Hello FireSoul,
If you are trying to convert the TigerHearts to a ftr race, like we spoke of, that won't work either. If you use the Lyrans or the Neutral Orions to host the pirate tenders, then neither the tenders nor PFs will have engine doubling, unfortunately.
If you've come up with another idea, please share it.
I'm looking also for a "why" it won't work.
The game uses the capabilities of the host race. Since only the player controllable pirate races can have engine doubling accessed by the player, one of them has to be the host race. As best as I've been able to come up with, anyway.
I take it that you haven't come up with anything new on your own then?