4 hour tour

S

stinson

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 25, 2020
Messages
78
Fluid Motion Model
C-242 C
Hi Guys,

I am venturing out for the first time in my new to me 2019 R23 for ride from Boston to Provincetown in July. I see lots of boats with twin engines today and I can understand the sense security with twin engines. How strongly or not do people feel about a small secondary engine? I belong to Boat U.S. and their tow boat and I won't be out of sight of land so it seems like if the worst happens I can get towed in. Anyone have thoughts on this?
 
You have a very dependable Yamaha. Keep it well maintained and it will take care of you. Just think of the thousands of boats out there with single outboards. If something was to happen that’s why you have a tow service. Enjoy the trip, P-Town is a fun place.
 
Here’s my 2 cents. I too have Boat US unlimited towing for the boat and trailer. It’s my safety net. Secondly taking care of your outboard engine by following all the maintenance recommendations is essential. Although things happen to all things mechanical I don’t tow a car behind my truck in case of a breakdown and I don’t carry a second engine. That’s why I pay Boat US. I take care of my truck and service it regularly. With over 115k miles on my truck, knock on wood, I’ve never had a mechanical issue and with over 400 hours on my Yamaha 200 outboard I’ve never had a problem. Of course it could happen the next time were out but that’s life.
 
A friend of uses a line - That I quote often - " The most dependable system on the entire boat is a well maintained, marine diesel engine."

I have no problem with a single engine for the cruising I do.

Rocky
 
Take care of the engine and it will take care of you. I have hundreds of hours on single outdrives and never had issues confidence comes from good maintenance.
 
38 years of paying for Boat US membership and towing coverage and have yet to need it. Routine maintenance per manuals pays off. It is rewarding to cross the middle of a lake, like Lake Michigan, and get to the other side. The VHF doesn't have enough range from the middle of the lake to do much, but I have always had confidence in my single engine boats.
 
Thanks to all and good to hear of your experience. Really looking forward to our first year on the boat.
 
Two engines with bad fuel won't help. :lol: With that said, Watch your weather and tides. Try to time going through the canal with the current, it can be very swift. Wind against the current is a terrible ride. Once out of the canal you have a long fetch that can get sloppy so winds are important as well. My rule of thumb is intervals for waves should be twice the wave height.
 
In a previous boat, dirty injectors killed one engine, while I was over 30 miles offshore, and I limped back on the other one. With the current boat, I lost one engine that was stuck in gear. Returning to the dock, I spun the prop and it started again...not something I wanted to do with a swell and chop. However, the second engine got me back. Twin engines are more necessary when going far offshore since a. you will lose cell coverage and b. you won't want a tow from there.

Good thing you are not taking a 3 hour tour 😱
 
Knotflying,

If Stinson goes through the Cape Cod canal on his way from Boston to P-Town, he is either taking the long scenic route or he took a wrong turn when departing Boston!

Regards,
Bob Allan
 
If you're concerned or want to be extra cautious, you might consider cruising in water in which you could anchor, if the need arises, while waiting for the tow.
 
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