Mexican Panga - What size engine?

[Spear CR]

Originally Posted by bug_power

hey I've got the exact same boat. I got mine at a DEA auction as well. I have a 150 on it...and it hauls BUTT!. However it's a tiller and I can't see over the damn bow. I want to put a floor and console in it. I'm in Portland....if you need a buddy boat out of port A let me know. You can see pictures of mine at www.TexasSpearfishing.com

Hey man, you h3 tags are showing in your photo gallery

[LOMartin]

this is a very interesting thread, good luck with the boat. ..

[SDspearo]

While many recreational guys seem to always want twins it seems important to note that a lot of commercial boats run a single engine and these guys should know what's up. 2 engines is twice the work in keeping them up and running. A single engine will cost you so much less that you can keep it in top shape (and thus prevent offshore breakdowns). If you still are worried, get a 5hp get home engine

[Powers]

Originally Posted by SDspearo

While many recreational guys seem to always want twins it seems important to note that a lot of commercial boats run a single engine and these guys should know what's up. 2 engines is twice the work in keeping them up and running. A single engine will cost you so much less that you can keep it in top shape (and thus prevent offshore breakdowns). If you still are worried, get a 5hp get home engine

I have thought about the 5hp get home system. It's a good idea, but there are a few things holding me back from that. First, a 40 mile trip in a 26' Panga with a 5hp engine is not something I want to be stuck with. I made the run from El Banco to Punta Mita on one 90 this year and it took three hours. I'd be lucky to get 5 mph out of a 5hp. Also, if the seas come up, I'd rather have more power than that.

The commercial guys have their eye on the bottom line. They are also usually very good mechanics and can improvise better than I. I am leaning more towards safety and ease of mind. I want to be able to take my wife offshore and remove breakdowns (sort of) from my list of problems about which to be concerned. I'm willing to spend the extra money for the added safety.

[rexwang]

single engine with vessel assist? you shouldnt be in rough water anyways because youll be checking the weather before you go out, right?if its rough out, you gotta make the call to cancel the day. ive done that a couple times already, sucks when youre all packed up and ready to go, but its better than killing yourself and worse killing somebody else.

[Powers]

Originally Posted by rexwang

single engine with vessel assist? you shouldnt be in rough water anyways because youll be checking the weather before you go out, right?if its rough out, you gotta make the call to cancel the day. ive done that a couple times already, sucks when youre all packed up and ready to go, but its better than killing yourself and worse killing somebody else.

We have a saying on the Texas Gulf Coast. "Don't like the weather? Wait five minutes." We watch the weather very closely, but storms and big chop materialize quickly on the Gulf. The day I start relying on the weatherman to save my life, I'll be in trouble.

Plus, who wants to get towed in? I want a boat I can drive out and drive in. Twin engines optimize the chances of that.

[rexwang]

Originally Posted by Powers

We have a saying on the Texas Gulf Coast. "Don't like the weather? Wait five minutes." We watch the weather very closely, but storms and big chop materialize quickly on the Gulf. The day I start relying on the weatherman to save my life, I'll be in trouble.

Plus, who wants to get towed in? I want a boat I can drive out and drive in. Twin engines optimize the chances of that.

your right about those things. out here in socal it take a little longer for things to happen. you generally are able to get outta the weather if you can read the conditions okay.

it seems like youre pretty set on running a dual setup. id consider 4 stokes for its efficiency and not having to worry about your vro going out or premixing.

[xrispearo]

with all the bullet holes and washig ashore, maybe you should have it surveyed/looked at before putting two outboards on that rear end

just a thought...

[Powers]

Originally Posted by xrispearo

with all the bullet holes and washig ashore, maybe you should have it surveyed/looked at before putting two outboards on that rear end

just a thought...

It's in a bit different condition now.

[adriangarz1206]

will


that panga is looking sweet, I had a buddy who had a 22 foot twin vee with twin 50 suzuki 4 strokes and it ran like a dream with 4 divers and gear...I would also prefer 2 engines even if they are small. We ran a 14 foot twinvee this summer with 40 4 stroke yamaha and it was pushing 18-20 miles per hour with 3 divers gear and like 70 pounds of fish on one trip.. we made a crazy run to the k bouye in it 40 miles offshore, we ran into a storm that turned a 1 foot day to a 3-4 in 15 minutes, very humbling to say the least and no more runs further than 20 miles...we shit our pants that day LOL, we could only go like 5 miles per hour due to the large swell//


Cesar

[freeride]

I have had many boats and go 40 miles from port (1 way) at least once a week. If it were me I would keep the panga super simple. 80 hp tiller(no helm) and a 9.9 kicker on a separate fuel source. A 9.9 will do hull speed even in seas/wind. Hull speed for that boat is probably about 8mph. In order to go faster than that you will have to get on plane. To get on plane with a load of gear/passengers on one of your twins could be difficult. I guess my point is there is no differnce between the speed you can get out of a 8hp at wot and a 60hp at wot unless you can get on plane. So if the twins are for saftey make sure you can plane with one or it is useless.Looks like a great economical boat,try to keep it that way! Don't dump too much money into it, save some for repairs/gas so you can work less and fish more

[Powers]

Originally Posted by adriangarz1206

will


that panga is looking sweet, I had a buddy who had a 22 foot twin vee with twin 50 suzuki 4 strokes and it ran like a dream with 4 divers and gear...I would also prefer 2 engines even if they are small. We ran a 14 foot twinvee this summer with 40 4 stroke yamaha and it was pushing 18-20 miles per hour with 3 divers gear and like 70 pounds of fish on one trip.. we made a crazy run to the k bouye in it 40 miles offshore, we ran into a storm that turned a 1 foot day to a 3-4 in 15 minutes, very humbling to say the least and no more runs further than 20 miles...we shit our pants that day LOL, we could only go like 5 miles per hour due to the large swell//


Cesar

Sounds wild, Cesar. Hopefully we can get the Panga rigged out by next summer. Maybe we can trailer it down to your neck of the woods and hook up with you.

Best,

Will

[ROBERTO REYES]

I see them all the time with small twin engines.
twin yamaha 45s, twin suzukis 50, i have been diving in
them like that, awesome fuel economy, and they do run
faster than u would think.
I guess twin 60 might do also.
There are a few heavier pangas, that use twin 90 hondas,
so am not sure if yours will handle all that weight.

[Powers]

Originally Posted by ROBERTO REYES

I see them all the time with small twin engines.
twin yamaha 45s, twin suzukis 50, i have been diving in
them like that, awesome fuel economy, and they do run
faster than u would think.
I guess twin 60 might do also.
There are a few heavier pangas, that use twin 90 hondas,
so am not sure if yours will handle all that weight.

Sebastian in Punta Mita runs twin 90s, but his are Super Pangas with 1.5 - 2x the beam of ours. I don't think we can fit 90s. And, as you said, we won't need 90s.

Thanks for the insight, Roberto.

Will

[smilinmatt]

Something to consider is the only time you'll be glad you have twins is when one breaks down. In that boat, the rest of the time they'll be a nuisance - no good spots to mount a transducer, no room for a dive ladder, worse porpoising with the extra weight in the back, more maint., more cost, etc.

If you do go with twins, as mentioned above, you need more than adequate power. A 50 propped for both engines running might not get you on plane. Even if it does, you'll be lugging the engine the entire way in. You can carry an extra low pitch prop, but depending on the sea conditions you might not be able to change it out.