Pontoon, one or two engines?

Well, I guess it depends how you measure efficiency.
A single prop is more efficient than two.
Monetarily, a single is much more "efficient".

To me, the perceived value of added maneuverability does not outweigh the efficiency penalties.

 

Especially with passengers on board while docking two engines would be much better.

 

I adamantly disagree.
You may have misread my previous post.

BB

 

I am not sure if you have ever worked on a commercial passenger vessel, but if you have please share your experience. In my experience docking is always the most stressful parts for both the crews and passengers. If you have a single screw boat with no thrusters, you are trusting the captain's skills a lot. Which is fine, but in the end you don't want any negative feelings from the passengers. Having the second motor also lowers the chances of having paying customers getting a tow home.

In this case I don't think it should be about efficiency as much as customer satisfaction.

 

Benjamin,

Thank you for asking.
Yes, I have extensive experience driving commercial passenger vessels, both single and twin screw.
Twins are a luxury and completely unnecessary for effective maneuverability.
But your into a different topic now than this thread was originally asking.

BB

 

I agree with BB re how a single engine will always be more 'efficient' cost wise - but for Yootani, it sounds like he will be employing skippers for his boats, and I think that there is a strong argument for having twin engines in his case, both for making life easier for his skippers (who will quite likely be relatively new to the game), and for having some redundancy if an engine fails.

 

I agree with you bajansailor.
Plus, Yootani mentioned a regulation that requires two engines on board in his/her area of operation.
And obviously a law is a law but I can tell you, in my 30 years as a commercial mariner,
only once have I ever had to limp home on one engine.
(The bottom end gears went on a Mercury 200hp o/b while cruising at 3200 RPM, 12-passengers on board. It was a twin set-up.)

BB

 

I'd put a single 200hp on it with a 9.9 kicker.

Where your boat operates, are there a lot of vessels doing the same thing you're doing?
These are all vessels of opportunity to tow you, or take your passengers, or both.
Perhaps it's an insurance issue, I don't know.

When is the launch date?