Ted, Someone may have covered this already, but running a twin engine boat on one engine for any significant amount of time usually requires precautions be taken FOR THE DRIVELINE NOT IN USE. A free wheeling propeller can cause damage to a transmission that is not being cooled or lubricated. Engine and transmission manuals may indicate that the shaft of the non-operating driveline be locked. This can be done by several simple locking devises. I have seen a large locking wrench locked to the shaft so that it wedged itself against the bilge used to keep a shaft from turning. In addition, twin engine boats generally steer poorly when operated on a single engine because a assymetrical thrust and the drag from the non-operating propeller. If fuel consumption is critical and you've already bought the boat, try just operating a slow speeds with both engines. Hope this helps. Good luck. Regards, Andy La Stella 106 Lippincott Road Little Silver, NJ 07739 voice 732 530 0243 fax 732 530 1627 email andylastella@hotmail.com >From: "Robert Reib" <SkipperBob@worldnet.att.net> >To: "Trawler List" <trawler-world-great-loop@lists.samurai.com> >Subject: TWGL: Running on one vs two. >Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2002 17:20:32 -0500 > >Ted, > >I have talked to a lot of people who have tried running on only one engine >with a two engine vessel. All of them agreed it is harder to steer the >vessel. None reported any damage to their vessel because of this. In some >cases they ran their boat on only one engine because they had to (one >engine >broken) and in about half the cases they did it in an effort to save fuel. >Those trying to save fuel were in general agreement that it wasn't worth >the >effort. > >It seems that the best way to save fuel is to go slower. If you are in a >hurry, then run at the optimum speed for best fuel economy. Slow speed >should not be a problem for most gas operated vessels. For twin diesels it >is another problem. It is difficult to get the diesel engine up to proper >operating temperature if you run it for prolonged period at slow speeds. > >From my experience, most people will not go slow even to save fuel costs. >It seems if they buy a boat designed to cruise at 12 knots, then they want >to cruise at 12 knots. For those really trying to save fuel costs, then >the >obvious solution is to get a boat with a small single engine or if it only >comes in twin engine design get two small engines. Big engines are the >biggest problem with poor fuel economy, not big boats. > >I know this doesn't help you if you already have the boat, but be sure to >budget enough money to make the trip in comfort. You should know your fuel >consumption per hour at your cruising speed. It is a simple matter to >calculate estimated fuel costs for the Great Circle Route from that. I met >one couple at the entrance to the Erie Canal. They were in shock about >their fuel consumption. They left Florida (Fort Lauderdale) and by the >time >they got their twin engine gas 37' boat to the Erie Canal they had spent >over $5,000 on fuel. At that rate, it would cost them about $20,000 for >fuel to complete the estimated 6,000 mile Great Circle Route. > >If you have any questions about estimating your fuel costs for the Great >Circle Route, feel free to contact me direct and I will be glad to show you >how to figure a budget for the trip. > >Bob > >Skipper Bob Publications >Web page: Http://SkipperBob.home.att.net >_______________________________________________ >http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/trawler-world-great-loop _________________________________________________________________ The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail