How does your boat run on one engine?

[Joe Starbuck]

I ran up a River full of seaweed today. Got overheat alarm on starboard, shut it down. Put a clamp on cooling line and planned to run back home on port engine. I had to go out in Nantucket Sound to get home (that’s like the Atlantic Ocean for folks not from here). Conditions were very calm, mostly 0.7 foot seas, 5 knot wind. Could not get on plane with port engine, would cavitate above 4000. Limped back at about 7 mph, but it was not far, so no big deal. Anchored, dove in, starboard engine was clear, port had several pounds of seaweed and a small piece of blue nylon rope. Removed coolant line clamp, started both, continued boating, no further alarms, but do did not get a chance to test engines at speed, because pea soup fog rolled in. Pulled out without incident, everything got a good flush at home, as usual when salt water boating.

Question, what experiences do you have running on a single engine (for guys with two engines installed, duh)? I was expecting some performance, and got none, but I think my one running engine was clogged up with seaweed, so not a valid test.

 

[Joe Starbuck]

So, nobody has tested this? I will put that into my plan and report back next week.

 

[JK230SP]

So, nobody has tested this? I will put that into my plan and report back next week.

Joe -

Did this twice. First when my starboard motor blew up a few years back after the dealer improperly overhauled my supercharger. Was going about 35mph when everything went bang...smoke....dead. Port motor did exactly as you described....ran at a high RPM with very little thrust. Ran this way for 3 miles back to my dock.

Second time - starboard engine RPM dropped by several thousand after the hose clamp holding the exit side of the supercharger popped off. Loud whistling sound two miles from my dock and I shut the motor down. Again limped home on a single engine.... single digit MPH with 5000-6000 rpm.

You would think that a 215 HP motor would give you half of the normal two engine thrust. Apparently not.

Best -

 

[Joe Starbuck]

Joe -

Did this twice. First when my starboard motor blew up a few years back after the dealer improperly overhauled my supercharger. Was going about 35mph when everything went bang...smoke....dead. Port motor did exactly as you described....ran at a high RPM with very little thrust. Ran this way for 3 miles back to my dock.

Second time - starboard engine RPM dropped by several thousand after the hose clamp holding the exit side of the supercharger popped off. Loud whistling sound two miles from my dock and I shut the motor down. Again limped home on a single engine.... single digit MPH with 5000-6000 rpm.

You would think that a 215 HP motor would give you half of the normal two engine thrust. Apparently not.

Best -

Great data, thanks. I also assumed that 215 Hp would get me on plane. Since I pulled many pounds of seaweed out, I could not be sure if it was the seaweed, or just lack of power.

 

[pretex]

I have tried this as well when I got a fault on one engine, boat would not go. Maybe there is a lot of drag trying to move the boat through the water with out the jetpump/impeller spinning and pushing water out. Maybe it is causing more turbulence under the boat in the jet pump area which is causing the running engine to cavitate - just a theory. I remember reading somewhere if there is a critical engine fault on one of the engines, it will force both engines to go into limp mode. I know there are different limp mode RPM limits based on the error code, but that wouldn't explain the cavitation.

 

[Joe Starbuck]

I have tried this as well when I got a fault on one engine, boat would not go. Maybe there is a lot of drag trying to move the boat through the water with out the jetpump/impeller spinning and pushing water out. Maybe it is causing more turbulence under the boat in the jet pump area which is causing the running engine to cavitate - just a theory. I remember reading somewhere if there is a critical engine fault on one of the engines, it will force both engines to go into limp mode. I know there are different limp mode RPM limits based on the error code, but that wouldn't explain the cavitation.

Good data. Mine wasn’t limping, just sucking air and bouncing up around 7K, would have went to 8K if I let it.

 

[4tec hoarder]

I tried running on one of my 155hp engines yesterday after the port side engine would not start due to a bad starter. I went about 1/2 mile in the canal and decided that the boat drives weird on one engine, steering is very slow, and the boat was very hard to maneuver accurately. I did not attempt to get on plane, I returned to the dock and went home to get tools and a spare starter.

 

[Waldo32]

I've got a 97 and 04 speedster, neither will plane on 1 engine. They will go about 4k rpm and then capitate. So I guess that's normal...

 

[Karrtire]

I ran up a River full of seaweed today. Got overheat alarm on starboard, shut it down. Put a clamp on cooling line and planned to run back home on port engine. I had to go out in Nantucket Sound to get home (that’s like the Atlantic Ocean for folks not from here). Conditions were very calm, mostly 0.7 foot seas, 5 knot wind. Could not get on plane with port engine, would cavitate above 4000. Limped back at about 7 mph, but it was not far, so no big deal. Anchored, dove in, starboard engine was clear, port had several pounds of seaweed and a small piece of blue nylon rope. Removed coolant line clamp, started both, continued boating, no further alarms, but do did not get a chance to test engines at speed, because pea soup fog rolled in. Pulled out without incident, everything got a good flush at home, as usual when salt water boating.

Question, what experiences do you have running on a single engine (for guys with two engines installed, duh)? I was expecting some performance, and got none, but I think my one running engine was clogged up with seaweed, so not a valid test.

Hi
I have Seadoo Speedster 200 with two 215ph engines. With one engine, the boat will not get up on plane.
Kevin

 

[fuzzydice]

I have a 1997 Challenger 1800, and same thing; can't plane and revs jump way up when I try to go past idle speed. Makes sense though--the service manual says it is only good for idle speed on one engine

 

[dishgawd]

I ran up a River full of seaweed today. Got overheat alarm on starboard, shut it down. Put a clamp on cooling line and planned to run back home on port engine. I had to go out in Nantucket Sound to get home (that’s like the Atlantic Ocean for folks not from here). Conditions were very calm, mostly 0.7 foot seas, 5 knot wind. Could not get on plane with port engine, would cavitate above 4000. Limped back at about 7 mph, but it was not far, so no big deal. Anchored, dove in, starboard engine was clear, port had several pounds of seaweed and a small piece of blue nylon rope. Removed coolant line clamp, started both, continued boating, no further alarms, but do did not get a chance to test engines at speed, because pea soup fog rolled in. Pulled out without incident, everything got a good flush at home, as usual when salt water boating.

Question, what experiences do you have running on a single engine (for guys with two engines installed, duh)? I was expecting some performance, and got none, but I think my one running engine was clogged up with seaweed, so not a valid test.

As soon as I get weeds I shut down and wait for them to fall off.. sometimes rocking my ski.... but they should have been cleared right away before trying to go home... I sometime have to jump in to do that... am surprised you didn't right away.... you're lucky you didn't over heat the port engine. Sounds like you could have used the SB one as it dropped the weeds off anyway.

 

[briancayko]

2010 210 challenger. Twin 155’s.
When running on one engine it will not plane. I e always been amazed that one engine won’t get you in plane but two will be a rocket.

 

[weave]

Same experience as the rest of you. Coolant hose clamp rotted and blew a hose. Had to drive back at a crawl on one engine and it sucked major.

 

[Premix]

2010 210 challenger. Twin 155’s.
When running on one engine it will not plane. I e always been amazed that one engine won’t get you in plane but two will be a rocket.

What’s interesting is the 210 Challenger S was produced with a single engine. Maybe twin pumps will draw air “ventilate” from the surface at the chine?

 

[briancayko]

Makes me wonder if it’s not a theist issue but the placement & vector of the thrust. Since it’s off center on the twins it would be working against a lot more leverage to get it up on plane center whereas the single centered pump would be right on center. Just a thought, no engineering prowess to support it.

 

[FeelinNauti]

I ran up a River full of seaweed today. Got overheat alarm on starboard, shut it down. Put a clamp on cooling line and planned to run back home on port engine. I had to go out in Nantucket Sound to get home (that’s like the Atlantic Ocean for folks not from here). Conditions were very calm, mostly 0.7 foot seas, 5 knot wind. Could not get on plane with port engine, would cavitate above 4000. Limped back at about 7 mph, but it was not far, so no big deal. Anchored, dove in, starboard engine was clear, port had several pounds of seaweed and a small piece of blue nylon rope. Removed coolant line clamp, started both, continued boating, no further alarms, but do did not get a chance to test engines at speed, because pea soup fog rolled in. Pulled out without incident, everything got a good flush at home, as usual when salt water boating.

Question, what experiences do you have running on a single engine (for guys with two engines installed, duh)? I was expecting some performance, and got none, but I think my one running engine was clogged up with seaweed, so not a valid test.

Two weeks ago I had a similar experience. In channel with other boats so couldn't stop. Kept it under 5 mph. No clamp. Cautiously got back to dock. All ok...just remember if you think there is a possibility water is in engine. Don't try to crank with plugs - Water doesn't compress. Remove plugs then crank/suck out water immediately. Then, should be ok after oil change.

 

[Joe Starbuck]

As soon as I get weeds I shut down and wait for them to fall off.. sometimes rocking my ski.... but they should have been cleared right away before trying to go home... I sometime have to jump in to do that... am surprised you didn't right away.... you're lucky you didn't over heat the port engine. Sounds like you could have used the SB one as it dropped the weeds off anyway.

I hear you. I was tempted the whole way back to start up the SB engine, but we were making headway, and the weather was nice