Mapism, the prop on the side is generally called a wing engine and is usually driven by a small separate engine not the gennie
Regarding single props, if they are so unreliable why are most commercial ships and fishing trawlers single props? Stabilizers are not for safety, they are for comfort so whether or not they work in a F8 is not a life or death issue.
Based on my present knowledge, if I wanted to go out in a F8 gale, I think I'd choose a Nordhavn to do it in