Bouba
Well-Known Member
The last generation probably thought that about us
IPS is 20 years old! Would you?
- Thread starter ari
- Start date
ari
Well-Known Member
'Secrets'!? It's some shafts and some gears, not the Space Shuttle!
Grubble
Well-Known Member
You know that you can "download" the complete service manuals for outdrives from the "internet" for free? There is also this thing that young people use called "The Youtube" where people post all sorts of "videos" on subjects as wide ranging as pranking old people, to showing how to change the impeller on an Alpha One Gen 2 outdrive.
Nothing really secret these days if you know how to use "Google" or even "Gemini".
Bouba
Well-Known Member
What’s Gemini ?
markc
Well-Known Member
A neighbour of mine has a 2009 boat (Absolut 52 HT) and has just had to replace both IPS units, plus turbos & intercoolers. Boat has done about 700 hours. Apparently 120k euros, but that may include some other work.
Grubble
Well-Known Member
It's every word you have ever typed on the internet sold back to you.
ari
Well-Known Member
It would be interesting to know the history of that boat. For example, if it's a well maintained regularly used fully serviced boat, that's concerning. But if it has not been used for three years and not been serviced for six years, then perhaps it's simply unsurprising.
That said, either way, there's potential for some big bills clearly.
petem
Well-Known Member
I was always of the opinion that our current sterndrive boat would be our last one. But we've had relatively few issues with them (servicing and repairs are cheap) so I'd be happy enough with another sterndrive boat if that was the arrangement for the boat that I wanted to buy. At worst, you're looking at £5k or so for a recon unit but unless you completely destroy one they're often repairable.
The above couldn't be said for an IPS boat so there's no way that I would contemplate one.
The above couldn't be said for an IPS boat so there's no way that I would contemplate one.
rafiki_
Well-Known Member
Yes, shafts and gears, stuffed under the boat, sealed with an o ring. What could possibly go wrong?'Secrets'!? It's some shafts and some gears, not the Space Shuttle!
oldgit
Well-Known Member
The main problem is deferred maintainance.
Instead of a few feet of inexpensive "stuffing" which might need repacking or replacing every few years and quite possibly done in the water, a complicated and time consuming ie, expensive regime required which without exception requires the boat to be lifted out.
Vital that regular servicing is carried out, no problem with the first few owners with the money and interest to protect their investment but as they go down the food chain the cost of servicing starts to get increasingly onerous as a proportion of the boats value, canny owners simply sell up and let the next owner sort any problems ?
If your boating involves a few hours on high days and holidays outdrives may be just the job, however if your boating puts serious hours on the clock its shafts all the way.
Grubble
Well-Known Member
I've printed this out on parchment, framed it in a gilded frame and put it up on the bog wall - oldgit admitting that outdrives might be suitable for use on a boat.If your boating involves a few hours on high days and holidays outdrives may be just the job, however if your boating puts serious hours on the clock its shafts all the way.
Bouba
Well-Known Member
If you think about it…a pod is just a totally submersed outdrive… with one great advantage…you see an outdrive…you see the corrosion…the barnacle encrustation…the deteriorating rubber gaiters…
Grubble
Well-Known Member
Of course if you keep your outdrive powered boat out of the water, all you see is the pristine shiny paintwork on the aluminium drive... you see the gleaming rubber bellows which last for years... you see the fresh 2-4-C grease oozing out around the u-joints (originals as shipped with the drive because you maintain them)... and you see the huge saving in cash compared with keeping your 1980s style crushed beige fake velvet lined floating caravan in a marina. As an added bonus you can hit 50mph out on the water and fill up with cheap petrol from the supermarket.
ari
Well-Known Member
Ooh, that's a good idea! Next time my outdrive needs a service, or a grand or two spending on fixing a problem, I'll be 'canny' instead!
Go through the hassle of selling the boat, pay the broker his £5,000 commission, then start hunting for a new secondhand boat, spend all that time and money travelling about trying to find one while the season ticks by and my marina berth lies empty, then pay for the survey, then pay for the boat to be delivered, then pay to fix all the faults that the previous 'canny' owner managed to hide. And then I can finally get back to boating!
I don't know why I never thought of that myself, you are indeed very wise.
ari
Well-Known Member
I've got a ye olde Volvo Penta outdrive service and repair guide carved into a tablet of stone propped up on the cistern in mine so that future generations can unlock the mystical secrets of fixing an outdrive, and all those legions of abandoned outdrive boats, Jedi repair skills having previously lost to the ages of time, can finally be reinstated.
Anyway, back to the actual subject of this thread before it was derailed - would you buy a 20 year old IPS boat..?
Flynnbarr
Well-Known Member
I would suspect that John Boyle has done far more than you’ll ever do.If your boating involves a few hours on high days and holidays outdrives may be just the job, however if your boating puts serious hours on the clock its shafts all the way.
But you crack on old timer
Grubble
Well-Known Member
I think first people should answer the question: Would you buy a brand new IPS boat? If the answer is "no" they shouldn't be allowed to answer the first question.Anyway, back to the actual subject of this thread before it was derailed - would you buy a 20 year old IPS boat..?
Bouba
Well-Known Member
I would buy a new boat with IPS (understanding that this is a fantasy situation as I am not in a position to actually buy a boat)....when you buy a twenty year old boat it is usually with the expectation of getting another twenty years out of her and then being able to sell her on....and that is probably the sticking point. Even if we think a twenty year IPS is as good as new...will a thirty or even forty year old set up be reliable
oldgit
Well-Known Member
An olde timer would love to know who John Boyle is or was ,the interweb produces a doctor and footballer but nothing with any remotely boaty connectionsI would suspect that John Boyle has done far more than you’ll ever do.
But you crack on old timer
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PowerYachtBlog
Well-Known Member
I am told that IPS has improved a lot. Most of the major improvements, came after 2010, with the drives becoming much better.
Although I have spoken to users who are happy with the 2007 systems. These users are usually those who do regular checks, and do the necessary maintenance and preventive maintenance straight away.
An important note in IPS is to check your oil regularly, much more then you do the engine. If you see oil/water mix, you can actually save money versus a stern drive, if you fix the problem asap.
For the problem with IPS is its monopolistic which is just about Volvo, which lets just be frank, beyond 12 litres and today 1000hp has always been weak, and average over 500hp.
The interesting note that Volvo has been pretty average in recent years reliability wise, though its market share has been on the rise, with the exception coming for sub-fifty foot boat and the rise of the outboard.
Although I have spoken to users who are happy with the 2007 systems. These users are usually those who do regular checks, and do the necessary maintenance and preventive maintenance straight away.
An important note in IPS is to check your oil regularly, much more then you do the engine. If you see oil/water mix, you can actually save money versus a stern drive, if you fix the problem asap.
For the problem with IPS is its monopolistic which is just about Volvo, which lets just be frank, beyond 12 litres and today 1000hp has always been weak, and average over 500hp.
The interesting note that Volvo has been pretty average in recent years reliability wise, though its market share has been on the rise, with the exception coming for sub-fifty foot boat and the rise of the outboard.
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