Why do twin engine boats never have the same amount of hours?

[David Hughes]

Originally Posted by Triumphant

The Moorings Leopards cats require the port engine running to operate the anchor windlass

And the electric davit too!!!

David Hughes
Leopard 37PC
M/Y True Love


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[MVDarlin]

Many reasons, when fishing you may troll with one engine. One engine may need to be shut down while running for overheating or other problem. One engine may create hot water for shower and such and run at anchor to generate power. A prop may be fowled and engine shut down. I ran for a day and a half on one engine when I damaged a prop at a remote location.

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[BAYBOATER01]

I know several trawler captains who run on one engine for slow speeds (this is only possible with one type of transmission I believe). With a diesel you only burn what you need, in terms of horsepower, so in a slow speed situation where you may only need 80 HP there is no sense in idling along with two 200+ HP engines when one will do. While you only burn what you need there can be up to a 20% loss in power through the power train which is cut in half by using all the HP needed on one engine.

[zeehag]

when i had twin screw power boats, occasionally used only one engine for cruising, to lengthen range.
we also iused only one engine when the other became suddenly disabled.
there are many reasons for use of only one of two engines in a twin screw boat, power or sail.