Twin Engines

[RB12]

Originally Posted by 9D280

and if we're on the subject of cool stuff you can't afford, some of the really big "fly by wire" outboards will auto synch revs & trim so the subtle differences in lever / trim switch movement are ironed out.

And actually fly by wire Verado's (and others presumably) only need two throttles for more than two engines - they synchronise all engines above a certain RPM and for manoeuvring in harbour etc they just operate the outer motors leaving the central motor(s) in neutral

[Simon B]

So how did the Crompo Charlie boats operate all their throttles, did they have very large hands.....

[boristhebold]

Originally Posted by Simon B

So how did the Crompo Charlie boats operate all their throttles, did they have very large hands.....

Ive seen a boat with five V8's on the back, they cant all have seperate controls ? must be a special electronic management system I expect, fly by wire stuff

[9D280]

Fly by wire does make it easier to do that sort of thing. I have seen (tho' can't remember if it was in a mag or on t'net) a U-channel type thing that dropped over the top of the levers to work many as one. It was long ago enough that PT was a very expensive option, and "anti knock into gear accidentally" catches hadn't been invented so probably explains how they got round that! Also throttle cables can be run in paralell (e.g fly + inside bridges) so I'm sure it's not beyond the wit of man to allow independant control at low RPM & have a "pickup" on one lever that grabs another engine's cable on the way past.


Back to Tom's original question, most OB side mount throttles are designed so that the "T" of the top of the lever will line up nicely if two are mounted back to back, so even small handed people can grab the two together. Dropping into gear should only really be done individually in that kind of setup anyway. and is nigh on impossible to do two at once with the catches. Twin setups are not uncommon on Boston Whalers, thay have a forum all of their own, I'm sure a trawl of that will give plenty of pics to see examples.

Synching trim on older engines can be as simple as knowing the boat and listening out for that "sweet spot" in the noise as you trim one up & down to match the other.


..and we all have dream boats! - There's guys here started with diddy sibs & worked up from there. I have owned a few preowned & in some cases unloved (No offence Al, yours was one of the better ones!) boats in ever increasing size, but as taking engines to bits is one of my other(!) hobbies I can live with "low price failures". For what it's worth, my dream rib isn't too dissimilar to yours......

[tompaddock]

Originally Posted by 9D280

Back to Tom's original question, most OB side mount throttles are designed so that the "T" of the top of the lever will line up nicely if two are mounted back to back, so even small handed people can grab the two together. Dropping into gear should only really be done individually in that kind of setup anyway. and is nigh on impossible to do two at once with the catches. Twin setups are not uncommon on Boston Whalers, thay have a forum all of their own, I'm sure a trawl of that will give plenty of pics to see examples.

Synching trim on older engines can be as simple as knowing the boat and listening out for that "sweet spot" in the noise as you trim one up & down to match the other.


..and we all have dream boats! - There's guys here started with diddy sibs & worked up from there. I have owned a few preowned & in some cases unloved (No offence Al, yours was one of the better ones!) boats in ever increasing size, but as taking engines to bits is one of my other(!) hobbies I can live with "low price failures". For what it's worth, my dream rib isn't too dissimilar to yours......

Awesome!
Thank you.

and yeah, am determined to get her one day.......

btw, do the rescue people still do that cool thing where they turn off and raise one engine when they're on a lee shore?

Tom

[wiLlfish]

Originally Posted by tompaddock

do the rescue people still do that cool thing where they turn off and raise one engine when they're on a lee shore?

orl de tyme

yewshully showtin

WHERS DE FKIN GEERBOKKS GONN

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by wiLlfish

orl de tyme

yewshully showtin

WHERS DE FKIN GEERBOKKS GONN

arr no wot tharronabart burrabet tothers dunt

[JIY]

Here's the throttle quadrant on my RIB.

The controls are "fly-by-wire" for twin Verados.

The three rocker switches on the left hand throttle lever control the trim on the left engine, trim on both engines and trim on the right engine.

The FBW system synchronises the engines above about 2000rpm

My commercial driving is mainly on twin engined Quinquari Humbers, with cable throttles, so quite often there is a split in the throttle position to achieve the same revs on each engine.