Docking with IPS or sterndrive and joystick

[Micke_W]

I am looking for a bigger boat, have looked at the Princess V39 and Windy Chinook.
The V39 has sterndrives and joystick as an option, and the chinook IPS with joystick.

Is there a big difference on sterndrives with youstick compared to IPS with youstick? IPS much easier to dock?

 

[Steruth1]

i had ips and to be fair i only ever used it if the wind took me in a close berth etc, they are very clever but you will find after a while you will just use the engines so don't worry to much and buy the boat that suits you rather than the type of joystick. Good luck

 

[Jsu]

buy the boat that suits you rather than the type of joystick. Good luck

I think that is exactly the right recommendation.

We have twin sterndrive with joystick and same experience. I use it - but by no means all the time or on every trip. That being said I would go with the joystick option again if buying a twin sterndrive boat - if the choice was there. It does make some things easier or gives an extra option in a tight spot. in particular when single handed or to give you comfort entering a new port for the first time and not knowing fully what to expect.

 

[Micke_W]

So the youstick feature is not better with IPS engines? Since i am rather new to boating it feels good to have it

 

[Switch]

I have IPS. The boat I wanted and bought only came with IPS so I didn’t have a choice. I previously had a 42ft stern drive boat with out joystick. I can tell you categorically as an owner and driver that IPS is a brilliant piece of kit. However, I do drive it most of the time as I did my sterndrive boat (steering and throttles) but because I don’t have a bowthruster I usually only engage the IPS for the last few feet going into a berth (if needed). But, and this is a biggie, unless you only go out in very benign conditions you will be faced with conditions or situations where IPS gives you the luxury of extra control and time to assess and get out of tricky situations quietly and confidently without howls from bow thrusters and shouting frantically to move fenders ?. I’ve not driven a stern drive boat with a joystick but I prefer the more planted feel of IPS where the pods sit under the hull rather than at the back. Just my opinion. Hope it helps.

 

[Micke_W]

Thansk for inputs, would be great with input from owner of both IPS with joystick and sterndrive with joystick.

 

[ari]

I've driven both and from a purely joystick manoeuvring basis, IPS is better for two main reasons.

IPS is further toward the centre of the boat so has more leverage - you're asking a lot of sterndrives that put the props behind the boat and pushing against each other to lever the bow 40ft away into the wind for example.

IPS has hydraulic gearboxes so are very smooth in and out of gear. Volvo Penta outdrives (until extremely recently) had what I think are called dog clutches (I stand to be corrected). They 'clunk' in and out of gear which isn't a problem under normal use, but joystick control has little mechanical sympathy and will bang merrily in and out of gear over and over according to how the joystick is used. I'm not sure I'd want to buy a used boat with sterndrive joystick, I would imagine overuse puts a lot of extra 'mileage' on those drives.

 

[Whippersnapper]

My understanding is the as Ari. Joystick with out drives doesn’t work as well as IPS and will be harder on the gearbox. Many reviews of boats I’ve seen say save yourself the price and don’t spec it. I know docking seems daunting but it is just understanding the physics of what is happening and learning the best strategies to cope. Investing in one on one training will pay large dividends.

Having said all that if you feel less anxious with the feature then get it but learn to mostly not use it.

 

[Bandit]

I've driven both and from a purely joystick manoeuvring basis, IPS is better for two main reasons.

IPS is further toward the centre of the boat so has more leverage - you're asking a lot of sterndrives that put the props behind the boat and pushing against each other to lever the bow 40ft away into the wind for example.

IPS has hydraulic gearboxes so are very smooth in and out of gear. Volvo Penta outdrives (until extremely recently) had what I think are called dog clutches (I stand to be corrected). They 'clunk' in and out of gear which isn't a problem under normal use, but joystick control has little mechanical sympathy and will bang merrily in and out of gear over and over according to how the joystick is used. I'm not sure I'd want to buy a used boat with sterndrive joystick, I would imagine overuse puts a lot of extra 'mileage' on those drives.

We have just re-powered a Windy 48 with new Volvo Penta D6-440hp with the all new DPI outdrives and joystick. The DPI outdrives are hydraulic clutches and are almost silent shift and smooth shift. The customer loves the outdrives and the joystick manoeuvrability of the boat.