Engine Shutdown When At Headway Speed?
 

Has anyone else noticed any of the GFB's as they pass through an area at headway speed shutting down one engine? I've never seen this before and I've been on Winnipesaukee for years.

I first noticed it a few weeks ago as I was passing through the Weirs Channel. I passed four, two Formulas, a Fountain, and a Cigarette and all of them shut down one engine once they entered the No Wake Zone on the Paugus side of the channel. I've seen it a number of times since then, both there and at Glendale, Silver Sands, and between Bear and Pine Islands.

I figure they're doing it to save gas since they really don't need both screws to maintain headway speed.

I would say it's to save gas or maybe it's harder to stay at head way speed with both engines going.

It also would help cut down the noise.

I think it would be to cut speed. I drove a 38' lightning out of Silver Sands once on a test drive and with both engines turning at idle it was too fast, especially if there are other boats in the channel.

I doubt it would be to save on gas, for the minute or two that you would have one engine off you really would not save anything.

I agree with Codeman,I asked a couple of people doing it and they said it was just for speed not for gas

I used to have a 33 with HP500s. They idled around 800 - 950 rpm, so the boat moved along at higher than headway. Much easier to shut one down than continually shifting into neutral. Since at idle they only used a couple of GPH, any fuel savings would be lost when you fire them up.

It could be that I've never really noticed it before. Wouldn't be the first time.....

But...
 

The more I've thought about it, the less I have to agree that it's been happening all along. After I made my original post and response, I asked some of my friends and family who also happen to boat on Winnipesaukee about what I've seen. They've noticed it, too.

If idling along on two engines can bring a GFB above headway speed, then wouldn't it be easier to only put one engine in gear and leave the other in neutral? I can see that a cold start might use more fuel than leaving an engine idling, but a warm start uses very little fuel and will consume less fuel than an idling engine.