All of the pros and cons of single vs twins have been discussed indepth on the the other list, and no minds have been changed, as far as I can tell. I'm just wondering if the addition of a large genset, powerfull enough to drive the boat at a reasonable speed, with all of the added complexity, is a viable alternative to a twin engine setup. Given the cost of a 20kw or larger gen and the expense of a hydraulic or electric pto system it looks like a wash to me. If you designed an inverter based A.C. system based on a small (say 7.5kw) gen that could be utilized at or near capacity everytime it was needed a 20 kw would seem to be very uneconomical. Also, my experience with hydraulics, both oil field and industrial, is that they are inherently unreliable, especially so in a humid environment. Mostly due to the fact that when oil is used to power something, or is just moved around and pressurized, it gets warm, usually hot. This is usually not a problem except that when it cools it pulls moisture from the air. Due to the hydraulic system being recirculating, instead of constant loss (like the fuel system) it retains the moisture, and, it never gets hot enough to drive off the accumulated water (like your engine does). Hydraulic suction filters don't remove water, so it collects in the tank after coming out of dispersion. This is not a problem if you have a sump drain on your hydraulic fluid tank but you still need to check and drain it occasionally, adding to the complexity and maintenance. An electric drive would have its own set of complexities, equal to or more so than hydraulics. The drive system on your main is tried and true. It is just as reliable when downsized and doubled. One set of spares is also a bonus. Diesel engines that are being used tend to last longer than engines used intermittently. Yes, using the aformentioned 20kw gen for ac power would not religate it to the intermittent category but it would be in the "ineficient for the application" category. As always, your thoughts are appreciated. _________________________________________________________________ Ready for Fall shows? Use Bing to find helpful ratings and reviews on digital tv's. http://www.bing.com/shopping/search?q=digital+tv's&form=MSHNCB&publ=WLHMTAG&c rea=TEXT_MSHNCB_Vertical_Shopping_DigitalTVs_1x1