IPS Ownership - My feedback

[jcwads]

When I purchased my current boat, there was a bit of chatter on my post in respect of IPS drives as well as quite a few other posts on here that have been a little unfavourable to IPS drives. I thought it would be helpful to give my feedback as an IPS boat owner, after 16 months of having it. Granted I have my comparison to outdrives as I have not owned a shaft drive, but hopefully its of interest.

Pro's

• Using the joystick is great. It makes a lot of manoeuvring very simplistic and is very convenient in an array of situations.
• The joystick hasn't de-skilled me at all, as I spent the first 7 years of my boat ownership on outdrives and in tidal waters. I alternate how I close quarter the boat from the joystick to the sticks and wheel, to keep a sense of traditional manoeuvring.
• So long as you follow a proper and thorough maintenance schedule then you should not be running into major problems. Having just serviced my boat in its first major service, the oil drained out clear and not emulsified. I took note with my engineer that there was a very tiny mark on one of the shafts, so we may change that next year, but its not in danger of causing issues in the next season. We have also decided to change shaft seals next year, as a precautionary measure.
• One of the benefits of having IPS over outdrives is that you can check the oil from the engine bay, so regular checks to see if there is any emulsification. This is helpful given that you can catch any issues nice and early should they arise.
• Servicing is nice and simple, without all the hassle of removing the drives, changing bellows, shift cables etc etc etc.
• A med related benefit to me is the fact that the props sit well forward on the boat (similar to shafts in a sense) in comparison to outdrives. If you are berthing med style you see all too often the lazy lines are all over the place in some marinas, and if you then factor in you have no boats either side of you and a nice side wind, then its quite hairy not to get a line round the prop. The outdrive props are so far back you see a lot of owners at some point calling out the divers. I all too often it will spin the prop off its bush and its ££££££.

Con's

• Fouling does drastically effect the performance of the boat. This is most likely an issue related to boats of my size and power range, rather than just IPS - 50 foot with IPS 600's. Any fouling will run your speed right down. We were getting max 18 knots at one point last season. A mid season lift helped that, but it fouled up again quickly in the med heat and slowed down again. This year I have painted the pods and put Velox Plus on the props. I am hoping this may well solve the issue this season, so we will see
• Volvo Penta IPS oil is eye wateringly expensive. And you need much more of it than you do on outdrives for the IPS units. This was a big chunk of cost this year, that stuff must be made out of liquid gold.
• I can understand the theory that those new to boating and who get an IPS boat could not skill up enough. If you learn off the joystick then it could land you in trouble. I find that the joystick is fine in benign conditions, but as soon as you have a bit of a gust, its not great for berthing, and if it kicks up a wind, its definitely not good. You have the option of high mode, but if you are wanting to get into a gap, its going to be kicking up water and rocking the boat. You could use high mode if say you wanted to turn in an aisle and abort if you had nasty conditions, but not for parking.. You would need to use traditional methods to get into your berth, and that is where it could easily catch out those who rely on just the joystick

I think that pretty much has everything that I can comment on in there. Overall I am very happy with my choice, and if you are considering a boat with IPS, don't be put off by those with perhaps more traditionalist points of view. I am sure the mechanical simplicities of owning a shaft drive will always be the overarching reason why it is the favoured choice of propulsion and understandably so. However with so many modern boats on the market with IPS, it would be a shame for anyone to discount it as a viable choice if a) the boat has a solid maintenance history and b) will be meticulously maintained.

For reference my boat is a 2015 Fairlane Targa 48, IPS 600.

 

[jfm]

That's interesting to hear - thanks for posting that jcwads. Long may it continue like that

 

[philipdawsonladds]

Do the IPS drives restrict access by increasing required draft?

 

[oldgit]

IPS need no more water than a similar boat with shafts.

 

[Mr Googler]

Repower marine sell this stuff in place of the Volvo penta liquid gold

Gearaxl 75w-90 5l - K & S McKenzie

Wouldn’t it be great to know what the Volvo spec actually is. Would I use is it in an outdrive…..defo. Virtually new IPS drives…..not sure I’d have the bottle

 

[bluetooth]

Whats the comparison of standard annual servicing costs of IPS vs outdrives? I'd heard this was significant, is this true?
Obviously annual repairs is a factor you can't really comment on at this stage.

 

[westernman]

Whats the comparison of standard annual servicing costs of IPS vs outdrives? I'd heard this was significant, is this true?
Obviously annual repairs is a factor you can't really comment on at this stage.

14 litres of gear oil (per drive).
150 quid for 5 litres (list price).

 

[bluetooth]

14 litres of gear oil (per drive).
150 quid for 5 litres (list price).

Oooh!

 

[Momac]

Sounds like IPS uses a lot more oil . But how often do the rubber bits need to be changed and can that be done DIY?

 

[jcwads]

Without wanting this to turn into an IPS v Outdrive post, the boat size and type I have is only on IPS. I personally am much happier (thus far) on IPS than I was on outdrives, for a multitude of reasons.

Post is maybe helpful for those contemplating a move to an IPS boat.

 

[oldgit]

Sounds like IPS uses a lot more oil . But how often do the rubber bits need to be changed and can that be done DIY?

IPS requires around 14 litres of synthetic oil per unit.
Assisted with an oil/ filter service last year on early IPS units with boat out of the water, very similar to doing an outdrive.

 

[benjenbav]

£500/year for oil may be liquid gold, but it’s hardly a deal-breaker on a >£0.5m boat. If that’s the extent of the extra maintenance cost over other systems then IPS might well be worth a second look.

 

[westernman]

£500/year for oil may be liquid gold, but it’s hardly a deal-breaker on a >£0.5m boat. If that’s the extent of the extra maintenance cost over other systems then IPS might well be worth a second look.

for each drive. So 1000 quid on a typical two pod boat. And that is not counting any oil for the engines, generator, steering etc.

 

[Portofino]

When does your warranty expire ?

 

[jfm]

When does your warranty expire ?

It's a 2015 boat, he already said.

 

[NBs]

Hi,

There have been a few unfortunate accidents here, which have been thoroughly investigated, where the IPS has not functioned as intended, with grounding in contact (It has broken the bottom when the ips has not cut across as planned.) The investigations are in Finnish, so if you're interested, use a translator.

"Both accident boats had two Volvo Penta IPS traction units. As none of the three propulsion units that struck the rocks broke in the safe manner specified by the manufacturer, it was decided to investigate the design of the IPS propulsion units together during both investigations. Problems were identified in the fracture pyramid of the towing device and in the matching of the towing device and the frame."

Aluminium charter yatch IDA 1
https://turvallisuustutkinta.fi/mat...tutkintaselostus/c42010m_tutkintaselostus.pdf

Jeanneau Prestige 42S
https://turvallisuustutkinta.fi/mat...intaselostus_1/c32010m_tutkintaselostus_1.pdf

Of course, the fault lies with the skipper, having made a navigation the error.

 

[DavidJ]

The way people are about finding alternatives, I’m surprised that there isn’t a well proven alternative oil by now.

 

[SC35]

Hi,

There have been a few unfortunate accidents here, which have been thoroughly investigated, where the IPS has not functioned as intended, with grounding in contact (It has broken the bottom when the ips has not cut across as planned.) The investigations are in Finnish, so if you're interested, use a translator.

"Both accident boats had two Volvo Penta IPS traction units. As none of the three propulsion units that struck the rocks broke in the safe manner specified by the manufacturer, it was decided to investigate the design of the IPS propulsion units together during both investigations. Problems were identified in the fracture pyramid of the towing device and in the matching of the towing device and the frame."

Aluminium charter yatch IDA 1
https://turvallisuustutkinta.fi/mat...tutkintaselostus/c42010m_tutkintaselostus.pdf

Jeanneau Prestige 42S
https://turvallisuustutkinta.fi/mat...intaselostus_1/c32010m_tutkintaselostus_1.pdf

Of course, the fault lies with the skipper, having made a navigation the error.

A boat with stern drives might have survived better, but a shaft drive boat would most likely have had a similar outcome.
Hitting rocks at 22kts just isn't a good idea in any boat.

 

[Portofino]

A boat with stern drives might have survived better, but a shaft drive boat would most likely have had a similar outcome.
Hitting rocks at 22kts just isn't a good idea in any boat.

Agree parking a boat like this .

Worrying about its repair ability isn’t, or shouldn’t be anywhere near the top of anybodies must have list of things they are looking for when buying .It’s your insurance Co problem .You won’t be repairing it .

Having said that I have heard of a couple of IPS pods that were knackered …..and refuted by insurance due to underwater strikes .Owners footing the replacement bill(s)

Boiled down to minor hit(s) not like this pic ^ = leading to unknown water ingress resulting in too knackered or uneconomic to repair so new needed .

Ins Co argues a seal leak or shaft wear thus wear n tear .Hard to detect until it’s too late .

 

[jcwads]

The way people are about finding alternatives, I’m surprised that there isn’t a well proven alternative oil by now.

View attachment 174173

I might make my own and sell it. I can retire soon that way.