Twin vs single engine for coastal cruising — my actual fuel numbers

Question

Everyone argues this in theory, here's 400 hours of data from my 38' sportfish (twins) vs my buddy's single-screw trawler, same routes:

• Twins at 24kt cruise: 32 gph 😬
• Twins, one engine trick at 8kt: 6 gph
• His single at 8kt: 3.8 gph

Twins bought me 3 hours home when a raw water pump died offshore. The single buys him half my fuel bill every single trip. Pick your insurance.

trawlerTom · Answer

Single + good ground tackle + TowBoatUS membership = the trawler way. In 9 years the membership paid out once, the fuel savings pay out weekly.

fogdodger · Answer

Third option nobody mentions: single with a wing/get-home engine. Best and worst of both worlds, ask my wallet.

hatterashank · Answer

@fogdodger the get-home wing engine is the boat equivalent of a spare tire that's also a boat payment.

3 replies