Twin VS single

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by claydog, May 10, 2011.

  1. powerabout
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    powerabout Senior Member

    Stumble are you talking a twin shaft drive boat as some don't apply to a sterndrive/outboard vee bottom
     
  2. Stumble
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    Stumble Senior Member

    Powerabout,

    I was refering to outboards not inboards, where the decision is usually made in the hull design phase.

    For further explanation;

    2) A single engine is almost always installed centerline, though it is possible to bring it closer or further from the hull. For twins there is some wiggle room in exactly where the engines are placed. For instance one boat I know of has a 4 ton crane placed on the starbord side, to correct the list of this heavy piece of equipment the engines were placed slightly to one side to help offset this list.

    3) Because the weight of a single engine is concentrated in one area the transom must be strong enough to support the increased load at this point even assuming the net weight to the boat is less than for a twin. On my Catamaran each transom section is built to handle up to 150hp, but neither could handle the weight of a 300hp engine alone.

    6) Assuming a traditional V hull (or modifications of it) the hull is at its' deepest point in the centerline. This causes the engine to be more likely to be caught in the hollow created behine the hull than if the engine is placed off center where the hollow is shallower.
     
  3. Squidly-Diddly
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    Squidly-Diddly Senior Member

    Twin has "6) Less prop ventelation (Not on centerline)"????

    what do you mean by 'ventelation'?

    Ventilation, as in air getting to the prop? and wouldn't a single at the bottom of a vee have less air getting to the prop than a twin(especially on turns)?
     
  4. Boston

    Boston Previous Member

    I'm going to jump out of the box on this one and refer back to the original post

    t?

    One possible configuration that has not been considered on this thread yet is a single prop twin engine set up. Sure fuel efficiency is going to be slightly lower in any twin engine set up as friction losses diminish the larger the engine, but having a back up engine is something worth the cost given the possible consequences. Doesn't have to be matching engines or even duel continuous use. The whole question depends on how fast your interested in going. My take would be that bombing around the bay is one thing and open water cruising another, racing is its own animal.
     
  5. powerabout
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    powerabout Senior Member

    you could certainly have a twin engined boat at a certain speed uses less fuel than the same boat with a single engine
    All to do with the bsfc curves
     
  6. Squidly-Diddly
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    Squidly-Diddly Senior Member

  7. Boston

    Boston Previous Member

    Not slagged just not preferred by a couple of people. Diesel engines run best at x percentage of maximum output so having a cruise engine running at max efficiency and another for times of need ( high waves, wind, squalls, in a hurry and so on ) seems perfectly reasonable if you also can marry them together on a single prop with a light weight and simple V belt system with clutch. which was also proposed on another thread. That and 360° capable swiveling saildrive which eliminates the need for a transmission. Reduction can be handled with the pulley ratio's. Depends on the size of the boat but V belts seem like a cheep and easy solution.
     
  8. powerabout
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    powerabout Senior Member

  9. whitepointer23

    whitepointer23 Previous Member

    i had a tour of an antarctic trawler once and that had 2x 2000 hp deutz diesels coupled to one prop shaft, i think they had there own clutch each to disconnect . i can see this would be a good idea on these ships that do 12 week trips, just shut one down for service and repairs while steaming on the other one.
     
  10. Submarine Tom

    Submarine Tom Previous Member

    It really depends on the application now doesn't it.

    -Tom
     
  11. yipster
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    yipster designer

    On a single counter rotating dual props avd some extra grip and power, they also take the propwalk out
    A small emergengy ob is often carried as homecomer, not so great when wheather changes quikly and your way out
     

  12. yipster
    Joined: Oct 2002
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    yipster designer

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