IPS Drives - Are they still really bad?

[sprocker]

Already planning our next upgrade, which will be a move to 40'+ Flybridge on shafts.

I have been told to investigate the Rodman 38 & 41, which on paper looks like a very nice boat, but they only seem to be available with IPS drives.

I can't seem to find any recent reviews on how good/bad IPS drives are these days.

My gut feeling tells me to stay away from them, but does anyone have any info that would help confirm/belay my feelings?

 

[ari]

Pretty sure that the Rodman 41 was also available on shafts. In fact if I remember correctly, when it first came out it was only on shafts, IPS option came later.

 

[markc]

Pretty sure that the Rodman 41 was also available on shafts. In fact if I remember correctly, when it first came out it was only on shafts, IPS option came later.

This is only anecdotal, but last week in our marina in SoF a very new looking 40' FB boat was lifted and spent 4 days on the hard whilst the owners continued their holiday sunbathing on the fly bridge whilst the two IPS pods were removed followed by 2 crates arriving the next day and brand new pods installed, then off they went. The process was very smooth but I should imagine eye-wateringly expensive for someone. I would never have them. Ever.

 

[Chris_d]

Assuming they never went wrong even the routine servicing sounds expensive compared to an outdrive.
So it would always be a no for me.

 

[BruceK]

Already planning our next upgrade, which will be a move to 40'+ Flybridge on shafts.

I have been told to investigate the Rodman 38 & 41, which on paper looks like a very nice boat, but they only seem to be available with IPS drives.

I can't seem to find any recent reviews on how good/bad IPS drives are these days.

My gut feeling tells me to stay away from them, but does anyone have any info that would help confirm/belay my feelings?

LOL. I did tell you to get a bigger boat from the off. As Chris says, IPS = eye wateringly expensive but watching them manoeuvre a boat is impressive. If you can afford them yes. If it's marginal stay the bloody hell away is my opinion.

 

[Portofino]

This is only anecdotal, but last week in our marina in SoF a very new looking 40' FB boat was lifted and spent 4 days on the hard whilst the owners continued their holiday sunbathing on the fly bridge whilst the two IPS pods were removed followed by 2 crates arriving the next day and brand new pods installed, then off they went. The process was very smooth but I should imagine eye-wateringly expensive for someone. I would never have them. Ever.

Snap ,
We see a lot of IPS boats in the ship yard with either one or two "holes " underneath and the pod s on there side the workshop . In the SoF .
Anactdotally too my nieghbour a Sessa 44 has had all sorts of woes ,a lot of electricronic glitches -- mean,t limeted useage
it's his 1st boat .
The number of days with technitions on board armed with laptops and various blue boxes - exceed those without this summer .
Best one was after a 2 day session the techs went out for a sea trial , -came back parked beautifully , tied up Passerelle out -engines off ---bilge pump started to spew what looked like hydraulic fliud on the Stb stern 1/4 , lots of puzzled looks .
Nice in the marina , @6 pm ,while I,am enjoying a Pastis
Next day techs return with a mastic gun !

Of course observing this taints my view ,but I,am only reporting what I see ,you interpret it as you wish .

 

[jrudge]

Multiple threads on here.

All good i suspect other than fixing them ... and i am not referring to money.

A diesel on shafts are a pretty simple beast. Diesel engines are will understood and the local truck dealer can probably fix it.

A shaft is a shaft.

The repair routes for IPS are i suspect limited - main dealer and then most likely supported by the regional volvo team for anything marginally complex.

I saw one the other day manoeuvring. It was "impressive" but there was a huge huge amount of water being spurted everywhere and revving of engines which you just would not get on a shaft boat.

Someone will always buy it. It has many benefits but whilst in no way an IPS hater ( far from it) the theme on here has been they are all well and good unless you are the one caught with the bill / problem.

Of course do bear in mind you will presumably get a significant increase in cabin space for the same length boat ... no such thing as a free lunch

 

[sprocker]

LOL. I did tell you to get a bigger boat from the off.

I know, I know, circumstances change though mate, and I don't regret for one minute getting our current boat. She has been a great confidence giver and has got us out and about for a season.

 

[oldgit]

15m Sessa had to return from an inter island trip in Balearics on one engine a few months ago.
Something in the IPS drive train had totally failed.

 

[sprocker]

Looks like my gut feeling was correct, it's rather a pity for Rodman I would think, as the 38 & 41 are nice looking boats.

I'll stick to shafts.

 

[volvopaul]

Looks like my gut feeling was correct, it's rather a pity for Rodman I would think, as the 38 & 41 are nice looking boats.

I'll stick to shafts.

Good call.
Have you sold yours?

 

[Phildorset]

I do love the way an IPS drive boat can go sideways plus frwd or reverse at the same time & all from a joystick, but the extra complexity and costs don't justify that trick for me. I'm still pretty new to big boats - but so far haven't found a scenario where my two big props and noisy but willing bow thruster haven't got me to where I need to park reasonably neatly. The fitting of IPS must be being driven by a combination of manufacturers wanting to include the latest tech, of squeezing out a bit more performance without going for bigger and heavier engines, and as mentioned already - getting some very valuable extra accommodation space for free (free to them anyway). I'm very sure that within a short space of time these units will become nice and reliable - though they will always require a good number of extra ££ hours per year + parts for servicing. I'm not yet ready to join in.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Good call.
Have you sold yours?

Paul, given a choice between IPS and Arneson's, which way would you go?

 

[superheat6k]

If VolvoPaul's opinion is that sticking with conventional shafts is that this is a good call, not sure there is much else to say on the subject of IPS in its favour. I do have a pal with a Windy Chinook on twin IPS who loves them and has had two seasons with nil issues, but the advantages seem to only really be for mooring up, and most of us manage OK with what we have got after a bit of trial and error(s).

 

[Portofino]

Paul, given a choice between IPS and Arneson's, which way would you go?

Arnesons are DIY able ----once someone's shown you ,but you need some Tonka sized spanners .
It just a case of changing the ram seals x4 and flushing through /out the the contaminated hydraulic fliud .
Best to do every season .
The U/J is ment to get wet ,bellows is just for keep it dark and growth free ,

Technically from a mpg nothing really compares if want to munch sea miles .
How ever a simple shaft requires none of the above in terms of €€ spend every season , the oil being the pricey bit .

That's what a mate does with his .Adds a few more days in the hard messing with them .

 

[volvopaul]

If VolvoPaul's opinion is that sticking with conventional shafts is that this is a good call, not sure there is much else to say on the subject of IPS in its favour. I do have a pal with a Windy Chinook on twin IPS who loves them and has had two seasons with nil issues, but the advantages seem to only really be for mooring up, and most of us manage OK with what we have got after a bit of trial and error(s).

Good god man what a question. A bit like my wife asking the HSE is rallying safer than playing golf? , my answer would be that rallying stands less chance of being hit on the head by a golf ball , mainly because I have to wear a helmet .

Back to IPS , my own view is that people who buy boats with IPS buy the boat for the boat and not purely because it has that type of drive. Studying the type of boat that ha sthis typeof drive seems to be a design that makes the maximum use of the boats space by pushing the accommodation right back up to the engine space, well so I thought until Princess brought out the 49 the they stuck the engines forward to balance it out and fitted long Cardon shafts!.

Looking at one in the flesh a few weeks ago I just couldn't help asking myself why they did this as there is plenty of room To have designed this boat on conventional shafts , anyway back to the topic.
I'd say that buyers of IPS are wide open over the reliability issues both with the service costs each year, they more than likely had owned both shaft and sterndruve boats in past years, they obviously love the berthing ability and ease of use the point that everything else is acceptable. I've clients with IPS that have had so far very little problems but they have had them serviced to the letter , where as over seas boats can be sometimes overlooked.

Would I buy one, I'm not sure , the only boat that fits my wallet Is the targa 44 And that came with drives which superseded the earlier IPS because that balance of the boat was all wrong, it also performs better with drives and is cheaper to run , so based on that theory the debate went full circle.

 

[volvopaul]

Paul, given a choice between IPS and Arneson's, which way would you go?

Anesons are really Sexy and mandatory for the SOF so go get some Jimmy, really depends on the boats, surface drive is a totally different league.

 

[kashurst]

"I have been told to investigate the Rodman 38 & 41, which on paper looks like a very nice boat, but they only seem to be available with IPS drives."

both of these boats were made originally with shaft drives - look for pre 2007 boats. try TopBarcos website too.

on IPS I had a long chat with the local Volvo service guys in Spain. Their experience of IPS is that the early units had some issues, but the stuff made in the last 3 years or so has been very good. However servicing has to be spot on to detect the first signs of any trouble. And if you do get trouble make sure your credit card has a high limit.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Clutch issues are a huge bust on the wallet for the earlier IPS. On the IPS500 and 600 the cost is 2k EUROS a pop plus installation.
Now you can change the new clutch to the version 2 which is the same cost and should last a lot longer.

Version clutch will break every 5 years (+ or -) if you use or not use the boat.
An Italian mech told me the version one clutch does not last so long because it was not designed for the strain the joystick gives on it to accommodation what one wants to do with the joystick.

Surface drives need below changes every three or four years (you can add a protective cloth and this serves like 10 years) and the important detail is to take care of your anodes.
The rest does not usually break. SD have the concept as a shaft drive with the difference that the prop is sticking out of the stern and you have no rudders.

 

[Boat2016]

From the research I have been doing I would be more worried about the Seaplex/eplex systems or equivalent fitted to most production boats now, they will cost far more than a Volvo Penta part when they fail after becoming obsolete which appears to happen quite quickly, parts for IPS will be around long after they are forgotten