Most new boats developed in the 35- to 45-foot class were pods. Another benefit comes from counter-rotating props on the pods. 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. But conventional wisdom no longer applies. I had one of the first triple-outboard SeeVees made, but I was sick of buying the gas, and Ariel was gonna try the IPS. Months later, Mercruiser and Cummins joined forces to deliver Zeus pod-drives to boaters. ZF also built far larger pods that could handle far more horsepower. In the past decade, high-tech pod drives have changed the face of powerboating, and for the better. You get a little cavitation but nothing close to the noise from shaft-drives, he says. I had seen massive tugboats using a similar pod-drive system for their tight-quarters work, pushing huge container ships into the wharf. But not many boat owners ponied up the cash to switch to pods. Pods are comprised of some very costly components, but theoretically, their modular design should yield some countervailing savings in labor costs. 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 . I worked on a boat with Zeus pods for about three years. Zeus service includes changing 0w30 SAE transmission oil, hydraulic steering oil and filters inside the hull as well as 90-weight gear oil outside the hull. Are there particular production years that performed better than others. Richard estimated an average annual cost of about $2,500 for scheduled maintenance on twin pod drives. To get a good hole shot, Zeus countered with automatic trim tabs and matched the pods with tunnels to reduce draft. Thats the biggest attraction and why [pods] gained acceptance among a lot of enthusiasts, who wanted a certain size of vessel and want to move from a 28 to a 34 to 40 but were not comfortable with maneuvering inboard boats. 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. Comparing the Sabre 42 Hardtop Express, one with pods and one with shafts: At wide-open throttle, the pods horizontal thrust and contrarotating propellers increase economy (0.8 nmg for pods, 0.63 nmg shafts). And if you have to ask about price, you really dont need one. 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. However, the 48 Fly is offered with the engine you mention or with the IPS 700. They have shafts, they have props, and they can get more if they need them. There support network is much better and to me is a better product. Can anyone speak to when there were evolutionary changes in the Zeus pods? I am on the East Coast. 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. Ill bet everyone whos read this far is asking, How much does all this cost? Maintaining pods is a lot more involved than maintaining conventional running gear, and therefore more expensive. Featuring a patented design that provides the simplest solution for vaping on the go with your Zeus 3rd generation vaporizer. Hang around a boatyard, and youll hear at least one horror story about some unfortunate soul who was stranded, or worse, because his pods failed. Whats going on here? It might save the cost of a divorce on cruelty-while-docking grounds, too, a way bigger budget-breaker than pod drives. Ask to see the service records for the boats first year. Weve been serving local Ventura County, California since 1980 as a custom boat builder, repower specialist, designer, and supplier of equipment to builders, commercial fishermen, and recreational users. A failed shaft seal lets water into the pod, with unfortunate and expensive results. Sabre Yachts, for example, first offered pods in 2008 as an option over straight shafts in the 42-foot express cruiser. Their hull speed is usually 8 to 10 knots, and the power and efficiency of pods dont kick in there much, even though they benefit from the added maneuverability, less vibration and less smoke. ArcPods were made to be reliable and convenient, allowing you to pre-pack up to 0.3 grams of dry herb in each capsule using the Xtruder. Its fun. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. The counter-rotating propellers and large rubber grommets the engine is mounted on means reduced vibration and engine noise. You need go no farther than your marina to hear a list of suspects. All rights reserved. Definitely good value for the price and performance these offer. No thrusters are required, saving more cash. Using a ZF transmission, it could mate any marine engine (Yanmar and Caterpillar have been popular partners) to its pods. But then outboards are more powerful and more economical than ever. Running the boat for too long on break-in oil can shorten the life of the pods innards. The pod version of the 42 Sabre, for instance, adds a queen bed and more stowage to the guest stateroom, as well as the option for a washer and dryer. Change the fluids annually, or every 250 hours of operation. A Bonnier LLC Company. Okay, the last bit is trueas if running over a submerged jetty or grounding hard on a shell bank wouldnt damage conventional props. All my personal experience to date is with 6BTA 370s in a conventional shaft drive arrangement. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Disappointing, but then again whens the last time you worked on your car? Volvo uses SAE 75w140 oil for both the transmission and lower unit. SeaVee no longer builds inboard boats, but that was a neat one. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. We recommend consulting with a licensed physician before using a vaporizer. Oh, and if youre a do-it-yourselfer, youll discover that a lot of pod maintenance requires specialized tools and training. Martin Meissner of ZF Marine says engine makers still dont have a handle on the potential volume. Its like a carnival ride. On the Cummins side, only two Cummins dealers on the Chesapeake have been to Pod school. Its docking. Pods, on the other hand, need annual TLC, and this means skilled work. The bottom line is, while pods are difficult or in many cases impossible to retrofit, the boat really has to be designed for the pod from the beginning, although some V- and stern-drive boats can handle pods, too. They tasked ZF Marine to bring them a transmission that would mate with their Zeus pod, electronic controls and joystick steering. Then forward-thinking builders (Tiara, Cruisers, Regal, and Sabre among them) redesigned their boats for pod power and the technology became mainstream. Vessel Systems Considerations for Marine Repower, ZF Marine Propulsion Systems Miramar, LLC. One benefit of pod drives is joystick maneuverability. Cummins Marine Diesel Repower Specialists Forums Cummins Marine Engines Zeus Pods: Good, Bad, Ugly?? Robin Buckley captains a SeeVee 39 with IPS 600s, named Kimbuktu. Most pods also require periodic removal and inspection of prop sets and seals, and re-greasing of the propshaftsfigure $250 per . 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. That smooths out some of the minor gear asperities and grinding marks, improving the life of the gears. After break-in, pods are serviced every 250 hours or 12 months, whichever occurs first. 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. The bill to undo the resulting carnage came to $46,000, a figure that couldnt have been much worse if pods had been involved.). 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. Not so. Great Product. 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). But now thats all gone away. Volvo Pentas IPS drive features patented forward-facing props, which lets them bite into clean water. If the outer seal is damaged by debris, fishing line or rope, only the inner seal separates the pods innards from seawater. 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? 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. We get a lot of oyster growth inside the drive intakes, Siebert said. Pods are more prevalent in the pleasure-yacht category than in sport fishing. 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. We created Lids for you to reuse your Aluminum ArcPods. Best of the old and the new.maybe. The downside is pod drives are way more complex than conventional propulsion systems; consequently, pod-powered boats cost more to buy and maintain. But its also highly dependent on the application of the vessel. Because they operate independently, pod-drives can be controlled via joystick for superb maneuverability. Use of Cookies: ZF Friedrichshafen AG uses cookies to continuously improve the website and optimize its design. At first no one trusted them; now you can hardly sell a car without one.. Draining removes almost all of the dirty oil, while a pump often leaves too much behind. Zeus Pod Drive Transmissions. A Valid Government issued Identification is required to receive product. Anderson acknowledges that pods have advantages in some areas and disadvantages in others. Look for signs of corrosion. Zeus has two zincs attached to each trim tab. Its like a orange and all they work on is apples. We didnt have to touch it until we got back to San Diego.). Like most everything, making the decision to go conventional or pod is a personal choice. In sum, with todays technology, the best combination might be a shaft boat, bow and stern thrusters, and the Cummins power plant with electronic joy stick controls. After that, it wasnt up for discussion any longer: The marlin didnt mind the pods at all. You can also reach us at +1 (833) ZF WRENCH. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. Pods also increase fuel economy and decrease vibration. For those first 25 hours, we use a break-in lube, said David Fessenden, a marine applications engineer with Cummins Atlantic. Cummins uses aluminum-gallium anodes to best protect bronze drives. I can do a 180 in about a second and a half. Some captains claim that the pods are too tall, requiring a higher deck to cover them. Around here most mercury dealers wont take it on. Petzold uses Propspeed, or some other antifouling paint formulated for underwater metals. (And when the struts rip out, they can take parts of the hull with them, something that probably wont happen with pods.) Using a ZF transmission, it could mate any marine engine (Yanmar and Caterpillar have been popular partners) to its pods. Simply pop in a pod and enjoy your herbs. While builders debated the benefits of the different pod designs, many new boaters were simply seduced by the joystick maneuvering system. Over time, fishing line will damage the seal, and it can score the shaft, too. These come with various engine configurations but commonly, with QSB 425s which can be either shaft-drive or Zeus pods. FREE shipping on orders of $100.00 and above. 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. Interestingly, the most notable early prop-forward applications were in ice-breaking ships launched in 1990 an interesting defense to the argument that forward-facing props were too vulnerable to debris. How much of the additional initial cost will you get back at trade-in time? I agree with Rob. The 390 with Volvo 600 IPS drives was absolutely one of the most fun and outrageous-performing boats I have ever driven. What does a shaft-type propulsion system really need? 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. Much more service options down there. Zeus ArcPods are finally here! But how much more, and how complex is pod maintenance? The drive can be simultaneously connected to electric propulsion too. are zeus pods still being manufactured. The biggest thing marketed to promote the system was its efficiency compared to a regular shaft and prop system, as well as joystick maneuverability. Zincs every year, costing a few bucks, a new Cutless bearing every once in a while, and a couple of brushfuls of paint for the struts and rudders. Internal bonding issue and corrosion and a bunch of internal parts had to be changed. Review Images (jpg, jpeg, png) Max 3MB file size allowed. 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. Savings on a long haul might disappear when slowing to navigate a tricky channel or speeding up to avoid a storm. Like was said before I mirror there thoughts. In addition, I enjoy the added efficiencies Tony mentions above. 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. Eager to fish with them, I was along with Ed Szilagyi, then Volvos boatbuilder installation liaison and company captain, on that same Tiara demo. Here are both performance charts. Copyright 2023 Marlin Magazine. Fortunately the 42 Express cockpit is well laid out for Zeus . When you put a pod system in, you try to do more with less.. Goes without saying: Its got ZF Smart Command 5000 drive-by-wire. Looking at other online sources, people seem to be in Love or Hate camps.what are the facts please? If one engine vibrates but the other doesnt while in neutral, the problem is likely in the always-turning jack shaft. Oh boy, the lids. How to Manage Boat Finances During a Recession, Gamefisherman 43 Express on the Drawing Board, Marlin Expeditions Offers Light-Tackle Paradise in Guatemala. Simply pop in a pod and enjoy your herbs. Its also hard to put a price on joystick control, which completely changes dockside handling. 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. The pod-drives gave us the ability to manage the narrow locks and small marinas along that route without a bow thruster. Fifty dollars per prop should do it. Ill be limiting my search to non-pod models going forward. 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. But tick them off and its hard not to conclude that the trend is undeniable: More boaters prefer them every year, and while theyll never completely replace inboards, they are the future of boating. Sorry, but as an ex-Cummins and Merc dealer, I've lost all faith in the Zeus system. Thats the environment marine propulsion engineers entered when they envisioned a new pod-drive system, a form of propulsion for boats that could change the way anglers pursue big game. Its more maneuverable than an outboard, and you dont have any engines on the back.. With it, fingertip operation of any vessel became possible. Use Volvo or Cummins zincs too, which arent zinc at all. And joystick piloting? Todd Anderson recently ran a 50 Viking powered by ZF 4000 pods. Zeus propeller shafts use a double-lip seal. With the pods, there is only a very slight, nearly unnoticeable change in the amount of flavor in the vapor, but it's a very small trade-off for the level of convenience that they deliver. In fact, shafts and struts have been driven through the hull by groundings and collisions with floating debris. Nevertheless, pods are making inroads. Most pods also require periodic removal and inspection of prop sets and seals, and re-greasing of the propshaftsfigure $250 per pod. The first American company to install the Volvo Penta Inboard Performance System was actually Tiara. 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. ZFs pod-drive includes a jackshafted transmission, which can mate to any diesel engine the owner prefers. With quad outboards, Id get about 0.7 miles per gallon. Great contribution Blue Magnolia..that rings true and honest. 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. Zeus allows for simple control o. The downside is that a boat with less horsepower is more easily burdened by loading the boat. We do a lot of high-speed trolling for wahoo at around 16 knots, and all the exhaust is under the water, so you dont smell diesel fumes.. cable tension calculator; neptune east coast reservation. are zeus pods still being manufactured. First, hull efficiency was enhanced, because the props were always aligned with the direction of motion in the boat. I am looking for one that has been treated well and run as close to the ideal as possible. And, if you preferred to stand, Viking built the helm so you could control the pods with traditional dual levers.. Will Pod-Drives Overtake Conventional Shafts and Struts? I was surprised by how light and long lasting these were. Plus, when we haul the boat, well catch problems a diver wont see.. In the past decade, high-tech pod drives have changed the face of powerboating, and for the better. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. I can do that on 200 gallons. And the Zeus pods also came with a joystick. That said, I have heard good things. No more packing on the go, just pop in and enjoy. (Volvo Penta soon followed suit.) And the Zeus pods also came with a joystick. Many boatbuilders have installed Zeus in existing designs as we did with the Sabre 42 Express. ZF also added a trick that has less validity in the United States than in the European Union; ZF pods can be mated with both electric and diesel motors simultaneously, allowing them to run on electricity to meet the European Unions emissions standards when in port. I simulated backing through a slalom course in reverse, moving faster than any angler could ever gain line. I love these things, they are super convenient to load, insert, and clean. Arrogant factory leadership, poor parts fill, and high parts prices scared me off. 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. Four different fluids just to service them. 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. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. And what of resale? 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. The counter-rotating propellers and large rubber grommets the engine is mounted on means reduced vibration and engine noise. The ZS-3000 is Snell M2005 certified in the small shell size (XS to M). Trawlers dont benefit much from pods. All told, figure $500 per engine annually, plus haul-out fees. The boat had a set of outriggers, and fishing out of Beaufort, North Carolina, we caught the first billfish ever with an IPS drive system.
2 Family House For Sale In Nutley, Nj, Michael Gardner Headliner Net Worth, Articles A