cable tension calculator; neptune east coast reservation. You get a little cavitation but nothing close to the noise from shaft-drives, he says. I can do a 180 in about a second and a half. At the 2005 Miami Boat Show Volvo Penta introduced its Inboard Performance System (IPS) and changed forever not only the way we run our boats but the way we think about running them. Review Images (jpg, jpeg, png) Max 3MB file size allowed. With its forward-facing counter-rotating propellers, Volvos IPS pod-drive is a unique system. One drive had a. All in all saves a lot of cleaning hassle and maintenance costs- cleaning is primarily focused on the mouthpiece and associated parts with a quick wipe of the chamber. We are not early adopters. I love these things, they are super convenient to load, insert, and clean. Spencer Yachts was one of the first to embrace pod-drives, including Volvo Pentas IPS and ZF Marines pod-drive system with Caterpillar engines. Shafts, Props and a good ole thruster or 2 can have you handling your boat like a POD boat. But point and shoot was only part of it; IPS also claimed more speed and better fuel efficiency (the precise amount of each is still up for discussion), and thanks to its aft engine placement, more interior space and lower interior sound levels. Inboards require sacrificial-anode replacement, prop adjustment, cutless bearing repair, shaft alignment, and a method of controlling marine growth. Running the boat for too long on break-in oil can shorten the life of the pods innards. It seems like this new tech gadgetry would have been off-putting to the salty captains, and it was, particularly among the sport-fisher crowds, who already had their docking and fish-fighting skills well honed. Zeus Transmissions are available at ZF Marine! Only thing is, outboards burn gas, and more of it than diesels of similar power. Also, you dont know how often the shaft seals will need replacement. I see the cummins split from Zeus around here was not a good thing myself. And with good reasonthese propulsion systems offer several major-league advantages over traditional inboard power, so once a few savvy boaters got their hands on 'em . The ZS-3000 is Snell M2005 certified in the small shell size (XS to M). In addition, I enjoy the added efficiencies Tony mentions above. But pod-drive engines use counter-rotating props. Skip to the beginning of the images gallery, Zeus ArcPods are finally here! Trawlers dont benefit much from pods. Unless I lived/boated in the same area where existed the Mecca of Zeus Service Centers (wherever that may be) I would steer clear (no pun intended) . Before, maneuvering required forethought, logic, coordination, and strategizing; after, it became mere intuition: Look where you want to go and point the joystick that way. Comfort Onboard comfort is improved too. Simply pop in a pod and enjoy your herbs. Volvo Penta officially introduced IPS (Inboard Performance System) pod drives at the 2005 Miami Boat Show; Cummins and ZF Marine followed, one and four years later, with their own versions. Robin Buckley captains a SeeVee 39 with IPS 600s, named Kimbuktu. (Have they also reduced the docking-related divorce rate among powerboating couples? The result is a perfectly consistent amount of dry herb in each of your ArcPods each and every time, meaning you get the same great results with every session. Its like a carnival ride. The performance numbers on the IPS are slightly better. Plan on replacing the anodes at least annually, using the correct alloy: Most pods use aluminum anodes, not zinc. In short, I love my Cummins 6.7 units and I am getting happier each day with the Zeus pods as I learn them and how to care for them. Im all about new technology. Richard estimated an average annual cost of about $2,500 for scheduled maintenance on twin pod drives. Although pod housings are built of corrosion-resistant bronze rather than the aluminum alloy used for stern drives, its still critical to maintain the anodes. Pod performance has inspired outboard and stern-drive builders to develop similar control systems that can be retrofitted to existing boats, something not practical with pods. Todd Anderson recently ran a 50 Viking powered by ZF 4000 pods. As we have seen many times with sailfish, I am certain one of the marlin swam along with us between the teaser and the boat, looking at the wheels and not at the bait we had moved into position to switch him over to. Id guess none. The other companies give you a metal lid aluminum or steel, so you would only replace it to your liking when the taste gets yucky. The company has built exactly one 42-footer without pods since, versus a dozen boats with the pods option and another 50 of the new, pod-only 42-footer. The sport-fishing world has seen builders such as Spencer and Winter Custom Yachts introduce several pod boats. Warranty concerns may shorten the list of service providers. What customers are choosing is maneuverability. Here at TVAPE we offer free shipping on every order above $100.00 inside Canada and USA. Pods have been pretty darn foolproof, he said. Zeus propeller shafts use a double-lip seal. We may request cookies to be set on your device. The 390 with Volvo 600 IPS drives was absolutely one of the most fun and outrageous-performing boats I have ever driven. The first boatbuilders installing pod-drives in the early to mid-2000s werent putting them on sport-fish boats. When you put a pod system in, you try to do more with less.. However, the 48 Fly is offered with the engine you mention or with the IPS 700. Thats not chump change, but neither is it likely to produce heart palpitations in the owner of a million-dollar vessel. Copyright 2023 Marlin Magazine. Pods run quieter, cleaner, and more efficiently than traditional props. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Siebert puts annual maintenance for pods roughly $2,000 above what straight shafts cost, not including extra haul-out fees for boats that exceed 250 engine-hours per year. Over the years, Ive found online forums to be some of the most ready places for first-hand accounts of engine-related problems. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. How to Manage Boat Finances During a Recession, Gamefisherman 43 Express on the Drawing Board, Marlin Expeditions Offers Light-Tackle Paradise in Guatemala. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Mercury Zeus Pod VS Volvo Penta IPS VS Cummins Zeus System Gear, people, supplies, fuel and water lug a boat down, and the more it settles in the water, the more impact it has on your speed. Both throttle and steering. Cummins says you dont have to haul, but it takes a lot more time to suck that heavy oil out than to just drain it from the bottom, Siebert said. While builders debated the benefits of the different pod designs, many new boaters were simply seduced by the joystick maneuvering system. Plus factors and quiet fuel efficient. How much of the additional initial cost will you get back at trade-in time? The aft placement of pods has added to usable space on board. Todd pauses thoughtfully before answering: We didnt run into that problem., While nobody can predict the ultimate size of the pod market, as more and more people experience them, the polarity between love and hate is apt to change. Pod drives have been widely available only since 2007, yet they have the market awhirl. 2875 Jupiter Park Drive Suite 1700, Jupiter, FL 33458, All the Benefits of a Garmin Yacht System, 5 Romantic Destinations for the perfect Valentines Day, A Buyers Guide to the Intellian v240MT Satellite Antenna, Extended Warranty for Your Marine Leisure Products, Follow These Best Practices for Safe Boating, Essential Navigation Equipment and Tech for Your New Yacht, Keep Your Yacht Secure with a State-of-the-Art Security System, 3 Pieces of Tech Every Yacht Owner Should Invest In. Hes also got a lot of applications engineering in his background. The biggest fear boaters have is not about running out in the open water. (Volvo Penta soon followed suit.) It wasnt so long ago that a pair of 250-horsepower outboards was as much power as any non-raceboater could hang on the stern. Its like a orange and all they work on is apples. For those first 25 hours, we use a break-in lube, said David Fessenden, a marine applications engineer with Cummins Atlantic. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. Regardless of the apparent belief that the pod-market growth spurt of the past nine years is over, several sources have reported that Caterpillar is preparing to release its own pod for 2014 and Caterpillar isnt denying it. Other than checking anodes, Petzold said the most important thing to do is change the fluids per the maintenance schedule, and use the recommended gear oil, or oils. Best of the old and the new.maybe. Sorry, but as an ex-Cummins and Merc dealer, I've lost all faith in the Zeus system. And while its hard to nail down the amount of that fuel-efficiency edge, everyone agrees it does exist and can compensate you for at least some of the additional maintenance costs. My experience is that they will work with their Cummins/Mercury dealers to lend a hand in unusual situations. Thanks to all.just the practical advice I was looking for. Ten years ago, many old-timers predicted that complex pod systems, with their computer-managed guidance, fly-by-wire controls, and inaccessible drive units tucked under the hull, would need constant repair and maintenance. I stay on top of the maintenance, oil and everything and never had a breakdown., Some people complain about the top-end speed of pods. I understand in order to get pods cheap they had to use this cardboard-like substance, so seeing how you can't even try to clean it because of the material makes the company seem like they are fishing for my money every month unlike Healthy Rips and Storz and Bickel with their "pods" (IDK what to call them). Use of Cookies: ZF Friedrichshafen AG uses cookies to continuously improve the website and optimize its design. 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