The pods require yearly maint that is beyond what regular trans, shaft and prop systems require. Inboards require sacrificial-anode replacement, prop adjustment, cutless bearing repair, shaft alignment, and a method of controlling marine growth. For a ballpark number, Im deferring to a well-researched article written by our late friend, Capt. Zeus ArcPods - The 3rd Generation of Vaporizers is Here! Just add a bracket and bolt them on, install the digital controls and joystick and youre set. We created Lids for you to reuse your Aluminum ArcPods. 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. You can also reach us at +1 (833) ZF WRENCH. Unless you get the boat at a knock-down price, I mean really low, I wouldn't touch one without a full service history or a late model. 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. Volvo Penta has 16,000 pod-drive boats in the marketplace right now. But this was a first for the recreational segment of the marine industry, and there was a lot of buzz and excitement. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. are zeus pods still being manufactured - quantashares.com I liked the ZF right away. Shafts, Props and a good ole thruster or 2 can have you handling your boat like a POD boat. 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. For more information and/or quote, please complete the contact form below. But pod-drive engines use counter-rotating props. We may request cookies to be set on your device. This takes the stress out of dealing with any warranty concerns, if your unit is covered by our Hassle-Free Warranty and has an issue, do not hesitate to contact our customer sales team. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Siebert removes all loose paint from the drive, sanding down to shiny metal with 100-grit sandpaper, and then applies primer and two thin coats of Trilux 33 or Pettit Vivid copper thiocyanate anti-fouling paint. Are the Zeus drives still being produced today? 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 not many boat owners ponied up the cash to switch to pods. That said, I have heard good things. That boat was an agile-handling rig for sure. Make sure theyre specifically trained, or at least have several years of experience, Siebert said. Months later, Mercruiser and Cummins joined forces to deliver Zeus pod-drives to boaters. Whats going on here? To me the unit as a whole is way to complex than it needs to be. are zeus pods still being manufactured - ouseagencia.com Cleaning also maximizes efficiency of the pods contrarotating propellers. Eager to fish with them, I was along with Ed Szilagyi, then Volvos boatbuilder installation liaison and company captain, on that same Tiara demo. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. However, I think the best application I have run to date was a 39-foot SeaVee with pod-drives. 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. Pod access aboard the Riviera 43 is through the cockpit sole. . 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. Theres no free lunch, so there must be a hidden cost that no ones factored in.. Here at TVAPE we offer free shipping on every order above $100.00 inside Canada and USA. Phone: 1-844-858-8273 Email: [emailprotected].com. The sport-fishing world has seen builders such as Spencer and Winter Custom Yachts introduce several pod boats. In standard shaft and prop boats, props lose their bite in close-quarters maneuvering, Smith says. At Volvo Pentas IPS rollout in Mallorca de Palma, identical inboard and pod-drive boats were pitted against each other. For more information and/or quote, please complete the contact form below. Four different fluids just to service them. 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 vessels electronics, propulsion and onboard systems. 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. Its also important to monitor for seawater dripping onto drives. 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. Its hard to tell if sport fishermen will take to it. I liked the idea of being able to handle the boat from the helm seat instead of standing up all the time. Today electronics are inextricably entwined with every aspect of our lives, and whether its commercial jet engines, cars, home appliances, or chartplotters, we expect and receive virtually bulletproof reliability. 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. are zeus pods still being manufactured - diamondalmirah.in The maneuverability of the boat is what sells it, especially in close quarters, he says. You get a little cavitation but nothing close to the noise from shaft-drives, he says. Zeus Pods | Sabre Yachts Hes also found them to be extremely reliable. Savings on a long haul might disappear when slowing to navigate a tricky channel or speeding up to avoid a storm. are zeus pods still being manufactured. I did some work on them but really didnt have the time to become efficient. I want to comment on how well Mercury backs their products. We back it up with a concierge service. Lets have a look. 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. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. With quad outboards, Id get about 0.7 miles per gallon. That said, the pods are a bit more in annual maintenance. Sabre seems to be moving more and more towards the IPS units over Cummins especially since Cummins and Mercury parted paths several years ago (both still support Zeus drives). Pods run quieter, cleaner, and more efficiently than traditional props. And there are computer-controlled, straight-shaft systems that can juggle shifts, throttles, and a thruster or thrusters with a joystick, too, using traditional split-shift techniques. 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. The pod-drive boats were clearly more maneuverable and accelerated more quickly than strut, shaft and -prop-drive inboards. Over time, fishing line will damage the seal, and it can score the shaft, too. (See How Fuel-Efficient Are Pods, Exactly?) The biggest savings might come when the pods aft-located engines add interior accommodations. A Valid Government issued Identification is required to receive product. Pod Drives - Siebert Yacht Management Fuel savings can be weighed against additional maintenance, but economy varies with each boat and depends on how its used. 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. Corrosion can cause expensive damage, and quickly, too. And the Zeus pods also came with a joystick. I worked on a boat with Zeus pods for about three years. I am looking for a larger boat in the same size range as you. Over the years, Ive found online forums to be some of the most ready places for first-hand accounts of engine-related problems. Most pods also require periodic removal and inspection of prop sets and seals, and re-greasing of the propshaftsfigure $250 per pod. Some could be rotated 180 degrees and run adequately facing either fore or aft. The lids are essential and for one-time use only. Were still trying to sort through the answer to that one. But, the lids. ZF Marine entered the pod fray when its exclusivity agreement with Zeus expired. Dont compare them to stern drives. There arent many external mechanicals, no rubber bellows or other components to fail, he added. Running the boat for too long on break-in oil can shorten the life of the pods innards. With its forward-facing counter-rotating propellers, Volvos IPS pod-drive is a unique system. That gives customers a stronger comfort level than an offshore service hotline.. And once the numbers are crunched, are pods worth it? Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Richard Thiel, in February 2014. Take the props off, grease the shafts, and check the seals, Fessenden said. But its also highly dependent on the application of the vessel. 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 pods combine transmission, steering, and propulsion that would otherwise entail separate trans, shaft/prop, thrusters, and rudders. Outboards give you the pod advantage, but without the esoteric technology. 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. 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. 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. Robin Buckley captains a SeeVee 39 with IPS 600s, named Kimbuktu. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. But how do you compare boats? 2023 Active Interest Media All Rights Reserved. The tank has a 24mm diameter (0.94 inches) and measures 50.5mm tall (2 inches tall). Dont cheap out on anodes, Petzold advised. If water is suspected inside any pod, get a mechanic aboard right away or risk internal damage. Pods also expand morning fluid checks to include the lazarette. Theoretically. are zeus pods still being manufactured - xarxacatala.cat So how big is the pod market? 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. Zeus offers dramatically improved high-speed handling and delivers up to: 30% improved fuel economy 15% faster cruise speed Zeus Transmissions are available at ZF Marine! Maybe.) 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. In the past decade, high-tech pod drives have changed the face of powerboating, and for the better. What if you do hit something? he says. Zeus and ZF have only a few thousand pods in use. Featuring a patented design that provides the simplest solution for vaping on the go with your Zeus 3rd generation vaporizer. It might save the cost of a divorce on cruelty-while-docking grounds, too, a way bigger budget-breaker than pod drives. Yes, BM, thanks for all the info and posting your actual experiences always adds a lot of value to any discussion. Its a whole new world of boathandling out there, one all of us can enjoy. The vaporizers displayed on this website are not intended for or made to prevent, treat or diagnose any illness. Change the fluids annually, or every 250 hours of operation. Some had forward-facing propellers. More interior room? Wouldnt accommodations be the more relevant yardstick? In that case, its not the pod; its our joystick-maneuvering system that does this, and we offer a joystick in a traditional shaft boat. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. If the outer seal is damaged by debris, fishing line or rope, only the inner seal separates the pods innards from seawater. Use of Cookies: ZF Friedrichshafen AG uses cookies to continuously improve the website and optimize its design. 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. Pods, on the other hand, need annual TLC, and this means skilled work. Watch on Description Patented and designed for use with 3rd generation vaporizers such as the Zeus Arc GTS and Arc S, Zeus ArcPods make it easier and more convenient than ever to take your vaporizer and herb with you. pathfinder kingmaker river's justice . I had seen massive tugboats using a similar pod-drive system for their tight-quarters work, pushing huge container ships into the wharf. For nearly a decade, pod propulsion looked like it would render inboards obsolete. Spencer Yachts was one of the first to embrace pod-drives, including Volvo Pentas IPS and ZF Marines pod-drive system with Caterpillar engines. As one broker told me, Its like automatic transmissions. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. Each pod turns independently of the other, giving remarkable maneuverability. 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. Zeus ArcPods (Triple Pack) - Pod Power | Zeus 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. Looking at other online sources, people seem to be in Love or Hate camps.what are the facts please? The 390 with Volvo 600 IPS drives was absolutely one of the most fun and outrageous-performing boats I have ever driven. 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. (Its not a bad idea to do the sameminus the sealsfor inboards.). Also, you dont know how often the shaft seals will need replacement. Both throttle and steering. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. On the other hand, pod boats typically dont have bow thrusters. Are Pod Drives Dead? | Marlin Magazine Obviously, you have run over fish to get a bite, but we proved that pod-drives were no fearsome thing. Finger pointing is worse in any situation when it is out of warranty, then you are left on a deserted island. 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. is ryan bingham related to ken curtis. You get similar handling advantages to pods, but with less maintenanceand its easy to find a mechanic certified on Yamaha, Evinrude, Mercury, and other brands. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Nevertheless, pods are making inroads. Check them just like you check zincs on a shaft, Petzold said: Swim down and have a look. With a shaft and strut inboard, you can pretty much pull up to any marina in the world and get it serviced. "Cummins says you don't 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. Using a ZF transmission, it could mate any marine engine (Yanmar and Caterpillar have been popular partners) to its pods. Its docking. That could make billing a fish tough if you have to strain to reach the water. Our mentality could be considered the opposite of todays kids in relation to new technology. vs. 0.8 nmg pods @ 16.2 kts.). We backed around and spun both ways with speed I have only seen once or twice before. And maneuverabilitywell, any good sportfishing captain can put his ride wherever he wantswithout a joystick. Initially, I too was surprised at the lack of trained techs in my area but once I realized you can use Mercury techs that have been to Mercury Diesel school, more options opened up. 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. Only thing is, outboards burn gas, and more of it than diesels of similar power. 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. The props themselves are patented. 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. We had a few bugs in my first IPS boat. Zeus Pod Drive Transmissions. The company didnt invent them, but it made pod a household word among boaters. Nor did I want to. The biggest fear boaters have is not about running out in the open water. Pods are more prevalent in the pleasure-yacht category than in sport fishing. 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. ZF 63A with 4BT, flywheel torsion coupler issue??? 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. Most yards will repaint a pod for $300. When a 42-foot pod boat can replace a 46-footer, savings add up fast. Some captains claim that the pods are too tall, requiring a higher deck to cover them. If you dont like the look of outboards, hide em, like Pursuit does in its SC 365i Sport Coupe, with twin outboards concealed by a transom hatch. Many boatbuilders have installed Zeus in existing designs as we did with the Sabre 42 Express. You dont have to redesign it to get our joystick maneuvering system. That means a haulout to remove the break-in lube and replace it with the normal lubricant. 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. Read the owners manual.) All diesels need TLC, but pod systems need a bit more. 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. But conventional wisdom no longer applies. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. After that, it wasnt up for discussion any longer: The marlin didnt mind the pods at all. 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). 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. The engines are in their normal spot, but then you jackshaft to pods, so you lose space in the lazarette, he says. Mercury Zeus Pod VS Volvo Penta IPS VS Cummins Zeus System I have a 2013 Sabre 42 with the Cummins/Zeus pod units. 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. The 42 Convertible is up to Hull number 10 but we are up to 36 hulls for the Open version, he says. Outboards are, in my opinion, the most interesting. are zeus pods still being manufactured Pods are robust.. Our best guess is it will take a significant chunk of the market. Here are both performance charts. 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. Outboards are easy. There are a lot of traditionalists in that market.. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Some really nice high tech features that most will never use. Theyre a whole different animal, Siebert said. Best of the old and the new.maybe. Weight kills the speed on pod-drives, compared to shaft-drives, Smith says. Somewhere in between the cost of straightening conventional shafts and rudders, and possibly even repairing transmissions, the advantage shifts back to pods. The biggest difference between IPS's and Zeus pods is the position of the propeller. With no compromise on taste or experience, as well as Zeus' guarantee that all liquids are mixed, tested and approved in the UK, the new disposable pod will carry users from A-Z of their vaping journey knowing that the premium flavour will not fade, fault or fail on the road to being smoke free. When you put a pod system in, you try to do more with less.. Thats opened up more opportunities and options for OEMS.. 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. Pods are something new, he said. Cummins Zeus Pod Drive System for Recreational Marine All up, pod owners can expect to pony up something like an additional $2,500 for scheduled maintenance. Featuring a patented design that provides the simplest solution for vaping on the go with your Zeus 3rd generation vaporizer. The transom stays clean and nobody is complaining of fumes.. Click on the different category headings to find out more. The aft placement of pods has added to usable space on board. But the rest? Zeus Arc GTS Hub Review - The Third Generation of the Arc Discussion in 'Engines' started by JamCruiser, Jun 20, 2020. All rights reserved. ZF also built far larger pods that could handle far more horsepower. Your are officially the first one to publish 4o% percent efficiency benefits for pods. There support network is much better and to me is a better product. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Vessel Systems Considerations for Marine Repower, ZF Marine Propulsion Systems Miramar, LLC. Also demanding periodic attention are hydraulic steering, transmission, and lower-unit oils. Like most everything, making the decision to go conventional or pod is a personal choice. Simply pop in a pod and enjoy your herbs. Yet the pod makers are quickly closing that gap, and captains who have run them for several years indicate that the reliability has been very good. 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. (Stranded in Guaymas, Mexico, I watched a guy true up a dinged prop using just a single jack and anvil. But then outboards are more powerful and more economical than ever. Volvo Pentas IPS drive features patented forward-facing props, which lets them bite into clean water. Internal bonding issue and corrosion and a bunch of internal parts had to be changed. Copyright 2023 Marlin Magazine. Volvo includes neither a water alarm nor a clear reservoir, so check the single transmission and gear oil dipstick for signs of water. 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. Add to Cart. A little cheaper because it was in SoCal. And if they dont want them, I cant talk them into it.. The performance numbers on the IPS are slightly better. To get a good hole shot, Zeus countered with automatic trim tabs and matched the pods with tunnels to reduce draft. 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. We only go around once anyway, so pay the money, grab the joystick, and have some angst-free enjoyment. 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