I am totally comfortable to admit that as a first time boat owner, (18 months ownership, 60 hours on the clock) I am still a newbie. Have a SR 2012 260 SD and as a seasonal FL guy, I still have much to learn about docking, maneuvering. Have read that a single engine i/o is the most difficult to handle. Is a single engine outboard significantly easier? What about twin outboards? And easiest yet, one of the newer joystick controlled twin outboard boats? I see from the forums that so many of you have owned a series of boats and know you'll be able to comment knowledgeably about this.
I know I need more practice but I suffer from anxiety every time I dock at a waterside restaurant or a fuel dock or marina with (or without!) everyone watching. Moreover, while I love the SR 260 SD, I'd really like something that is fishing friendly without losing the deckboat attributes of the SD. So that suggests one of the rapidly expanding choices of dual consoles. A single engine Dual console will fit within my budget but the twins put me a bit above that and the ~$10K/engine joystick premium is a complete budget buster. I'd really appreciate comments about the relative ease of maneuvering with twin OB's vs a single OB.
Thanks in advance for any comments, advice.
I know I need more practice but I suffer from anxiety every time I dock at a waterside restaurant or a fuel dock or marina with (or without!) everyone watching. Moreover, while I love the SR 260 SD, I'd really like something that is fishing friendly without losing the deckboat attributes of the SD. So that suggests one of the rapidly expanding choices of dual consoles. A single engine Dual console will fit within my budget but the twins put me a bit above that and the ~$10K/engine joystick premium is a complete budget buster. I'd really appreciate comments about the relative ease of maneuvering with twin OB's vs a single OB.
Thanks in advance for any comments, advice.