Wile E. Coyote

I just got off ebay a 54" cat...and I'm looking for power suggestions..
I was thinking about twin std Zenoah or a single one with a few mod ( hanson pipe, wt-257, zero drag seals and maybe cilinder/piston.......) which choice would be better for performance?? please keep in mind that I DON'T want a full mod engine because i don't race and only want to have fun with a reliable powerplant.....
A twin will add some weight but also power.. a mild-mod single one would be lighter, but for a 54" will it be underpowered???
Of course I know the best choice would be a twin mild mod engine but I don't have the money for that.... too many hobbies

Please share you experience...tnx

xxxboatworks

If you want something fun and reliable, stay away from twin engine boats. A single mild-mod zenoah will be plenty of power for your boat.

Wile E. Coyote

thanks 4 reply.. I've already heard to stay away from twins but what's wrong with them??

xxxboatworks

Unless you are running them inline, two individual engines don't give you too much of a performance increase and you essentially have the hassles of tuning and maintainng two boats. You have two engines, two carbs to tune, two fuel tanks, two flex cables to grease, two drives to adjust, two props and maybe two servos to worry about. Once you factor in the added costs, it makes more sense to stick with a single engine.

Wile E. Coyote

ok..I knew a twin would have doubled the maintenance and potential problems...so if you say that also doesn't increase performance too much, I think I'll go with a single one...cheaper too

yeeharacing

Not to mention double the weight in an fairly small boat.

barnstormerboats

AND twice the driveline drag with an extra strut shaft and prop that all have to cut paths through the water!

Wile E. Coyote

ok thanks!!! I'm goin' with a single Zen...

@barnstormer... my boat is your 54" cat

barnstormerboats

Cool, thanks for the business.

That one likes its CG as far aft as practical. It will run great for you. And last forever as strong as its laid up.

Post some pics up as you go.

Wile E. Coyote

Ok, thank you....
I'll open a thread for the cat as soon as I start building...I'm buying the Zen w/ wt257 carb right now..[sm=biggrin.gif]

littlebri

what would be the difference in an inline zen and a mild modded zen?

Wile E. Coyote

I think an inline would have a lot more torque than a mild-mod zen....

barnstormerboats

Yes in lines have more torque and you can set the prop up to be in phase with the power stroke as each blade hits the water when using a two bladed prop on a surface drive. (on non-clutch drives set prop just past horizontal at TDC). With 2 stroke singles, you have 180ΒΊ of flywheel inertia accounting for the push on the prop for each rotation.

littlebri

so for a large boat, say a 57 " do you think it would make more sense to add inlines or a modded zen? Also i read somewhere that if you use inlines you are better off leaving them stock. Can anyone verify this?

45deepvee

i talked to a few manufacturers abotu this. bonzi has told me they have done up to there mod 1 motors inline with no problems at all. anythign more then that with there motors they do not reccomend.

i have also talked to a few other people that have seen up to mod 4's inlined but both motors have to be built at the same time and built as close to exact as the other as possible. if one lacks slightly the other will pickup and balance the other out. but i do not agree with this, i wouldnt run more then a mod one inline.