Sticky Fingers
Well-Known Member
I think I might know that boat, it was on my list of possibles. Went up twice to look at it. The Mark 1 IPS put me off, maybe unnecessarily.
IPS. Comments Welcome
- Thread starter oldgit
- Start date
oldgit
Well-Known Member
oldgit
Well-Known Member
Quite possibly ........................depends entirely on how well its likes being sat in the mud that stops the water leaking away around most of Kent and Essex. ?
Sticky Fingers
Well-Known Member
PM inbound
oldgit
Well-Known Member
Ta.
Brunan
Active Member
As it is a 2006, does it have the joystick or not? If no joystick is present I would not go with IPS...for me the joystick have been the selling point for IPS...
Elessar
Well-Known Member
I totally disagree. It’s a handy add on I’d be happy without. For boat show appeal. The other benefits in the way they handle are far greater IMO.
However without a joystick you’d need a bowthruster.
Brunan
Active Member
Improved handle under way is great but for the regular boater that difference alone it not worth the risk of IPS from an early generation. With boats of this size the ambition is often to go as straight as possible...
Elessar
Well-Known Member
I don’t agree. But respect that you wouldn’t want to buy one.
Out of interest, how much have you driven IPS boats?
Ive only driven one but Have driven that quite a bit and was impressed.
Sticky Fingers
Well-Known Member
It does have the joystick.
oldgit
Well-Known Member
It apparently does have some minor issues which the broker has suggested is down to stuck "relays " ?
Assume could mean anything from the hydraulic engine cover lift to more worrying items.
Folks have kindly suggested a tip or two of stuff to check to ensure vessel stands a chance of an uneventful trip back home.
One quick question presume the IPS drives coupled together with single joystick control. ?
ie. Lose one for any reason and both drives are out of commission. ?
What happens if they fail with drive at 90 degrees to hull.
Is there a manual override ?
Seem to remember tugs I used to work on both drives totally independant, if one failed, and yes they did, the other gave you the maneuverability to get home.
Assume could mean anything from the hydraulic engine cover lift to more worrying items.
Folks have kindly suggested a tip or two of stuff to check to ensure vessel stands a chance of an uneventful trip back home.
One quick question presume the IPS drives coupled together with single joystick control. ?
ie. Lose one for any reason and both drives are out of commission. ?
What happens if they fail with drive at 90 degrees to hull.
Is there a manual override ?
Seem to remember tugs I used to work on both drives totally independant, if one failed, and yes they did, the other gave you the maneuverability to get home.
Last edited:
Brunan
Active Member
I've own two IPS boats, one with IPS-500 (gen B) and one IPS-600 (gen F) so maybe have 500 hours of experience of them. Now I'm running Zeus pods so pods in general I'm pretty used to.
Sure the handling on the way is a but better but still the joystick is the key here and the handling you get while docking, especially if you drive a lot on your own and dock in more complex situations it's so great.
Install a Dockmate system to go even further and you will be king of the docks!
That's great then I would see it as an viable option.
It apparently does have some minor issues which the broker has suggested is down to stuck "relays " ?
Assume could mean anything from the hydraulic engine cover lift to more worrying items.
Folks have kindly suggested a tip or two of stuff to check to ensure vessel stands a chance of an uneventful trip back home.
One quick question presume the IPS drives coupled together with single joystick control. ?
ie. Lose one for any reason and both drives are out of commission. ?
What happens if they fail with drive at 90 degrees to hull.
Is there a manual override ?
Seem to remember tugs I used to work on both drives totally independant, if one failed, and yes they did, the other gave you the maneuverability to get home.
You can manually steer the IPS pods. In case of failure of one pod the joystick would not work of course but you will be able to control the working pod with the levers and steering wheel.
I would bring out an penta tech do run the diagnostics to read the fault codes.
Portofino
Well-Known Member
Fait accompli ?
It’s gone from enquire to del trip planning in 24 hrs .
Acquaintance newby bought a 2 y old Sessa forty something IPS , developed issues vibrations and limp mode on his Del trip 35 miles .Boat out of action for a 2 months .Wrangle with Insurance.Could have hit something , Damaged shaft / gears ...busted seal , haul out blocked off in the yard while it’s sorted .
Another longer Del trip From Roma to Cannes .Bought in November it never made it At la Spezia a busted pod and oil in the drive in the other .It was a stock boat ( S/Sker Porto47 ); February by the time it was fixed which consisted of a new pod and a rebuild on the other .
Delivered by May to start the season .Came with 6 months warranty from Nov ,S/Sker honoured an extension because by the time he got on it its was up .Repair Bill was cica €30 K done by S/Sker as it was then under full warranty .
Newby too .The joystick kept throwing Wobblies = limp mode and many a time cruising in Co a msg came over the VHF “ slow down I have a alarm “
The service costs were 1000 s several 1000 s on top of routine .
A 3 rd one my neighbour once another Seassa always having problems , technicians never away .....another newby .
All three used arguably aged boats .From 2005 to 2010 era .....which is what this is .
A distinction needs drawing between the “ fait accompli “ 2006 and a brand new gen xyz version .
My money is on it won’t make the Del trip .
It’s gone from enquire to del trip planning in 24 hrs
.Acquaintance newby bought a 2 y old Sessa forty something IPS , developed issues vibrations and limp mode on his Del trip 35 miles .Boat out of action for a 2 months .Wrangle with Insurance.Could have hit something , Damaged shaft / gears ...busted seal , haul out blocked off in the yard while it’s sorted .
Another longer Del trip From Roma to Cannes .Bought in November it never made it At la Spezia a busted pod and oil in the drive in the other .It was a stock boat ( S/Sker Porto47 ); February by the time it was fixed which consisted of a new pod and a rebuild on the other .
Delivered by May to start the season .Came with 6 months warranty from Nov ,S/Sker honoured an extension because by the time he got on it its was up .Repair Bill was cica €30 K done by S/Sker as it was then under full warranty .
Newby too .The joystick kept throwing Wobblies = limp mode and many a time cruising in Co a msg came over the VHF “ slow down I have a alarm “
The service costs were 1000 s several 1000 s on top of routine .
A 3 rd one my neighbour once another Seassa always having problems , technicians never away .....another newby .
All three used arguably aged boats .From 2005 to 2010 era .....which is what this is .
A distinction needs drawing between the “ fait accompli “ 2006 and a brand new gen xyz version .
My money is on it won’t make the Del trip .
vas
Well-Known Member
Portofino
Well-Known Member
Will we ever find out they ( IPS owners ) tend to go silent on here with issues ?I like your positive thinking Porto
V.
Brunnans given the clue “ gen F “ .
We are talking prob a gen A boat here .
Once again folks above ^^^ extolling the virtues of dock handling etc we know that , but the Q raised is the reliability of a poor or zero service record neglected version a few “ sticky relays “ .There will be more than that lurking in those pods .
I do hope this thread by OG s proxy [ do tell the Del trip story ] is not gonna be a 4 th tale of IPS woes to add to my personal experience of the 3 I have only BRIEFLY outlined above .!
erik_plus8
Well-Known Member
It apparently does have some minor issues which the broker has suggested is down to stuck "relays " ?
Assume could mean anything from the hydraulic engine cover lift to more worrying items.
Folks have kindly suggested a tip or two of stuff to check to ensure vessel stands a chance of an uneventful trip back home.
One quick question presume the IPS drives coupled together with single joystick control. ?
ie. Lose one for any reason and both drives are out of commission. ?
What happens if they fail with drive at 90 degrees to hull.
Is there a manual override ?
Seem to remember tugs I used to work on both drives totally independant, if one failed, and yes they did, the other gave you the maneuverability to get home.
They can't go to 90 deg vs hull, much smaller angles are used.
Elessar
Well-Known Member
Wow. Ok fair enough.
Have to say the joystick is not a big deal for me but now to your experience.
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
Thats not borne out by MBY tests which suggest that IPS flybridge boats in particular are no more economical than shaft drive ones. IMHO the IPS advantages are in releasing more space for accommodation and joystick control rather than fuel economy
Elessar
Well-Known Member
Not more space. But space in a different place.
The joystick is a gimmick of limited usefulness to experienced boaters IMO but it’s a nice to have.
But if you want it / like it it’s a benefit for sure.
My friends flybridge is a little bigger and heavier than mine but significantly more economical. But I am not comparing like with like as he has more modern engines.
But......
Logically. props pointing the right way rather than pointing down must be more efficient surely?
TonyR123
Well-Known Member
not sure why you would say that. dont think any owner is too precious to report any faults. I have not had one issue with IPS. Serviced every year (now in 5th year) without fail. I have had issues with bolts coming loose on the anchor, generator caulking up, air con issues and beer fridge thermostat. Bought the boat from new. Would I buy a boat with missing service history on IPS - probably not. Would I buy a ferrari with missing service history - probably not. As for something just released - first gen IPS or say a brand new boat I would not buy those either. Wait for 2nd gen or the 5th+ hull so any known faults can be sorted. Would never install Windows NT in a live environment until the first service pack was out.
IPS really isnt an issue if maintained. There are always the "unlucky" ones. But thats the same for most things in life, especially boats.
IPS isnt critical for my next boat (can be shafts with bow/stern thrusters) but I sure would not be put off by it. I possibly might even favour it.
