I am on the East Coast. The transmission and steering units are quite robust and I dont expect any serviceability issues from them. 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. KISS Keep It Simple Sailor. Zeus Transmissions are available at ZF Marine! If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. Here at TVAPE we offer free shipping on every order above $100.00 inside Canada and USA. $44 MediaLight Mk2 Flex 4m D65 6500CRI98 Bias Lighting USB powered ComputersTablets & Networking Laptop & Desktop Accessories USB Lights & Gadgets There is definitely more maintenance with pods, said John Siebert. Still, many boaters werent convinced. Youre going to ruin more with a straight shaft than with IPS.. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. 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.). Okay, the motors cost about $80,000 and $90,000, respectively. ZF 63A with 4BT, flywheel torsion coupler issue??? Naval architects have also gotten better at maximizing the efficiencies of pods at all speeds. The sport-fishing world has seen builders such as Spencer and Winter Custom Yachts introduce several pod boats. For more information and/or quote, please complete the contact form below. 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. 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. 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. The inboard has simplicity and ubiquity. The Zeus system propellers are on the back of the pods, as opposed to the Volvo IPS, which are on the front. Zeus Pod Drive Transmissions. Click on the different category headings to find out more. Especially if you plan on going on extended trips Pretty much wherever you ventured you would have always found someone to get you out of trouble with your 6BTA 370s and conventional drive line but if things go wrong your odds of getting the help you need and having anything left in your wallet (or hairs left in your head) could be less than favorable. Thats a hard question to answer, due to the past 15 months, Meissner says, referring to the economic recession. Spencer Yachts builds an 87-footer with ZF pods, and Smith was integral to the development process. 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. Units that under our Hassle-Free Warranty program are covered directly by TVAPE and do not require you to deal directly with the manufacturer. Savings on a long haul might disappear when slowing to navigate a tricky channel or speeding up to avoid a storm. Theoretically. how to say hello we are blackpink in korean; hawaii energy issues. To me the unit as a whole is way to complex than it needs to be. The counter-rotating propellers and large rubber grommets the engine is mounted on means reduced vibration and engine noise. 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Then realized it was a conversation which I figured was private so I reposted here. Today, pod-powered boats are common in any yacht yard, and qualified service and repair technicians are easy to find along the waterfront. First, hull efficiency was enhanced, because the props were always aligned with the direction of motion in the boat. 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. 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. 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. Part of that comes as a side effect to the benefits of the props angle of attack. 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. Its also important to monitor for seawater dripping onto drives. Definitely good value for the price and performance these offer. Its hard to tell if sport fishermen will take to it. When checking transmission oil level, give it a sniff. When Volvo Penta took the industry by surprise with the IPS, it had patented the forward-facing counter-rotating propellers, patented new propellers for the design and also sent the exhaust out the back of the pod, not through the hub of the props. Yes, you need to be concerned about steering and propulsion fluids (lower unit) but you are not dealing with shaft irregularities, cutlass bearing maintenance, and thruster maintenance. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. We only go around once anyway, so pay the money, grab the joystick, and have some angst-free enjoyment. Richard Thiel, in February 2014. pathfinder kingmaker river's justice . It gets all the bubbles out of the wake, he says. 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. 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 . Better fuel efficiency? With quad outboards, Id get about 0.7 miles per gallon. But the rest? Cummins uses aluminum-gallium anodes to best protect bronze drives. The drive can be simultaneously connected to electric propulsion too. But how much more, and how complex is pod maintenance? But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. Zeus offers dramatically improved high-speed handling and delivers up to: 30% improved fuel economy 15% faster cruise speed Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. And maneuverabilitywell, any good sportfishing captain can put his ride wherever he wantswithout a joystick. 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. We raised several white marlin, and caught a couple for our junior anglers that were fishing with us for the day. Pods are more prevalent in the pleasure-yacht category than in sport fishing. One issue that early pod adopters discovered, usually to their financial surprise, was the necessity of checking the shaft seals regularly, and replacing them on a scheduled basisevery five years is about right for most folks. 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 was surprised by how light and long lasting these were. Pod access aboard the Riviera 43 is through the cockpit sole. Siebert prefers Boeshield T-9. The tank has a 24mm diameter (0.94 inches) and measures 50.5mm tall (2 inches tall). Like most everything, making the decision to go conventional or pod is a personal choice. Pods, on the other hand, need annual TLC, and this means skilled work. In the beginning of pod development, there was a huge surge of interest. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. Plan on replacing the anodes at least annually, using the correct alloy: Most pods use aluminum anodes, not zinc. A Bonnier LLC Company. For more information and/or quote, please complete the contact form below. The biggest thing marketed to promote the system was its efficiency compared to a regular shaft and prop system, as well as joystick maneuverability. Viking offers four versions of its 42, all with pods, and according to company director of communications Peter Frederiksen, they sell well. However, I think the best application I have run to date was a 39-foot SeaVee with pod-drives. How to Manage Boat Finances During a Recession, Gamefisherman 43 Express on the Drawing Board, Marlin Expeditions Offers Light-Tackle Paradise in Guatemala. The downside is that a boat with less horsepower is more easily burdened by loading the boat. They also dont have cutlass bearings or shaft seals to monitor and replace, nor separate rudders and steering systems to maintain, saving money on those items over the long haul. So how big is the pod market? Exhaust fumes are emitted into the prop wash. 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.. Are the Zeus drives still being produced today? Its important to maintain good antifouling. Pods have water intakes, exhausts and other places that are inviting to marine critters, and keeping them out is important. The lids are essential and for one-time use only. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Not on the pods. 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. The biggest difference between IPS's and Zeus pods is the position of the propeller. 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. And if they dont want them, I cant talk them into it.. Zeus ArcPods are finally here! Weight kills the speed on pod-drives, compared to shaft-drives, Smith says. If one engine vibrates but the other doesnt while in neutral, the problem is likely in the always-turning jack shaft. Parts for them now have to go through mercury. Marlin Magazine may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. 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. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. Each pod turns independently of the other, giving remarkable maneuverability. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. Many boatbuilders have installed Zeus in existing designs as we did with the Sabre 42 Express. Zeus ArcPods Lid pack filled with 50 paper lids for the Zeus ArcPods (sold separately). Pods are comprised of some very costly components, but theoretically, their modular design should yield some countervailing savings in labor costs. Zeus Arsenal has always made only reliable, well-performing devices that go beyond just being the perfect daily driver. Bottom Line. 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. But not many boat owners ponied up the cash to switch to pods. Id guess none. 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? Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. 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. 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. Disappointing, but then again whens the last time you worked on your car? And if you have to ask about price, you really dont need one. The bill to undo the resulting carnage came to $46,000, a figure that couldnt have been much worse if pods had been involved.). Pods are something new, he said. 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. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Fashioned out of high quality aluminum, the Zeus ArcPods are designed to hold up to 0.3 grams of dry herb and work perfectly with the Zeus Xtruder which directly connects to, fills up, and automatically ejects the pod once the optimal amount of dry herb has been loaded. Its better to do it at haulout, when the oil can be drained by gravity, rather than sucking it out with a pump. But pods makers thought just a few years ago that one limiting factor of the pod market is speed. 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. Estimating the yearly cost isnt easy either, since yard rates vary and some pods need more upkeep than others. Thats not chump change, but neither is it likely to produce heart palpitations in the owner of a million-dollar vessel. As you will find by reading the articles on this forum about prop load and engine life, the resulting need to swap out your props with the Pods is expensive when compared to regular shafts and props. 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. 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. Use of Cookies: ZF Friedrichshafen AG uses cookies to continuously improve the website and optimize its design. Martin Meissner of ZF Marine says engine makers still dont have a handle on the potential volume. On the other hand, pod boats typically dont have bow thrusters. The pod-drive boats were clearly more maneuverable and accelerated more quickly than strut, shaft and -prop-drive inboards. Thats opened up more opportunities and options for OEMS.. Buckley dismisses the fear of forward-facing props. Also demanding periodic attention are hydraulic steering, transmission, and lower-unit oils. is ryan bingham related to ken curtis. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. If we have to go searching or put divers in the water, thats another story. To prevent later claims of piracy, come to an agreement beforehand, Little said. 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. (Volvo Penta soon followed suit.). JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. There are a lot of traditionalists in that market.. The 42 Convertible is up to Hull number 10 but we are up to 36 hulls for the Open version, he says. 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. Fortunately the 42 Express cockpit is well laid out for Zeus . Hes also got a lot of applications engineering in his background. 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. Over time, fishing line will damage the seal, and it can score the shaft, too. In standard shaft and prop boats, props lose their bite in close-quarters maneuvering, Smith says. Your are officially the first one to publish 4o% percent efficiency benefits for pods. The pod-drives gave us the ability to manage the narrow locks and small marinas along that route without a bow thruster. Our mentality could be considered the opposite of todays kids in relation to new technology. These come with various engine configurations but commonly, with QSB 425s which can be either shaft-drive or Zeus pods. ZF Marine entered the pod fray when its exclusivity agreement with Zeus expired. (And when the struts rip out, they can take parts of the hull with them, something that probably wont happen with pods.) I have a 2013 Sabre 42 with the Cummins/Zeus pod units. Phone: 1-844-858-8273 Email: [emailprotected].com. Pods also increase fuel economy and decrease vibration. Pull into any port in the world, and theres probably a guy there who can fix it. If you lose oil or get water in the lower unit, an alarm will sound before the problem becomes catastrophic, Fessenden said of Cummins drives. But who cares, really? Richard estimated an average annual cost of about $2,500 for scheduled maintenance on twin pod drives. The IPS-drives fit well in our boats, and our owners love their maneuverability, Pared says, and he has customers who can back up his word. 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. maritime ships for sale near vienna; octagon mirror feng shui; does zwift work with proform Capt. Volvo includes neither a water alarm nor a clear reservoir, so check the single transmission and gear oil dipstick for signs of water. By turning one engine pod at a sharper angle than the other in a turn, they could narrow its radius. Most pods also require periodic removal and inspection of prop sets and seals, and re-greasing of the propshaftsfigure $250 per . To start with, Zeus and IPS boats have to be hauled after their first 25 engine-hours. Also, you dont know how often the shaft seals will need replacement. 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. I want to comment on how well Mercury backs their products. That could make billing a fish tough if you have to strain to reach the water. 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. Just add a bracket and bolt them on, install the digital controls and joystick and youre set. 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 ZS-3000 is Snell M2005 certified in the small shell size (XS to M). Check them just like you check zincs on a shaft, Petzold said: Swim down and have a look. (Do the same with outboards and stern drives.) Ongoing maint costs and difficulty of changing/replacing props over time. (Stranded in Guaymas, Mexico, I watched a guy true up a dinged prop using just a single jack and anvil. 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. 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.