Oh boy, the lids. The transmission and steering units are quite robust and I dont expect any serviceability issues from them. Its like a carnival ride. Pods are more prevalent in the pleasure-yacht category than in sport fishing. Thats pretty good., Buckley also likes the IPS investment and isnt concerned about the sticker shock. He fished many tournaments with the boat, including the Mid-Atlantic at Cape May, the Pirates Cove tournament in North Carolina and several sailfish tournaments in south Florida. The result is a perfectly consistent amount of dry herb in each of your ArcPods each and every time, meaning you get the same great results with every session. 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. Cummins expert Rob Mirman gives an overview of the Cummins Zeus pod drive system at the 2013 Miami International Boat Show. So the fact that pod systems are loaded with electronics actually makes them less prone to failureand unfortunately an unfathomable mystery to most mechanics. Volvo uses only one oil, while Cummins uses three different ones in Zeus drives. While the maintenance schedule varies somewhat among pod builders, its essentially the same. Controlling wind, waves and current. 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. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. Still, many boaters werent convinced. We only go around once anyway, so pay the money, grab the joystick, and have some angst-free enjoyment. 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. In fact, shafts and struts have been driven through the hull by groundings and collisions with floating debris. I worked on a boat with Zeus pods for about three years. Its hard to tell if sport fishermen will take to it. 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. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. Then realized it was a conversation which I figured was private so I reposted here. Read the owners manual.) Look for signs of corrosion. Zeus has two zincs attached to each trim tab. When a 42-foot pod boat can replace a 46-footer, savings add up fast. The transom stays clean and nobody is complaining of fumes.. Thats opened up more opportunities and options for OEMS.. Theres no free lunch, so there must be a hidden cost that no ones factored in.. 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. We recommend consulting with a licensed physician before using a vaporizer. 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. Because they operate independently, pod-drives can be controlled via joystick for superb maneuverability. Its a whole new world of boathandling out there, one all of us can enjoy. Sensors and things like that. Most studies show that maximum rpm only accounts for about 10 percent of the total running cycle of most boats and engines. 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. I am liking the Searay 44 Sedan Bridge of the ~2009 vintage as those have QSC500s with conventional drives. 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.). Trawlers dont benefit much from pods. As one broker told me, Its like automatic transmissions. They have shafts, they have props, and they can get more if they need them. 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. Thats not chump change, but neither is it likely to produce heart palpitations in the owner of a million-dollar vessel. A couple of tanks of fuel? The owner of the boat spent almost 40k on the drives themselves and they were just under 8 years old. Drive Pirates Ill be limiting my search to non-pod models going forward. 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. Only thing is, outboards burn gas, and more of it than diesels of similar power. It gets all the bubbles out of the wake, he says. Obviously, you have run over fish to get a bite, but we proved that pod-drives were no fearsome thing. Not a lot of guys know pods yet. 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. I agree with Rob. Like long-distance cruisers, sportfishermen have been slow to accept pods, in this case not because of perceived deficiencies but rather a reluctance to try anything that might reduce chances of success. We are not early adopters. Viking offers four versions of its 42, all with pods, and according to company director of communications Peter Frederiksen, they sell well. 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. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. How many buyers do you think reconsider upgrading to pods because of the extra maintenance cost? 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. Its like a orange and all they work on is apples. In standard shaft and prop boats, props lose their bite in close-quarters maneuvering, Smith says. By using a vaporizer, you understand that inhalation is inadvisable as it may be harmful, and use of a vaporizer is done at your own risk. Fortunately the 42 Express cockpit is well laid out for Zeus . Hes president of Petzolds Marine Center (petzolds.com) in Portland, Connecticut, a dealer for both Sabre and Regal, two boatbuilders that moved into pods early in the game. I am looking for one that has been treated well and run as close to the ideal as possible. 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. Zeus ArcPods Lid pack filled with 50 paper lids for the Zeus ArcPods (sold separately). Pods require drive-oil changes every 250 hours or annually. Pods also increase fuel economy and decrease vibration. Volvo uses SAE 75w140 oil for both the transmission and lower unit. Hes also got a lot of applications engineering in his background. The performance numbers on the IPS are slightly better. Todd Anderson recently ran a 50 Viking powered by ZF 4000 pods. Spencer Yachts builds an 87-footer with ZF pods, and Smith was integral to the development process. Dont cheap out on anodes, Petzold advised. All rights reserved. You can also change some of your preferences. I rarely say this but if your dead set on a pod option I would put Volvos in. Caterpillar also offers a pod configuration with its CAT Three60 Pod 650, which is essentially a pod-drive married to a C8.7 engine. (I know you're supposed to replace each use for both the other companies, but it is possible to get more than one sesh out of each pod). Volvo includes neither a water alarm nor a clear reservoir, so check the single transmission and gear oil dipstick for signs of water. 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. 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. 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.. 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. Once offshore, I spun the boat in a complete 360-degree rotation on its own axis in less than 14 seconds. They bite hard and wont let the engine spin up.. Inboard fans argue that the pod-drives lack torque. Take the props off, grease the shafts, and check the seals, Fessenden said. Copyright 2023 Marlin Magazine. On the other hand, pod boats typically dont have bow thrusters. To start with, Zeus and IPS boats have to be hauled after their first 25 engine-hours. Volvo doesnt offer the option of in-water service. 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. These versatile drive systems are not as popular as once thought. Outboards are, in my opinion, the most interesting. The company didnt invent them, but it made pod a household word among boaters. A racing motor with a warranty? For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The most remarkable performance advantage was one that sent every propulsion and boatbuilding engineer to the drawing board to imitate: the joystick control system. 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. "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. How much of the additional initial cost will you get back at trade-in time? These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us . 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. But I usually run at 32 miles per hour and get 1.5 mpg, he says. 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. 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. are zeus pods still being manufactured how did lesley sharp lose weight julho 1, 2022. jack the ripper documentary bbc . Savings on a long haul might disappear when slowing to navigate a tricky channel or speeding up to avoid a storm. Once hes inspected everything and put it all back together, Petzold paints the pod. I'll also add that I REALLY like pods for the fuel efficiency (25-40% better) and maneuverability in a twin engine application. Right now, I cant talk anybody who wants pod-drives out of them, says Caterpillars Stephen Smith. 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 . 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. Heck, Mercurys Verado 400R comes with a two-year warranty, even though its got Racing painted on the cowl. Fifty dollars per prop should do it. Better fuel efficiency? In addition, I enjoy the added efficiencies Tony mentions above. Pods are something new, he said. Also demanding periodic attention are hydraulic steering, transmission, and lower-unit oils. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Zeus Arsenal has always made only reliable, well-performing devices that go beyond just being the perfect daily driver. They dont cavitate and they dont ventilate. Whether you have pods or conventional props, if your anodes have short life spans, have a pro check for stray current, problems with the marinas shore power, etc. Over time, fishing line will damage the seal, and it can score the shaft, too. 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. 11.5, ZF Transmission Adapter Plate SAE#3 for 45A, 63/68A, 63/68IV, ZF Transmission Adapter Plate SAE#3 for 80A, 85A, 85IV, ZF Transmission Adapter Plate SAE#4 for 45A, 63/68A, 63/68IV (Volvo D4/D6), ZF Transmission Adapter Plate SAE#3 for ZF 220A, ZF Transmission Adapter Plate SAE#3 ZF 220A & IRM280 (Old Style), ZF Transmission Adapter Plate SAE#3 CAT Engine for ZF 220A, ZF Transmission Adapter Plate SAE#3 for ZF 280A/IV, ZF Transmission Adapter Plate SAE#3 for ZF 285A/IV & ZF 286A/IV, Transmission Adapter Plate to Bellhousing Bolt Hardware Kit, SMX Transmission Spacer for Borg Warner Velvet Drive, ZF Marine Mechanical ATF Series Shift & Troll Valve, ZF Marine Electronic ATF Series Shift & Troll Valve, ZF Marine Electric EB15 Shift Valve with Trolling Valve, ZF Marine Mechanical Trolling Valve (ZF 280+), ZF 220/A Marine Mechanical Trolling Valve Kit, ZF ATF 63 A/IV 85 A/IV Electronic Progressive Shift Solenoid, ZF ATF 63 68 A/IV 80 85 A/IV Electronic Shift Solenoid, ZF EB15 Electronic Shift Solenoid (TROLL), ZF EB30/31 Electronic Shift Solenoid Coil, ZF ATF 63 A/IV 85 A/IV Electronic Troll Valve Coil, ZF Electronic Shift Solenoid Wire Plug/Cap, SMX Marine Transmission Drop in Screen Filter 45/63/68/80/85 A/IV Series ATF, Fleetguard LF701 Lube Filter for ZF Gears, Genuine ZF Marine Oil Filter Transmission (3213308019), ZF Marine 25A, 45A, 63A/IV, 80A/IV Input Shaft Seal, ZF Marine 63IV Inner (Small) Output Shaft Seal, ZF Marine 63IV Outer (Large) Output Shaft Seal, ZF Marine 80IV/85IV Inner (Small) Output Shaft Seal, ZF Marine 80IV/85IV Outer (Large) Output Shaft Seal, ZF 63A/IV 68A/IV 80A 85A SMX Marine Transmission Mounting Brackets, ZF 85IV SMX Marine Transmission Mounting Brackets, ZF 220A SMX Marine Transmission Mounting Brackets, ZF 280A ZF 280-1 ZF 220PL SMX Marine Transmission Mounting Brackets, ZF Marine 220 / 220A Replacement Oil Pump, ZF Marine 286A / 286IV Replacement Oil Pump, Split Hub Propeller Shaft Coupling Kit (ZF 63/68 A/IV, Velvet Drive), Split Hub Propeller Shaft Coupling Kit (ZF 220 A/V/IV), Split Hub Propeller Shaft Coupling Kit (ZF 800 80 85 A/IV, ZF 220PL, 280A/IV, 286A/IV, 301, MG506 5061 507), Split Hub Propeller Shaft Coupling Kit (MG 509), Cummins Marine Engine Warranty Information, Marine 316L SS 4 inch Pipe (4.5 OD) 90 Degree Elbow, Cummins Marine Diesel Repower Specialists, Cummins 6bt wont get up to WOT after fuel line blockage. Running the boat for too long on break-in oil can shorten the life of the pods innards. To get a good hole shot, Zeus countered with automatic trim tabs and matched the pods with tunnels to reduce draft. First, hull efficiency was enhanced, because the props were always aligned with the direction of motion in the boat. I guess you could say I'm a power user that vapes around 1-2 grams a day and after almost a week of use, I'm still on my first ArcPod. 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. 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. 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. Add to Cart. Yes, BM, thanks for all the info and posting your actual experiences always adds a lot of value to any discussion. We backed around and spun both ways with speed I have only seen once or twice before. 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. Cleaning also maximizes efficiency of the pods contrarotating propellers. I was surprised by how light and long lasting these were. Pull into any port in the world, and theres probably a guy there who can fix it. The biggest thing marketed to promote the system was its efficiency compared to a regular shaft and prop system, as well as joystick maneuverability. are zeus pods still being manufactured. (And when the struts rip out, they can take parts of the hull with them, something that probably wont happen with pods.) No more packing on the go, just pop in and enjoy. When you back down an inboard, the rudder posts start vibrating, and the boat sounds like its coming apart. Skip to the beginning of the images gallery, Zeus ArcPods are finally here! Eager to fish with them, I was along with Ed Szilagyi, then Volvos boatbuilder installation liaison and company captain, on that same Tiara demo. I often hear stories about Mercury paying for expensive replacement parts when their Zeus units need work out of warranty. How Fuel-Efficient Are Pods, Exactly? Our drives are made to stand up to a light freshwater rinse, Fessenden said, but dont blast them with the hose. Fessenden suggests a light coating of Mercurys corrosion spray.
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