There are many factors that go into all of this, not the least of which are service and technical expertise to repair the systems, parts availability and costs for purchase and maintenance. Pod drives, including the Volvo Penta IPS, Cummins Zeus, ZF Marine POD 4000, and CAT Three60 POD 650 have taken the recreational boat market by storm during the recent past. Like most everything, making the decision to go conventional or pod is a personal choice. Goes without saying: Its got ZF Smart Command 5000 drive-by-wire. Still, many boaters werent convinced. All rights reserved. If we can go straight to them and safely lift them into the boat, most tow boat operators are going to charge an hourly fee or a flat fee, and not claim salvage. I had the opportunity to run several different boats at Volvos test center in Gothenburg, Sweden, during the companys international press launch, and there is no doubt I was intrigued by the system. To me the unit as a whole is way to complex than it needs to be. Sophisticated diagnostics go with every engine now. (A complete maintenance schedule, including annual and longer-term items, is in the owners manual, so pay attention to it.). Todd Anderson recently ran a 50 Viking powered by ZF 4000 pods. Featuring a patented design that provides the simplest solution for vaping on the go with your Zeus 3rd generation vaporizer. My experience is that they will work with their Cummins/Mercury dealers to lend a hand in unusual situations. We have a strong global network, says Robert Mirman of Cummins, who leads the charge for Zeus. Eager to fish with them, I was along with Ed Szilagyi, then Volvos boatbuilder installation liaison and company captain, on that same Tiara demo. Dont compare them to stern drives. There arent many external mechanicals, no rubber bellows or other components to fail, he added. Using a ZF transmission, it could mate any marine engine (Yanmar and Caterpillar have been popular partners) to its pods. The noise and smell from a diesel goes away with pods, said Bentley Collins, Sabres vice president of marketing and sales, and with joystick control, you dont have to worry about crashing into the dock.. After that, it wasnt up for discussion any longer: The marlin didnt mind the pods at all. Richard estimated an average annual cost of about $2,500 for scheduled maintenance on twin pod drives. Its like a carnival ride. If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. A little cheaper because it was in SoCal. Full details on our program can be found here. Joystick control? Simply pop in a pod and enjoy your herbs. Sorry, but as an ex-Cummins and Merc dealer, I've lost all faith in the Zeus system. While there has not been a flood of acceptance in the sport-fishing market for pod-drives, the cruising market has seen a larger number of owners making the transition away from conventional shaft-and-wheel boats. All diesels need TLC, but pod systems need a bit more. The aft placement of pods has added to usable space on board. Pods have taken certain segments of the cruising-boat market by storm, and now big-game charter captains who were once fixed-shaft aficionados are embracing this new technology. Along with Volvo, who now makes the IPS drives from 260 to 1,000 hp, Cummins and MerCruiser partnered to join the fray with their Zeus pod-drive system, complete with SmartCraft monitoring and system management that integrates the vessel's electronics, propulsion and onboard systems. To start with, Zeus and IPS boats have to be hauled after their first 25 engine-hours. And, if you preferred to stand, Viking built the helm so you could control the pods with traditional dual levers.. KISS Keep It Simple Sailor. 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. On the other hand, pod boats typically dont have bow thrusters. Its a whole new world of boathandling out there, one all of us can enjoy. For the first few years pods appeared mostly on company demo boats tested by magazine writers, and received lots of press coverage, most of it extolling their handling advantages. But now that both Volvo Inboard Propulsion System and Cummins MerCruiser Zeus drives have been spinning beneath boats for more than five years, its time to assess the cost of ownership of pods versus conventional shafts. Hes also found them to be extremely reliable. Take the props off, grease the shafts, and check the seals, Fessenden said. Also demanding periodic attention are hydraulic steering, transmission, and lower-unit oils. Zeus allows for simple control o. lost surfboards santa cruz. The ZEUS ArcPods have hit the 2022 market. Here at TVAPE we offer free shipping on every order above $100.00 inside Canada and USA. If your zincs are gone, your warranty might be gone too, Siebert said, so all his clients boats with pods are cleaned and checked monthly by a diver. 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. There is definitely more maintenance with pods, said John Siebert. Zeus Disposable Pods | Zeus Juice UK Disappointing, but then again whens the last time you worked on your car? Sacrificial anode maintenance is both cheap and easily performed by the average inboard boat owner. I had seen massive tugboats using a similar pod-drive system for their tight-quarters work, pushing huge container ships into the wharf. Theres no free lunch, so there must be a hidden cost that no ones factored in.. Volvo Penta introduced the first pod-drive system in 2004. By continuing to browse this website, you agree to the use of cookies. Most pods require service after a short break-in period at 25 hours or so. Such tales are grist for boaters imaginations, as is the mere idea of components made of expensive, finely machined alloys dangling below the boat, protected by neither keel nor shaft. They get people excited about buying a new boat.. To start with, Zeus and IPS boats have to be hauled after their first 25 engine-hours. Thats pretty good., Buckley also likes the IPS investment and isnt concerned about the sticker shock. Drive Pirates Martin Meissner of ZF Marine says engine makers still dont have a handle on the potential volume. If you arent happy with the local dealer, you can call the concierge and get a tech in Tennessee. You need go no farther than your marina to hear a list of suspects. 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. Zeus Pods | Sabre Yachts Also demanding periodic attention are hydraulic steering, transmission, and lower-unit oils. are zeus pods still being manufactured - ouseagencia.com On Cummins drives, standard-equipment MerCathode system anodes emit a tiny electrical charge opposite the damaging electrical currents that normally flow through metal parts in seawater, actively protecting pods from galvanic corrosion. Ignore it and you can forget about that edge in fuel efficiency over inboards. The bill to undo the resulting carnage came to $46,000, a figure that couldnt have been much worse if pods had been involved.). Pod Drives: Volvo Penta IPS, Cummins Zeus, ZF Marine, and CAT 2023 Active Interest Media All Rights Reserved. Featuring a patented design that provides the simplest solution for vaping on the go with your Zeus 3rd generation vaporizer. Within a year or two, Paul Spencer built a 43-foot express with IPS drives that we fished in a tournament. Another benefit comes from counter-rotating props on the pods. And once the numbers are crunched, are pods worth it? (Power & Motoryacht once had a company boat powered by inboards with which the publisher at the time rammed a sunken fuel barge at a healthy clip. ZF Marine entered the pod fray when its exclusivity agreement with Zeus expired. Around here most mercury dealers wont take it on. Zeus ArcPod Lids - Extend your use | Zeus So how big is the pod market? Finally theres antifoulant for the drive. If water is suspected inside any pod, get a mechanic aboard right away or risk internal damage. The first boatbuilders installing pod-drives in the early to mid-2000s werent putting them on sport-fish boats. Its hard to tell if sport fishermen will take to it. For more information and/or quote, please complete the contact form below. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. The New York State Canal is just one of the many great scenic boat trips North America has to offer, and the numerous locks create a lot of tight-quarters maneuvering. Read the owners manual.) I am liking the Searay 44 Sedan Bridge of the ~2009 vintage as those have QSC500s with conventional drives. Part of that comes as a side effect to the benefits of the props angle of attack. When a 42-foot pod boat can replace a 46-footer, savings add up fast. I simulated backing through a slalom course in reverse, moving faster than any angler could ever gain line. Having the ability to move sideways, spin and dock raises the comfort level, especially for an inexperienced boater who wants to weekend but doesnt want to train on an 18-foot vessel, Meissner says. The counter-rotating propellers and large rubber grommets the engine is mounted on means reduced vibration and engine noise. Then realized it was a conversation which I figured was private so I reposted here. Reply To: Cummins QSB Low Battery ECM Voltage, Marine Age the REAL age of a Marine Diesel Engine, Propellers Move Boats, Engines Just Turn Them, Everything you Need to Know About Marine Exhaust Systems, Continuous Duty A Different Perspective, This topic has 9 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated. Imagine a 44-footer with three cabins, two heads, and inboards priced $20,000 less than an identical 44-footer with pods that, thanks to its aft-engine placement, has one more cabin or head. I am after some of Seaboards famous frank and honest advice: should I run away from pod drives.or go for them if they have a solid maintenance track record which I need to commit to maintaining.or go for them without hesitation because they really are the better technology? 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. At that time, the company boat was a 38-foot express cruiser with a pair of Volvo D6 370 hp diesels matched to IPS 500 series drives. Sure the stories are one-sided, but as an aggregate source of information, theyve led me to conclude that pods are no more prone to failure than inboards but that when a pod breaks, the repair bills going to be higher. are zeus pods still being manufactured. Obviously, you have run over fish to get a bite, but we proved that pod-drives were no fearsome thing. How to Manage Boat Finances During a Recession, Gamefisherman 43 Express on the Drawing Board, Marlin Expeditions Offers Light-Tackle Paradise in Guatemala. Each IPS has anodes as well, one up inside the exhaust tunnel (the other is on the transom); both Zeus anodes are on the trim tabs where theyre easy to reach. International service is also a concern for pods. Arrogant factory leadership, poor parts fill, and high parts prices scared me off. 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) . Yes, pods have sheared off upon striking something immovable (as theyre designed to do), leaving the hull intact and the owner with a five-figure repair bill. Will Pod-Drives Overtake Conventional Shafts and Struts? Outboards are easy. With quad outboards, Id get about 0.7 miles per gallon. You cant take the grate off to clean or paint in there. His solution is to spray Interlux Trilux 33 or Pettit Alumaspray Plus from aerosol cans inside the seawater intakes. The counter-rotating propellers and large rubber grommets the engine is mounted on means reduced vibration and engine noise. 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. Then with the joystick, it directs the transmissions to pivot or swivel. Its also hard to put a price on joystick control, which completely changes dockside handling. (And when the struts rip out, they can take parts of the hull with them, something that probably wont happen with pods.) One hardly noticed the greatest benefit to the end user: The engine systems were so compact, many boats could gain an aft cabin or at least a sleeping berth where diesel engines once thrummed away. Comfort Onboard comfort is improved too. 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).
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