twin 115 fichts on a 20 MA

[Prrovotrader]

Can someone provide me with an opinion on whether to go with twin 115 Fichts on a 20' MA. ( i know that most dislike the fichts but the 4 cylinder ones have been great for me on more than one occasion)

I am a little concerned about the weight though want to put a flotation bracket on it with the twins

Comments?

Thanks

[3rdday]

If they are ficts which you have owned and are trouble free, and you plan on keeping the boat for a very long time, go for it, otherwise don't. Consider; 2 OBs will be alot of weight. What is the purpose of 2 115 Hp ? Offshore perhaps? why not a single 150-200 with a kicker motor and a seatow acct.?
IMHO -The Flotation Bracket + filling Transom is a great idea. Made a big diff on my boat.

[Bigshrimpin]

A 20MA cannot handle the weight of two 400lb motors. You'll sink it. I wouldn't put more than 450lb off the back of a 20 . . . even with a floatation bracket. If you want that kind of power go with a single motor. If you want redundancy then get a light weight kicker motor.

[CaptLloyd]

I'm with Bigshrimpin, that is way too much wieght for a 20', and keep in mind what one of the other members pointed out in another thread, the boat doesn't care that the bracket has floatation when you are on plane, it just knows that there is alot of wieght, way back there, and this will affect CG, and performance. I know this from experience. As far as having twins, it's a great concept for boat 23' and up, but for a 20', it's just not practical, especially with the reliability of today's outboards. Tow insurance, a good VHF, and if you want a warm and fuzzy feeling, a kicker (Murphy's Law states if you have it, you wont need it) will serve you just fine.
If you already own the fichts, then I see your temptation to use them, rather than trying to sell them and having to buy a new motor, but IMO, that would be a hugh mistake.

Lloyd

[Fr. Frank]

I agree with Big. Go with a good single engine, 140 to 200, and then add a kicker in the 6-10 hp range. Then become a member of SeaTow. The kicker will get you back to where SeaTow will bring you home.

I think the heaviest twins I would even remotely consider on the back of a 20' CC with a bracket would be twin 90's, and then only if they were very lightweight 2 strokes such as older Yamahas which weighed about 270 lbs, or newer Tohatsu/Nissans, which weigh about 280 lbs. Even then that's a lot of weight.

I have rigged twin Evinrude 70's on a Seafari, back in the mid 80's, and they were okay, but you could feel the weight, and the performance was mediocre at best, while fuel consumption was gluttonous. But I have to admit, it did plane off on a single motor, even with the other motor trimmed down.

You really don't need all that power. It's just an ego thing. (But I like it, too.)

[Keyscruz]

If you already have the fichts then the solutuion is simple. You need a 23!

[JohnB]

I don't have as much experience on the 20's as some of these guys, but IMHO, twins on the 23 is on the edge, on a 20, it would destroy the balance, and hurt the ride.

[Fr. Frank]

...the solution is simple. You need a 23!

This may be just the thing!!