| Single or Twin? | |
| With the release of the larger E-TEC range, many offshore anglers are embracing the E-TEC concept, but what is the best rigging option for your boat? E-TEC have provided the solutions with a range of rigging options that will see monohulls and twin hulls (cats) fitted out with one, two or three of the most efficient and user friendly engines on the market today. Twin Rigging vs. Single Rigging This is always a question many boat owners want the answer to. What are the advantages of twin rigging and will twin rigged outboards give me better performance? Durability? Safety? |  |
| win rigging primarily answers any safety issues you have. In most cases E-TEC twin rigging is done with dual batteries and can be completed with twin fuel systems. This means that there will always be a cranking battery that is charged, given that the E-TEC can distribute charge from its alternator to two different batteries, guaranteeing you won't have that horrible feeling of no charge in your batteries. Rigging with a twin fuel system also means if waves and swells works a single engine hard. A twin-rigged vessel's engines will still have to do some hard work, but the load is spread across two engines. This reduces wear and tear and reduces the likelihood of catastrophic engine failure.
If catastrophic engine failure does occur, the twin-rigged vessel can safely get home on the second engine, whereas a single rig will be looking for some serious help. All in all twin rigging has a lot of positives going for it. Single Engine Installation The simplified rigging on E-TEC V6 engines allows for easy access to the required components without removing the lower motor covers. The lower pan grommet (where the cables, wiring and hoses enter the engine) provides for the use of either Flexweave or rigging tube. This makes the installation very easy and provides for a professional appearance to the rig and motor well. A comprehensive range of remote controls is available for single engine installations too. They include the standard surface mount control, flush side mount control, single lever binnacle control with and without trim switch, and a single lever binnacle control that is pre-wired with an integral ignition switch and warning alarm. Twin Rigging Simplicity Transom Height All of the E-TEC V6 engines are available in a wide range of shaft lengths dependent upon the application and use the rig is put to. The shaft lengths range from 20" to 30" depending upon the model, but the only 225 and 250hp engines are available in 30". This effectively means almost any boat large enough to take on a twin rig will be able to be fitted with the latest E-TEC outboards. | |
| Motor well requirements
All V6 E-TEC engines can be installed on boats that conform to the ABYC (American Boat and Yacht Council) motor well design standards without the need for any modification or change to the configuration of the boat. Most imported and Australian built boats meet this standard, so rigging a couple of E-TECs should present no major problems. Add to this, the smaller E-TECs are in-line 3-cylinder models and it's easy to rig with two outboards on smaller craft. The small and unobtrusive design of the smaller engines will allow your dealer to fit twin outboards easily. |  |
| Twin Engine Installation Rigging of 2 E-TECs could not be easier for your dealer as all E-TEC V6 engines can be installed on the industry standard 26" centre distance. This means there is no complicated reconfiguration of the transom or motor mounts and just like the single mounted engine, time off the water should be kept to a minimum. BRP have available a full range of dual engine steering tie bars for these engines. These tie bars are made to the highest quality standards using all stainless steel components and have been stringently tested to ensure they fit in with the E-TEC system. In addition, all E-TECs are fully compatible to the majority of after market hydraulic steering systems. |  |
| he lower pan trim switches have the ability to be located on either side of the engine. This allows each engine to have the trim switch on its outside to provide for easy access and use when launch and retrieving or simple undertaking a flush out back at the ramp in preparation for transport.
An electric trim synchroniser switch can be added to all twin rigs. When the trim synchroniser is switched on the trim and tilt of both engines can be controlled from any trim switch that might be fitted to the rig. With the synchroniser switched off, the engines can have their trim and tilt operated independently. This fact alone will give skippers far more control over how they want their trims to be set. For the inexperienced it will allow both outboards to be set at the same trim, while experienced skippers can trim each motor for best performance. Twin-engine controls are available in the form of a dual lever binnacle remote control. This control is available in two formats, with or without control lever mounted trim switches. If the control without trim switches is used a dashboard mounted dual trim switch would be used. A dual ignition switch panel with a single common emergency lanyard switch is also used with this remote control. All in all twin rigging and installation appears a simple and efficient operation. | |
