Single or Dual?

[Evan Banul]

I'm wanting to build a CAT and was hoping for some feedback from the more experienced builders / users in regards to single Vs. dual motor setups.
I know that with dual motors you have twice as much that can go wrong, but besides that, what are some of the differences?

1. What are the advantages of dual Vs. single?
2. What are the advantages of single Vs. dual?
2. Will one handle better than the other?

Any other input will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

P.S. I'm leaning towards a Cheetah hull because handling is most important to me and then speed... any input on that would also be appreciated

[Maximus]

Hi there. I don't have a twin electric boat but 20 years ago I had 2 nitro boats that were twin engine set ups. A 36 aeromarine sprit cat and a 36" outrigger with 2 OPS .67's. They were an absolute blast when they came on the pipe and ran well. Lots of maintenance and twice the work as a single set up. I'm sure brushless twins are less work but won't have the same sound and smell of a nitro boat. So I think it comes down to how much patience you have for twins. The big advantage to a single set up is going to be cost. Good luck either way.

[SD Eracer]

I have both types of cats. A 70 mph Genesis 37" single cat with a Leopard 4092 1730kv motor/ Seaking 180a ESC on 6S / Octura M445 prop. I use dual 3S 5000mAh batteries deep into each sponson for better balance.

My dual is a 85 mph HPR 115 45" cat with x2 SSS 4082 2000kv motors / Turnigy 180a ESC on 6S / Octura 47mm counter rotating props Again, I place my batteries deep into each sponson for better balance.

I was originally put off by dual drive boats because it seemed like too much work and expense to have two of almost everything. Motors, ESCs, batteries, flexshafts, collets and props. However, it really isn't that much more work or effort, but the rewards are higher.

My Genesis is fast, but is is also a handful when starting off. I can literally do a 360 degree barrel roll if I gun the throttle from the start, that's how much throttle roll it has. However, once I get her on plain, and I can gun it and she will track perfectly straight and true. Its just takes more finesse to run the boat. My dual drive HPR has none of these issues, just jab the throttle and its gone!

So what are the advantages and disadvantages?

Duals have...

+ More speed (using the same type of motors, ESC, props, etc.
+ Less stress on motors/ESC/batteries, since two motors are doing the work, the boat pulls less amps while also going a lot faster. Much cooler running as well, longer run times.
+ Looks and sounds awesome.
+ More stability and no torque roll since props will be counter-rotating.

- More expensive
- More maintenance
- More batteries
- Limited hull space to work with.
- Rudder play is a lot more important. Even just a little play can cause it to lose control, while having little effect on a single drive.

Not sure about handling, all my cats are SAW boats, its all about straight line speed, none of them handle particularly well. Its all about either straight pulls or lazy figure 8s with those boats.

If you want handling, a Cheetah is great for that. However, you can probably go single with a Cheetah while still running big power and not get too much torque roll due to the width of the hull.

If I was setting up a Cheetah for a sporting role, it would be a single drive. I would get a SSS 4082 2000kv motor, Turnigy 180a V3 ESC on 6S, OSE .187 flexshaft, Octura M445 or X642 prop. You will have great running boat with 60+ mph capabilities.

But for me, if I was all about handling, I would get a Pursuit monohull and run the above setup. I have one, and its one of my favorite boats, it will run rings around any cat while still doing a solid 60mph.

[785boats]

I can't remember exactly who said it, because it was a few years ago, but I think the quote was...
"I've never found it necessary to put two motors in a cat."
And I'm pretty sure he had plenty of trophies to prove it. (I hope he reads this & chimes in).
I've run both set ups & I think I prefer the single. Hard to say why really because they were two completely different boats, so it's hard to compare. For me at least.

[SD Eracer]

I can't remember exactly who said it, because it was a few years ago, but I think the quote was...
"I've never found it necessary to put two motors in a cat."
And I'm pretty sure he had plenty of trophies to prove it. (I hope he reads this & chimes in).
I've run both set ups & I think I prefer the single. Hard to say why really because they were two completely different boats, so it's hard to compare. For me at least.

I depends on the boat and what you are trying to do. I can't imagine showing up at a SAW competition with 45" cats running dual drive systems and expect to compete against them with a single drive boat.

Sport boating racing classes however is a different story.

[kfxguy]

I wouldn't do a cheetah as a twin. They seem to favor a single better. Too much weight in it and it doesn't like it. I built a cheetah for a guy with a fairly budget setup and it goes 77mph on 6s. All day long.bit was a neu 1521 1577kv with a seaking 180. Turned like on rails but still hauled the mail.


Twin vs single. Well. I like the build time on a single. Takes less time and is easier. A twin sounds really cool and is more stable upon takeoff. There's a 32" hull that I favor and have built quite a few of them. I built a twin out of one not long ago and it was an awesome and very fun boat and eventually I'll build another. I don't think a twin is more maintenance, you have to grease two flex shafts....so what. But, if you don't do your own props, that could get expensive trying to figure out what props the boat wants. Basically I like either one but I only have singles at the moment

[Evan Banul]

Thanks for all the input guys! I really appreciate it!

[grsboats]

Handling and speed aren't related to power but to a fine tuned set up. I dont run cats only riggers and my twin rigger runs the same speed of some of my single's ........anyway twins usually double my pleasure.Gill

[iridebikes247]

If its built right a twin shouldn't be considered any less reliable than a single. My first boat was a twin, didn't run crazy cell count or props and never had an issue. If you do your homework most of this stuff will last a long time as long as its run within its limits.

Example I have a few seakings that are 4 years old, sf300s almost 3 yrs old, few really old motors too and everything performs like it did the day I got it. Idk much about oval but it seems most guys prefer singles for oval racing, and every single motor cheetah I've seen ran well.

I would chose a hull type first, then a speed you're chasing, and finally single vs. twin. Given you chose a Cheetah and care about handling I think its safe to say a single would be a good choice. If you wanted something like a 100 mph mystic 114...well then you'd get a different answer. Without question there is a place for twin cats I think right now the highest gps speed is 150+ mph by a german FE guy Marko with a twin cat, people have built 140+ singles but you can only compare by keeping the hull constant which people don't often do.

I have 5 cats right now all of which are twin. Some run high end electronics and some don't. They all do what they're intended to do. If you know exactly what you're after then its easy to figure out the power system.