will stay submerged with very little hull in the water.

I'm putting outboards on a 34 ft. sportfisher (built with inboards) with a 12.5 ft beam - kind of a fat boat. I'm putting two 225hp Mercury Optimax on a Stainless Marine 30" setback bracket. The boat will have a displacement of about 12-13,000 lbs. when done. I'm not expecting to get a lot of speed out of it, but I certainly want the best efficiency, as I don't have an oil well in my backyard last time I checked. My bracket (I bought a used one) is a 4 engine design, so I can space the engines anywhere from the minimum spacing (about 26" I think) to 72". I'm hoping that if I put them at 72" this won't penalize efficiency. Any opinions on this?

[naturewaterboy]

Stainless marine said I should space them at 72" as it would give better control and I wouldn't notice any performance difference from closer spacing.