Volvo IPS

[Lady Bridge]

I see where volvo just starting making a IPS for their gasoline 8.1 engine. I definitaly know very little about this and volvo said they likely wouldn't put this in a boat less than 31 foot since it is so powerful. Would this be something CC would consider? The better fuel economy and all that power sounds nice for a 28' CC.

[Tswann]

Ips

Mac has not built any IPS boats yet, but will do one on request. The system will not fit in the 28 but it will fit in the 32 and the 35. Where the pods need to be placed and their height/cofiguration is not a match for the 28.

We have a customer that is contemplating the IPS system in a 35. From a performance perspective it makes a world of sense. The IPS600 system is a pair of the D6-435s mated to the IPS pods and becuase of the efficiency of the thrust angle and prop face direction it performs like a conventional inboard boat with 600hp motors . . .

From a fishing standpoint the jury is out. Those that feel an inboard diesel boat turning a large set of wheels sounds right to the fish are a little leary of the dual pods under the boat with the exhaust changes. For me, I want to fish on an IPS boat for a while before I jump into it . . .

Just my thoughts.

[Bullish]

It seems like a costly proposition if you touch bottom or hit something with that design.

[backman]

What scares me about IPS

1. pots - we alle at at least 1 pot line/ year - going under the boat isn't fun, but with the conventional prop and gear its not a long way down or in. You can hang on the rudder and reach the props. I am not suer where an IPS would be mounted, but its not going to be easy to get into a forward facing duoprop to get at a line.
2. sharks and mola's - I hit 1-2 year, ding a blade or two and continue the trip. Not sure how a collision would affect the forward facing blades.
3. Logs, containers and things that go bump. I understand the design of the IPS is such that in as major impact the entire lower unit shears off in such a way the hull is not compromised but....if the entire unit rips loose; you have a huge hole in your hull and are going down.

[xl883lo]

I understand the design of the IPS is such that in as major impact the entire lower unit shears off in such a way the hull is not compromised but....if the entire unit rips loose; you have a huge hole in your hull and are going down.

If you take that kind of hit.......you are probably going down anyway.

[backman]

Not sure of that

My marina is a modern form of mooncusser. We are the closest full service boatyard to Woods Hole Passage which has a couple ledges sure to eat a boat or two per summer weekend.

We've had the Rampage 38 w/ the strut can openering the hull; we've have the 68' Viking w not just the shaft coupling, but the transmission side coupling 3' outside the shaft log and a big hole where one rudder used to be. We've had the 54' Rybo w/ a fractured wooden hole you could stick your head into the engine room from. We've had plenty of cruisers and picnic boats; also w/ visible holes into interor spaces.

We've had 2 28's so far; one had the bow fractured like a crushed egg shelled but no water had entered the hull. The 2nd took out both props and rudders; ripped glass around one rudder as it twisted at a 45 degree angle but again had no significant penetration of the interior.

[xl883lo]

Re: Not so sure of that

Larry,

Granted I have only seen a mock-up(model) and pictures of an IPS, but the best I can tell the top of the lower unit is flush with the hull and the upper unit is completely enclosed inside the hull. Now if the hull were really weak(not an IPS problem),the entire drive train improperly braced(not an IPS problem) or Volvo did not engineer the sheer points correctly(potential IPS problem) it might be an issue.....other than that I think you would have to completely crush the hull to compromise the attachment of the upper unit to the hull and create a leak. Hence my previous statement.

[biteme]

ips

what about the mercury/cummins version with rear facing props and gps hold in place ( no use of the anchor)

[Reel Happy]

I remember reading something about a year ago. A 30ish footer was making its way back from a boat show and they shoaled her up near Beaufort, NC at about 25 knots and the IPS drives stayed intackted. From what I understand stopped her dead and injured a few people. I will keep looking and see if I can find the article.

[Tswann]

Zeus

The Zeus system is an excellent system too, but the strong link to Brunswick (the whole drive side if the system) makes it a very unlikely candidate for Carolina Classic . . .

I did, however, see a review recently comparing IPS and Zeus and I think the reviewer gave the IPS a slight edge. Volvo has a head start with the technology so time will tell.

[Kicker30]

I understand the design of the IPS is such that in as major impact the entire lower unit shears off in such a way the hull is not compromised but....if the entire unit rips loose; you have a huge hole in your hull and are going down.

Thats the point of the shear point where it is, so the lower comes off, leaving the upper and hull intact, so that there is no hole to let water in and take the boat down. It wouldn't be like ripping an outdrive off and being left with a big hole in the transom.

[Over Billin]

I know for fact, they raise fish. Old lady luck, 40 ftr won millions on her with volvo dies r l ips drives, and she was fast !