Crazy idea??? Or brilliant!!!! What's your opinions?

3 Squids · #1 07-09-2016, 10:44 PM

Well more disturbing news for the green monster, fiberglass guy hears moisture in the transom. I'm not real good with that stuff but I can definitely hear a muffled tap when he taps anywhere near the bottom motor bolts. Believes with the reinforcement plate on it I'll be fine this season. Still waiting on news for my motor decision but am I crazy to think that if I must do a total repower then now would be the time to take care of the transom leading me to my next crazy idea...twin 90's or 115's??? Has it been done? Love the idea of having a backup motor if we're in the middle of the bay fishing and something happened. Also from what I've seen, much easier to maneuver.

Destroyer · #2 07-10-2016, 01:32 AM

If it were me, (and I'm thankful that it hasn't been so far) I would go with twins. Since you're rebuilding the transom anyway you can widen it to accommodate twin engines and raise it up to use 25" instead of 20 shaft length units. I've often though that a pair of old 115 hp Merc Tower of Power inline 6 engines would go great on the stern of a V20. My thinking is that they are light compared to some engines, and just as importantly they are skinny compared to V4 and V6 Johnnyrudes of the same period. Oh, and they are substantially cheaper than a new engine. I had a 115 on one of my old boats a while back (18' Cruisers, Inc.) and I completely loved it. NOTHING else has the same growl when you're up on plane at WOT.

Understand this is purely dreaming, and I hope that I am never put into a position where it might become reality. Plus, finding a matched set of them in good condition might be a problem. But you asked for thoughts on the subject, and those are mine.

smokeonthewater · #3 07-10-2016, 05:21 AM

Twins are cool but not practical...

Of a given hp, twins will be heavier, slower, more expensive, and less efficient than a single... Your boat will be better balanced and all around better w a single engine.

You won't be able to plane on one of your twin engines unless you change the prop...

You would be far better off with a single and a kicker.

As for easier to maneuver, yes that's true but it's just a 20' boat... They do fine with singles.

Striper80 · #4 07-10-2016, 06:19 AM

I think a single 130 Johnson would be perfect back there.

3 Squids · #5 07-10-2016, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Striper80

I think a single 130 Johnson would be perfect back there.

I'm sure you do. Trust me if you were closer that probably would of already happened.

bradford · #6 07-10-2016, 09:07 AM

I'm with Striper.

3 Squids · #7 07-10-2016, 06:40 AM

Two very opposite opinions. Exactly what I was looking for. I love hearing both sides of the case.

Destroyer, I love the idea of twin 115 Merc Tower O Powers and believe it or not they seem to be plentiful on Craig's. Of course even with finding 2 running ones I still believe I would freshen them both up (rings and bearings) to try and match their performance close as possible. I'm finding them in running condition anywhere from $850-$1500. Not bad in my opinion. Transom has already been built up to a 25" but not that any of that matters as she would have to be widened.

Smoke, I agree 100% of what you said is correct, but most importantly the first thing, twins are COOL, not practical. Although maneuverability on these boats isn't bad and having a kicker will suffice as a backup motor as well, how F-in cool would a V-20 be with twin Tower O Powers??? I mean the boat turns head already why not keep adding to the madness.

Destroyer · #8 07-11-2016, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokeonthewater

Twins are cool but not practical...

Of a given hp, twins will be heavier, slower, more expensive, and less efficient than a single... Your boat will be better balanced and all around better w a single engine.

You won't be able to plane on one of your twin engines unless you change the prop...

You would be far better off with a single and a kicker.

As for easier to maneuver, yes that's true but it's just a 20' boat... They do fine with singles.

Smoke, I agree with almost everything you said except... why can't you plane on just one engine? Tilt one up and you have 115 hp. More than enough to plane a V20. We know that V's will plane at 90 hp, so 25 more would seem more than enough. Just curious. (And I still like the thought of twin 115's. NOT practical, but oh so cool).

smokeonthewater · #9 07-11-2016, 01:28 PM

You CAN plane on one but it will need a 15" pitch prop instead of the 21 you'll have on it when running twins.

bradford · #10 07-11-2016, 04:22 PM

Twice the impellers, twice the rigging, new binnacle shifter, what are you gonna find when you drill the transom? If you had an old school 70's model that came like that, or were fishing off shore in very remote areas like the out islands of the bahamas, south pacific, central or south America etc I think it would be something to consider. To do it just because I honestly think will just end up costing you more out of pocket and head ache wise. You need to figure out what you want to do with your boat, if its just local fishing with family and friends with occasional runs offshore I think you'll be happier with a good dependable single.

What you already have; an old school 200 Merc on a V20 hull is already a cool boat in my opinion.

If you want a second hull to get crazy with I got an old 83 I'll give you.