How many buyers do you think reconsider upgrading to pods because of the extra maintenance cost? Yet catastrophic groundings are rare for all boats, although again, the financial consequences for the pod owner are usually steeper. Viking offers four versions of its 42, all with pods, and according to company director of communications Peter Frederiksen, they sell well. But now thats all gone away. Disappointing, but then again whens the last time you worked on your car? (Its not a bad idea to do the sameminus the sealsfor inboards.). 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. 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 . The boat never missed a beat, much to Pareds elation. Most studies show that maximum rpm only accounts for about 10 percent of the total running cycle of most boats and engines. Add to Cart. There support network is much better and to me is a better product. Inboard fans argue that the pod-drives lack torque. I have personally ruled out any boat with PODS, IPS or ZEUS, for those 2 main reasons. 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. Finally theres antifoulant for the drive. The engines are in their normal spot, but then you jackshaft to pods, so you lose space in the lazarette, he says. Joystick control? Each pod turns independently of the other, giving remarkable maneuverability. 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. Grant Bentley captains Home Run, a 60-foot Spencer. 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. Your are officially the first one to publish 4o% percent efficiency benefits for pods. By turning one engine pod at a sharper angle than the other in a turn, they could narrow its radius. are zeus pods still being manufactured. The maneuverability of the boat is what sells it, especially in close quarters, he says. In addition, I enjoy the added efficiencies Tony mentions above. When I troll, I can turn it on and the exhaust bypasses the pod and comes out just above the water. Use of Cookies: ZF Friedrichshafen AG uses cookies to continuously improve the website and optimize its design. Look for signs of corrosion. Zeus has two zincs attached to each trim tab. Goes without saying: Its got ZF Smart Command 5000 drive-by-wire. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Pods have more parts, both mechanical and electronic, and conventional wisdom says that means more problems. 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. Petzold said the most common problem he sees with pods is owners not maintaining the corrosion protection. Make sure theyre specifically trained, or at least have several years of experience, Siebert said. Cummins uses aluminum-gallium anodes to best protect bronze drives. All diesels need TLC, but pod systems need a bit more. Spencer Yachts was one of the first to embrace pod-drives, including Volvo Pentas IPS and ZF Marines pod-drive system with Caterpillar engines. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. While it is possible to reuse lids to reduce your consumption cost, they will impact the flavor negatively, same way as a disposable cup will impact the flavour of your coffee negatively if reused. These versatile drive systems are not as popular as once thought. I worked on a boat with Zeus pods for about three years. Im all about new technology. Having the ability to move sideways, spin and dock raises the comfort level, especially for an inexperienced boater who wants to weekend but doesnt want to train on an 18-foot vessel, Meissner says. All told, figure $500 per engine annually, plus haul-out fees. It might save the cost of a divorce on cruelty-while-docking grounds, too, a way bigger budget-breaker than pod drives. 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. By continuing to browse this website, you agree to the use of cookies. And maneuverabilitywell, any good sportfishing captain can put his ride wherever he wantswithout a joystick. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. Its like a carnival ride. Only thing is, outboards burn gas, and more of it than diesels of similar power. Not on the pods. 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. MediaLight Mk2 Flex 4m D65 6500CRI98 Bias Lighting USB powered Of course neither of these statements is true. are zeus pods still being manufactured - ouseagencia.com 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. Like most everything, making the decision to go conventional or pod is a personal choice. Volvos Active Corrosion System, which is standard on IPS 800 or larger drives, is similar. All rights reserved. Smooth, incremental low-speed control. I see the cummins split from Zeus around here was not a good thing myself. Its also hard to put a price on joystick control, which completely changes dockside handling. 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. You put it in sport fish, and it locks the pods in opposite directions. Some really nice high tech features that most will never use. And joystick piloting? Zeus Arsenal has always made only reliable, well-performing devices that go beyond just being the perfect daily driver. If you seem to be going through zincs quickly, call an electrician, Fessenden warned. Spencer Yachts builds an 87-footer with ZF pods, and Smith was integral to the development process. 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. IMO, Zeus, or any POD drive, would not even be a close 2nd. 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 . But how do you compare boats? Great Product. 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. They have shafts, they have props, and they can get more if they need them. vs. 0.8 nmg pods @ 16.2 kts.). Definitely good value for the price and performance these offer. When you back down an inboard, the rudder posts start vibrating, and the boat sounds like its coming apart. 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. A frequently overlooked benefit of IPS is this new stateroom, made possible by the compact power installation. The noise and smell from a diesel goes away with pods, said Bentley Collins, Sabres vice president of marketing and sales, and with joystick control, you dont have to worry about crashing into the dock.. I am liking the Searay 44 Sedan Bridge of the ~2009 vintage as those have QSC500s with conventional drives. 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. KISS Keep It Simple Sailor. Somewhere in between the cost of straightening conventional shafts and rudders, and possibly even repairing transmissions, the advantage shifts back to pods. The problem vs. Volvo is that the Zeus Cummins combinations are limited by Cummins engine sizes and that limits them on larger boats. And once the numbers are crunched, are pods worth it? There is definitely more maintenance with pods, said John Siebert. 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. Cummins says you dont 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. Zeus ArcPods (Triple Pack)| TVape USA Weight kills the speed on pod-drives, compared to shaft-drives, Smith says. As Mercury continues to grow its diesel business, Zeus support will grow. Our white marlin came in hot on the teasers we fished up close to the boat. Cleaning also maximizes efficiency of the pods contrarotating propellers. Charleston. 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.). Full details on our program can be found here. Cummins expert Rob Mirman gives an overview of the Cummins Zeus pod drive system at the 2013 Miami International Boat Show. Oh boy, the lids. Learn more about the 3rd Generation of Vaporizers is here: https://bit.ly/3xm5ASYThe patented Zeus ArcPod is a sin. Volvo doesnt offer the option of in-water service. Pods from all manufacturers have proven reliable and trouble-free, when maintained correctly. If you arent happy with the local dealer, you can call the concierge and get a tech in Tennessee. Here are both performance charts. 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(Volvo Penta soon followed suit.) You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. Our mentality could be considered the opposite of todays kids in relation to new technology. Skip to the beginning of the images gallery, Zeus ArcPods are finally here! Zeus ArcPods - The 3rd Generation of Vaporizers is Here! On the other hand, pod boats typically dont have bow thrusters. With quad outboards, Id get about 0.7 miles per gallon. Estimating the yearly cost isnt easy either, since yard rates vary and some pods need more upkeep than others. Petzold uses Propspeed, or some other antifouling paint formulated for underwater metals. Take the props off, grease the shafts, and check the seals, Fessenden said. 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. Its like a orange and all they work on is apples. What if you do hit something? he says. That said, I have heard good things. Zeus Transmissions are available at ZF Marine! 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. Hes also got a lot of applications engineering in his background. Zirk fittings require grease in U-joints and at both ends of jack shafts that connect engines to drives. They bite hard and wont let the engine spin up.. 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. And if they dont want them, I cant talk them into it.. But then outboards are more powerful and more economical than ever. Simply pop in a pod and enjoy your herbs. 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. The owner of the boat spent almost 40k on the drives themselves and they were just under 8 years old. Pod Drives - Siebert Yacht Management We back it up with a concierge service. First, hull efficiency was enhanced, because the props were always aligned with the direction of motion in the boat. Hes also found them to be extremely reliable. lost surfboards santa cruz. Being new to power boating, I selected this configuration for ease of docking and it has been fabulous. 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. 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 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). The lower units (gear housing) will need to be resealed and I expect to have to do this every 5 years or so. But the rest? Docking is super easy with joy stick controls. Thats pretty good., Buckley also likes the IPS investment and isnt concerned about the sticker shock. Neither Health Canada nor the FDA have evaluated the vaporizers, blends and/or statements displayed on this website. Sounds like another good option to me. 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. Most pods also require periodic removal and inspection of prop sets and seals, and re-greasing of the propshaftsfigure $250 per pod. All rights reserved. Mercury Zeus Pod VS Volvo Penta IPS VS Cummins Zeus System Finger pointing is worse in any situation when it is out of warranty, then you are left on a deserted island. Exhaust fumes are emitted into the prop wash. 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. Best of the old and the new.maybe. And while its hard to nail down the amount of that fuel-efficiency edge, everyone agrees it does exist and can compensate you for at least some of the additional maintenance costs. We only go around once anyway, so pay the money, grab the joystick, and have some angst-free enjoyment. Today, pod-powered boats are common in any yacht yard, and qualified service and repair technicians are easy to find along the waterfront. Simply pop in a pod and enjoy your herbs. 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. Pods are the ne plus ultra of propulsion, but it costs a little extra to keep them spinning. When pods vibrate, propellers or jack shaft bearings are the likely causes. are zeus pods still being manufactured - xarxacatala.cat Most new boats developed in the 35- to 45-foot class were pods. Most pods require service after a short break-in period at 25 hours or so. I am looking for a larger boat in the same size range as you. The Arc GTS is no . But pod-drive engines use counter-rotating props. Plus, when we haul the boat, well catch problems a diver wont see.. FREE shipping on orders of $100.00 and above. The most remarkable performance advantage was one that sent every propulsion and boatbuilding engineer to the drawing board to imitate: the joystick control system. Over time, fishing line will damage the seal, and it can score the shaft, too. 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. Caterpillar also offers a pod configuration with its CAT Three60 Pod 650, which is essentially a pod-drive married to a C8.7 engine. But I usually run at 32 miles per hour and get 1.5 mpg, he says. 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. The downside is pod drives are way more complex than conventional propulsion systems; consequently, pod-powered boats cost more to buy and maintain. are zeus pods still being manufactured. And the Zeus pods also came with a joystick. (See How Fuel-Efficient Are Pods, Exactly?) The biggest savings might come when the pods aft-located engines add interior accommodations. 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. 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? 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. 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. Instead of having to jog throttles and shift levers to effect a maneuver, simply push, pull or twist the joystick and the boat follows the -directions, pivoting in place or crabbing sideways say, into a slip thats just long enough to fit your vessel. If water is suspected inside any pod, get a mechanic aboard right away or risk internal damage. Theyre a whole different animal, Siebert said. ZF also built far larger pods that could handle far more horsepower. (And when the struts rip out, they can take parts of the hull with them, something that probably wont happen with pods.) Zeus offers dramatically improved high-speed handling and delivers up to: 30% improved fuel economy 15% faster cruise speed Because they operate independently, pod-drives can be controlled via joystick for superb maneuverability. However, most sport-fishers rarely operate at wide-open throttle. You might not think of Cat as a pod company, but since ZF offered its pods to the market, hes helped several manufacturers build ZF or Zeus pod with Caterpillar engines. Prior to heading out with the boat, there was a lot of talk on the dock about whether the new drives would raise fish or scare them away. Review Images (jpg, jpeg, png) Max 3MB file size allowed. All my personal experience to date is with 6BTA 370s in a conventional shaft drive arrangement. Trawlers dont benefit much from 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 its also highly dependent on the application of the vessel. Featuring a patented design that provides the simplest solution for vaping on the go with your Zeus 3rd generation vaporizer. You get a little cavitation but nothing close to the noise from shaft-drives, he says. $44 MediaLight Mk2 Flex 4m D65 6500CRI98 Bias Lighting USB powered ComputersTablets & Networking Laptop & Desktop Accessories USB Lights & Gadgets 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. I can do that on 200 gallons. Zeus propeller shafts use a double-lip seal. Simply pop in a pod and enjoy your herbs. A Bonnier LLC Company. (Do the same with outboards and stern drives.) Some could be rotated 180 degrees and run adequately facing either fore or aft. The pods combine transmission, steering, and propulsion that would otherwise entail separate trans, shaft/prop, thrusters, and rudders. No more packing on the go, just pop in and enjoy. Diamond Steel > Blog > Uncategorized > are zeus pods still being manufactured. I was surprised by how light and long lasting these were. With SmartCraft innovation throughout, Zeus provides a seamless approach to propulsion technology, marine electronics, and on-board information management that makes boating safer and more enjoyable than ever. He gives even higher praise to the Clean Wake exhaust feature. In fact, shafts and struts have been driven through the hull by groundings and collisions with floating debris. Within a year or two, Paul Spencer built a 43-foot express with IPS drives that we fished in a tournament. How to Manage Boat Finances During a Recession, Gamefisherman 43 Express on the Drawing Board, Marlin Expeditions Offers Light-Tackle Paradise in Guatemala. In the beginning of pod development, there was a huge surge of interest. 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. 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. 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. is ryan bingham related to ken curtis. The Zeus system propellers are on the back of the pods, as opposed to the Volvo IPS, which are on the front. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. Zeus Arc GTS Hub Review - The Third Generation of the Arc are zeus pods still being manufactured - burkinaakili.net Ask to see the service records for the boats first year. IPS followed with its own, and ZF ponied one up too. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. I had SeaVee owner Ariel Pared with me when we pulled away from the dock sideways, crabbing away briskly from our side-to moor. To start with, Zeus and IPS boats have to be hauled after their first 25 engine-hours. 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. Care should be taken prior to using a vaporizer, as vaporizing will not necessarily eliminate any and all toxins found in vaporized blends. 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. And, if you preferred to stand, Viking built the helm so you could control the pods with traditional dual levers.. Zeus Pods need to be placed within a specific distance from the transom for a lot of performance reasons and because they include the automatic trim tabs as part of their standard offering. Nor did I want to. You can also change some of your preferences. Read the owners manual.) If they dont increase the odds of hooking up, who cares? All up, pod owners can expect to pony up something like an additional $2,500 for scheduled maintenance. For a ballpark number, Im deferring to a well-researched article written by our late friend, Capt. Richard Thiel, in February 2014. Cummins Zeus Pod Drive System for Recreational Marine 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.. And the Zeus pods also came with a joystick. Volvo uses SAE 75w140 oil for both the transmission and lower unit. Cummins QSC 8.3 Zeus pods long term support - Engines | YachtForums: We Another benefit comes from counter-rotating props on the pods. Also, you dont know how often the shaft seals will need replacement. Martin Meissner of ZF Marine says engine makers still dont have a handle on the potential volume. Ill be limiting my search to non-pod models going forward. The props themselves are patented. The biggest fear boaters have is not about running out in the open water. ZF Marine entered the pod fray when its exclusivity agreement with Zeus expired. In the past decade, high-tech pod drives have changed the face of powerboating, and for the better. One described his skepticism like this: Its just too good to be true. 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. Pods are more prevalent in the pleasure-yacht category than in sport fishing. 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. These come with various engine configurations but commonly, with QSB 425s which can be either shaft-drive or Zeus pods. A racing motor with a warranty?