Thats pretty good., Buckley also likes the IPS investment and isnt concerned about the sticker shock. Both throttle and steering. To start with, Zeus and IPS boats have to be hauled after their first 25 engine-hours. $44 MediaLight Mk2 Flex 4m D65 6500CRI98 Bias Lighting USB powered ComputersTablets & Networking Laptop & Desktop Accessories USB Lights & Gadgets Goes without saying: Its got ZF Smart Command 5000 drive-by-wire. Zeus Transmissions are available at ZF Marine! Volvo Penta has 16,000 pod-drive boats in the marketplace right now. Zeus Pod Drive Transmissions. 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) . They get people excited about buying a new boat.. Pivoting a boat is simply accomplished by twisting a joystick. When you put a pod system in, you try to do more with less.. Full details on our program can be found here. Nevertheless, pods are making inroads. In effect, a sport-fisher fresh out of the factory may make 45 knots on pods, but by the time it is provisioned and ready to fish, its going to lose some speed. I want to comment on how well Mercury backs their products. Plan on replacing the anodes at least annually, using the correct alloy: Most pods use aluminum anodes, not zinc. The tank has a 24mm diameter (0.94 inches) and measures 50.5mm tall (2 inches tall). Hes also got a lot of applications engineering in his background. ZF also built far larger pods that could handle far more horsepower. Rob makes a very good point about service network and availability of skill in your intended cruising area. Volvo doesn't offer the option of in-water service. You get a little cavitation but nothing close to the noise from shaft-drives, he says. If one engine vibrates but the other doesnt while in neutral, the problem is likely in the always-turning jack shaft. When pods vibrate, propellers or jack shaft bearings are the likely causes. Change the fluids annually, or every 250 hours of operation. 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. But pod-drive engines use counter-rotating props. SeaVee no longer builds inboard boats, but that was a neat one. Pod access aboard the Riviera 43 is through the cockpit sole. Marlin Magazine may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. The first boatbuilders installing pod-drives in the early to mid-2000s werent putting them on sport-fish boats. 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. Are the Zeus drives still being produced today? are zeus pods still being manufactured. In fact, shafts and struts have been driven through the hull by groundings and collisions with floating debris. Pods also increase fuel economy and decrease vibration. cable tension calculator; neptune east coast reservation. 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. How to Manage Boat Finances During a Recession, Gamefisherman 43 Express on the Drawing Board, Marlin Expeditions Offers Light-Tackle Paradise in Guatemala. Oh boy, the lids. How Fuel-Efficient Are Pods, Exactly? 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. Pods from all manufacturers have proven reliable and trouble-free, when maintained correctly. Zeus propeller shafts use a double-lip seal. Over the years, Ive found online forums to be some of the most ready places for first-hand accounts of engine-related problems. 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. But conventional wisdom no longer applies. It is so nearly parallel to the boats keel that it enables pod-drives to lighten the vessel with smaller engines that still provide ample thrust to plane and power the now lighter boat. Outboards are easy. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Make sure to do this, and if buying a used boat, make certain the first owner did it, too. We back it up with a concierge service. After that, it wasnt up for discussion any longer: The marlin didnt mind the pods at all. By continuing to browse this website, you agree to the use of cookies. 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. Inboards require sacrificial-anode replacement, prop adjustment, cutless bearing repair, shaft alignment, and a method of controlling marine growth. Theyre a whole different animal, Siebert said. Being new to power boating, I selected this configuration for ease of docking and it has been fabulous. x 33 ft.), SMX Bronze Freshwater Flush Cap for Groco ARG Series Strainers, Bronze Tee Adapter and Freshwater Flush System, Military Style Top Post Battery Terminals, Heavy Duty Marine Grade 316L Stainless Steel Washers, Cummins Marine Diamond Performance Series Engine Sticker, ZF Marine Transmission Sales & Current Inventory, ZF 45-85 A/IV Shift & Troll Cable Bracket, ZF Marine Transmission Oil Drain Line Kit, Suredrive Coupling for Borg Warner & ZF 220A, Suredrive Coupling for ZF 301 & 302 VLD/IV with Vulkan L, Marine Flex Plate (Velvet Drive, SAE 11.5), Vulkan Vulkardan-E (2K3411S004) SAE No. Pods require drive-oil changes every 250 hours or annually. Thats opened up more opportunities and options for OEMS.. His experience tells him a similar grounding with conventional shafts would have been much worse, perhaps even damaging rudder or strut supports badly enough to flood the boat. And if they dont want them, I cant talk them into it.. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. Take the props off, grease the shafts, and check the seals, Fessenden said. Its also hard to put a price on joystick control, which completely changes dockside handling. And if you have to ask about price, you really dont need one. The biggest fear boaters have is not about running out in the open water. I also feel they will continue to loose market share to Volvo. That said, I have heard good things. The new props dont ventilate, and their position alignment with the keel gave them a decided advantage by leveling the keel on the hole shot. With IPS Ill run out to the Corner and fish the tide for wahoo, then head over to Gingerbread and get some yelloweye before heading home. His company, Siebert Yacht Management commissions and maintains most new Sabre boats delivered to Palm Beach County, Florida, giving him considerable experience with Volvo IPS drives on Sabres 38- and 54-foot models and with Cummins Zeus drives on Sabres 42- and 48-footers, as well as those same hulls with conventional shafts. Ask to see the service records for the boats first year. With it, fingertip operation of any vessel became possible. Comfort Onboard comfort is improved too. Zeus ArcPods - The 3rd Generation of Vaporizers is Here! Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. Also demanding periodic attention are hydraulic steering, transmission, and lower-unit oils. Pods require drive-oil changes every 250 hours or annually. Pods cost more, period. 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. I had SeaVee owner Ariel Pared with me when we pulled away from the dock sideways, crabbing away briskly from our side-to moor. And often, they are recoverable and repairable. 1980 - 2023 Seaboard Marine - All Rights Reserved, Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total), Complete Seawater Circuit Maintenance Kits, Cummins Graphite Turbo Charger to Exhaust Gasket & Bolt Kit, Aftercooler & Heat Exchanger Maintenance Kits, Early 6BTA 5.9 Diamond Hoses (1.5 Raw Water Hoses), 6CTA 8.3 430/450/480CE Diamond Engine Hoses, USCG Approved Engine & Gear Hydraulic Hoses, USCG Approved High Pressure Hydraulic Oil Lines, EnviroVent Crankcase Ventilation (CCV) Kits, Marine Silicone Exhaust 6 x 8 Reducing Hump Hose, Custom Marine Exhaust Design & Fabrication, Marine 316L SS 4 inch Pipe (4.5" OD) 90 Degree Elbow, Marine 316L Stainless Steel 4 inch Exhaust Pipe (4.5 OD), SMX Custom Stainless Steel Exhaust Mixer Kit, 90 Degree Exhaust Elbow Wrap (Long Radius), SMX Mechanical Engine Digital Display Kit, SMX J1939 SeaView Double Digital Display Kit, Glendinning Throttle & Shift Control Systems, ZF220A & ZF220V Shift Valve Lever Repair Kit, SMX Custom Exhaust Flange Kit for Cummins Engines, Borg Warner Velvet Drive to Cummins 5.9 HD Adapter Kit, Commercial Marine Hydraulic Pumps & Equipment, PetroWrap Anti-Corrosion Tape (2 in. Pods are designed to shear off without compromising hull integrity. Sea Ray sells the 460 Sundancer with twin 550-horsepower Cummins diesels, with either V-drive or Zeus drives; the Zeus option adds $113,333 to the $1,004,768 price, according to Sea Ray. However, the 48 Fly is offered with the engine you mention or with the IPS 700. Painting pods will cost a bit more too. Then realized it was a conversation which I figured was private so I reposted here. Learn more about the 3rd Generation of Vaporizers is here: https://bit.ly/3xm5ASYThe patented Zeus ArcPod is a sin. Sounds like another good option to me. If that aint enough, Seven Marine builds a 557- or 627-horsepower small-block V-8 configured as an outboard motor. Units that under our Hassle-Free Warranty program are covered directly by TVAPE and do not require you to deal directly with the manufacturer. 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. Robin Buckley captains a SeeVee 39 with IPS 600s, named Kimbuktu. Controlled at low speeds by a joystick rather than wheel, shifts, and throttles, pods take most of the angst, the apprehension, and, sometimes, the sheer terror out of close-quarters maneuvering. Oh, and if youre a do-it-yourselfer, youll discover that a lot of pod maintenance requires specialized tools and training. Pods have been pretty darn foolproof, he said. Check them just like you check zincs on a shaft, Petzold said: Swim down and have a look. We may request cookies to be set on your device. Today, pod-powered boats are common in any yacht yard, and qualified service and repair technicians are easy to find along the waterfront. Heck, Mercurys Verado 400R comes with a two-year warranty, even though its got Racing painted on the cowl. Alas, the fact that electronics dont respond well to brute force may mean some service challenges, at least in the short term, which is why long-distance cruisers have, as a group, been wary of pods. First, hull efficiency was enhanced, because the props were always aligned with the direction of motion in the boat. (Volvo Penta soon followed suit.). However, I think the best application I have run to date was a 39-foot SeaVee with pod-drives. Marlin Magazine may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. IMO, Zeus, or any POD drive, would not even be a close 2nd. In standard shaft and prop boats, props lose their bite in close-quarters maneuvering, Smith says. Although there are claims of 30 percent efficiency gains in cruise and top-end speed as well as fuel savings, the results vary from boat to boat when compared to straight shaft and prop configurations. Read the owners manual.) Savings on a long haul might disappear when slowing to navigate a tricky channel or speeding up to avoid a storm. The first pod-drive was invented in 1955 and went by the generic name azimuth thruster. They were either diesel- or electric-powered, and some were large enough for a man to walk around inside the machinery housing. I liked the idea of being able to handle the boat from the helm seat instead of standing up all the time. Cummins QSC 8.3 Zeus pods long term support, https://www.yachtforums.com/converszeus-pods-long-term-support.17232/#navigation, https://www.sabreyachts.com/motor-yachts/fly-bridge-sedan-48/fly-bridge-48-performance-data, (You must log in or sign up to reply here.). Each pod has 2 props and they are different. Most yards will repaint a pod for $300. But downward-pointing conventional shafts lift sterns, negating, or even reversing, that fuel-economy advantage at slower speeds (0.92 nmg shafts @ 15.9 kts. Great contribution Blue Magnolia..that rings true and honest. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Today, 250s are middle of the road: Triple and quad 300s are common, and 400s built for everyday use are available, too. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. That could make billing a fish tough if you have to strain to reach the water. When pods shear off, their recovery might cost a huge percentage of their value. Not so. What if you do hit something? he says. Buckley dismisses the fear of forward-facing props. The performance numbers on the IPS are slightly better. The transmission and steering units are quite robust and I dont expect any serviceability issues from them. Definitely good value for the price and performance these offer. Most pod boats burn roughly the same per mile through a wide range of cruising speeds; conventional shaft boats typically have a narrow sweet spot. Neither Health Canada nor the FDA have evaluated the vaporizers, blends and/or statements displayed on this website. Its docking. Look for signs of corrosion. Zeus has two zincs attached to each trim tab. For people who have been boating for 30 years, the quiet, smooth operation and the clean exhaust are really going to surprise them., But Collins thinks the pods advantages are even less quantifiable. I liked the ZF right away. 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. (Stranded in Guaymas, Mexico, I watched a guy true up a dinged prop using just a single jack and anvil. A very hard grounding is also likely to cost less with pods, since theyre meant to shear off and then go right back onto the boat with just a thorough service and new bolts. Discussion in 'Engines' started by JamCruiser, Jun 20, 2020. To use this website and make a purchase on this website: www.zeusarsenal.com, you both acknowledge and agree to follow our Terms of Use. Not cool to open two threads on similar subjects, yup, definitely my bad, rookie mistake, thought I was posting in the forum the first time around. Part of that comes as a side effect to the benefits of the props angle of attack. We had a few bugs in my first IPS boat. The most remarkable performance advantage was one that sent every propulsion and boatbuilding engineer to the drawing board to imitate: the joystick control system. Most pods also require periodic removal and inspection of prop sets and seals, and re-greasing of the propshaftsfigure $250 per . On the other hand, touching bottom only hard enough to bend the propellers will likely cost more on pods, because they have two props to repair on each drive. Add to Cart. Volvos Active Corrosion System, which is standard on IPS 800 or larger drives, is similar. 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. To me the unit as a whole is way to complex than it needs to be. The boat never missed a beat, much to Pareds elation. Controlling wind, waves and current. And once the numbers are crunched, are pods worth it? Better fuel efficiency? Eager to fish with them, I was along with Ed Szilagyi, then Volvos boatbuilder installation liaison and company captain, on that same Tiara demo. lost surfboards santa cruz. 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. Volvo has one zinc hidden, but accessible, on the drive itself. By turning pods in opposite directions and running one in forward and one in reverse, the vessel can be pivoted more quickly and easily than in either outboards or inboards. Like was said before I mirror there thoughts. Sensors and things like that. The pods synthetic oil is dark, making it hard to see the telltale oil discoloration of a slipping transmission, but it will likely have a burnt smell. I'm concerned that I won't be able to get my hands on a replacement drive if one were to sheer off 5-7 years from now. The Zeus ArcPods are the convenient method of preparing, loading, and transporting your dry herb for use with your Zeus Arc GTS or Arc S vaporizer. One described his skepticism like this: Its just too good to be true. The counter-rotating propellers and large rubber grommets the engine is mounted on means reduced vibration and engine noise. Our mentality could be considered the opposite of todays kids in relation to new technology. Its like a carnival ride. Yes they are neat and intriguing as to handling, fuel economy and socialability but all at the price of a steep servicing regiment, a potential for high costs and high stress trying to get the proper qualified servicing or repairs and more computer technology to troubleshoot and stay on top of as to firmware updates, gremlins, etc. The counter-rotating propellers and large rubber grommets the engine is mounted on means reduced vibration and engine noise. In many ways, fishermen a nongendered term that embraces both sexes trust what weve learned over decades of personal experience and the experience of our mentors. That gives customers a stronger comfort level than an offshore service hotline.. All with a simple push or twist of the joystick. I worked on a boat with Zeus pods for about three years. is ryan bingham related to ken curtis. Okay, the motors cost about $80,000 and $90,000, respectively. Docking is super easy with joy stick controls. Hes also found them to be extremely reliable. Four different fluids just to service them. However, the patent on forward-facing props a feature that Volvo Penta claims gives its drives better traction by letting the broad blades and narrow hubs of their counter-rotating props turn in clean water well below the surface was not utilized. The problem vs. Volvo is that the Zeus Cummins combinations are limited by Cummins engine sizes and that limits them on larger boats. Petzold uses Propspeed, or some other antifouling paint formulated for underwater metals. Todd Anderson recently ran a 50 Viking powered by ZF 4000 pods. 2023 Active Interest Media All Rights Reserved. A Bonnier LLC Company. Seaboard Marine delivers Guaranteed Better Than Factory Performance, Parts, Design, and Engineering for Cummins and other Marine Diesel applications. 2023 Active Interest Media All Rights Reserved. The sport-fishing world has seen builders such as Spencer and Winter Custom Yachts introduce several pod boats. Some really nice high tech features that most will never use.