For what it's worth, I'm a fan of a twin engine single screw arrangement which is common in the larger diesel electric submarines we build, albeit with the complexity of the motor generators. With the 85' passagemaker we've designed, the twin engine, single screw arrangement provides for optimum efficiency for cost effective cruising with one engine and ample power for adverse conditions with two engines. There is mechanical redundancy, similarity of spares and with the keel and rudder configuration a minimum chance of a prop strike or entanglement. The system also avoids the under-load problems caused by operating a single larger diesel at low RPM. You are not investing in any components that won't get used and there is no added parasitic drag. -- ======================================================================= L. Bruce Jones U.S. SUBMARINES, INC. President POSEIDON UNDERSEA RESORTS LLC Tel: 208/687-9057 Fax: 208/441-7478 E-mail: bruce@ussubmarines.com http://ussubs.com http://poseidonresorts.com "Design, engineering and construction of submarines and submersibles" "Developing the world's first sea floor resort." =======================================================================