IPS Ownership - My feedback

[TonyR123]

Having moved from a new Prestige 500 (2017?) with IPS600 to a new Princess v55 (2023) with shafts I would not put anyone off IPS. I guess I didnt do that many hours in the Prestige (200 maybe in 6 years) to have any issues and I didnt have any issues with the boat. Had a few issues in the Princess but these arent anything to do with shaft or ips. Just a little unlucky - fuel pressure - but has been sorted.

Having said that I find the v55 even easier to manoeuvre than the P500, although the v55 also has a stern thruster. Thrusters are instant while the IPS to go sideways is not quite so instant.

As someone said - 2 identical boats one with shafts and one with ips then most would go for the shaft boat. Think I would agree with that. If a hull comes with the choice I would probably go shafts, but if the boat only had IPS I would not be put off the boat itself due to that.

 

[47GC]

As someone said - 2 identical boats one with shafts and one with ips then most would go for the shaft boat. Think I would agree with that. If a hull comes with the choice I would probably go shafts, but if the boat only had IPS I would not be put off the boat itself due to that.

Thats a good way to put it.

 

[westernman]

IPS requires the gear oil changing every year.
It is 32 litres a go for each transmission.
That oil is also particularly expensive.
Volvo sells that in amounts which do not match up with the volume needed.
E.g. it is sold in 1/5/20/208 litre containers.
So for two engines you need 3 x 20 litres, + 1 x 5 liters = 3x555.36 + 176.40 = total of 1842.48.

That is 1842.48 for oil for the transmission alone. Then add on some filters, seals from time to time and labour and special tools for replacing the seals.

OK - it is about 10 hours worth of fuel at full chat.

 

[47GC]

Not sure what IPS you have but I was told 14 litres per pod @£26 litre. Thats £728 per year + vat. On the scheme of boating it’s peanuts.

 

[Clash]

IPS requires the gear oil changing every year.
It is 32 litres a go for each transmission.
That oil is also particularly expensive.
Volvo sells that in amounts which do not match up with the volume needed.
E.g. it is sold in 1/5/20/208 litre containers.
So for two engines you need 3 x 20 litres, + 1 x 5 liters = 3x555.36 + 176.40 = total of 1842.48.

That is 1842.48 for oil for the transmission alone. Then add on some filters, seals from time to time and labour and special tools for replacing the seals.

OK - it is about 10 hours worth of fuel at full chat.

Not sure what IPS you have but I was told 14 litres per pod @£26 litre.

Not much difference in the prices there. @westernman is saying £27.75 per litre rather than your £26. Only real difference is in the volumes.

As an aside, that is some price for an oil. Is it made from unicorn jizz or something?

 

[47GC]

Not much difference in the prices there. @westernman is saying £27.75 per litre rather than your £26. Only real difference is in the volumes.

As an aside, that is some price for an oil. Is it made from unicorn jizz or something?

Agreed, reassuringly expensive. You get a discount if you self-administer extraction from the unicorn. You heard it here first!

 

[SC35]

As an aside, that is some price for an oil. Is it made from unicorn jizz or something?

It has extract of tears of the Mermaid that files your tax return.

 

[ari]

Agreed, reassuringly expensive. You get a discount if you self-administer extraction from the unicorn. You heard it here first!

You do know that's just a VP mechanic in a unicorn outfit don't you..?

 

[oldgit]

Likewise someone prioritising interior volume (another benefit of IPS).

A bit like the claims that outdrives are more economical than shafts, possibly , if you go to WOT the second you cast off and remain there until arriving at your destination.
In the real world, much of the journey is spent ( after leaving your mooring and due to other craft, speed limits etc) at displacement speeds , the same at the other end. Fuel difference marginal .
.........................and now that interior space claim.
Can only comment regards the Rodman 41, one of the very first builders to design a hull specifically to take advantage of all those earth shattering revolutionary benefits of IPS.
The 41 was reviewed by a very well known and much respecteded reviewer of boats and one of the main advantages of IPS helpfully pointed out , was, the ability to provide sufficient space for a half decent third cabin in such a compact hull.
The shaft driven version also has the third cabin.

 

[Grubble]

A bit like the claims that outdrives are more economical than shafts, possibly , if you go to WOT the second you cast off and remain there until arriving at your destination.
In the real world, much of the journey is spent ( after leaving your mooring and due to other craft, speed limits etc) at displacement speeds , the same at the other end. Fuel difference marginal .
.........................and now that interior space claim.
Can only comment regards the Rodman 41, one of the very first builders to design a hull specifically to take advantage of all those earth shattering revolutionary benefits of IPS.
The 41 was reviewed by a very well known and much respecteded reviewer of boats and one of the main advantages of IPS helpfully pointed out , was, the ability to provide sufficient space for a half decent third cabin in such a compact hull.
The shaft driven version also has the third cabin.

Remind us again about that spare gearbox you keep in the garage because replacement ones are impossible to get hold of?

 

[volvopaul]

Remind us again about that spare gearbox you keep in the garage because replacement ones are impossible to get hold of?

At the moment ZF gearboxes and spare parts are on a long lead time , it’s as if Italy has stopped production or they are being selective who they sell to.

 

[Grubble]

At the moment ZF gearboxes and spare parts are on a long lead time , it’s as if Italy has stopped production or they are being selective who they sell to.

It must be a very long lead time as OG has had his sitting there rusting away for at least 20 years.

 

[oldgit]

Remind us again about that spare gearbox you keep in the garage because replacement ones are impossible to get hold of?

You must mean the MS4B 2.63:1 reverse gear for a nearly 35 year old boat , gearbox later sold on cos never needed.
Await the day somebody comes on here with a 2000 hour 35 year old IPS (or outdrive) that is the original unit with nothing other than a £ 20.00
(in the water) 1 litre oil change every few years.

 

[Grubble]

You must mean the one for nearly 40 year old boat that was sold on at a rather nice profit cos it was never needed.

Just shows how expensive it is to own one of those shaft drive boats if you need to buy a spare gearbox at an extortionate price that you will never need. I personally don't buy spare parts that I don't need, but each to his own.

 

[oldgit]

Just shows how expensive it is to own one of those shaft drive boats if you need to buy a spare gearbox at an extortionate price that you will never need. I personally don't buy spare parts that I don't need, but each to his own.

£500.00 pounds might be stretching the word extortionate a little perhaps.
It would however buy you 19 litres of the magic fluid to fill one of those IPS drives every 2 years or mebbe a days wages for the man from Volvo Penta to pop down and tell you that you might get away with new oil seals this time , but no guarentee whatsoever it will see out next season.
He will however give you quote for doing it properly next time.
£500 will also pay for a lift out and a day or two on the hard to do the IPS service and/or any remedial work.

 

[Grubble]

£500.00 pounds might be stretching the word extortionate a little perhaps.
It would however buy you 19 litres of the magic fluid to fill one of those IPS drives every 2 years or mebbe a days wages for the man from Volvo Penta to pop down and tell you that you might get away with new oil seals this time , but no guarentee whatsoever it will see out next season.
He will however give you quote for doing it properly next time.
£500 will also pay for a lift out and a day or two on the hard to do the IPS service and/or any remedial work.

Unlike you wealthy southerners, where I'm from £500 for a pile of rust I'll never use is a lot of money.

Conversely £500 on oil for a boat that cost in the region of a million quid is going to be lost in the white noise at the fringes of the owner's bank statements, amongst the vets bills for Bijou's pony and the credit card bill from that night out at Platinum Lace. And some of us don't even mind paying for the privilege of not seeing the colour brown when we look over the side of the boat.

 

[volvopaul]

It must be a very long lead time as OG has had his sitting there rusting away for at least 20 years.

If it’s an MS4 he’s got sat in his garage it’s worth very good money , that box has been out of production for many years now , the only parts you can get are seals and the cone clutch . They were fitted to many engines and boats to the 31/41 series engines , to replace them now as a pair you have to buy the ZF hs 45 along with hours of work altering the engine angle and height as the shaft output drop is different, so in actual fact OG is sat on a little goldmine, when running the boat he has its better than money in the bank .
Don’t get me started on IPS.

 

[MapisM]

Don’t get me started on IPS.

Considering who is writing this, I don't think there's much more worth knowing about IPS!

 

[Clash]

Does IPS stand for Infernal Propulsion System?

 

[oldgit]

If it’s an MS4 he’s got sat in his garage it’s worth very good money , that box has been out of production for many years now , the only parts you can get are seals and the cone clutch . They were fitted to many engines and boats to the 31/41 series engines , to replace them now as a pair you have to buy the ZF hs 45 along with hours of work altering the engine angle and height as the shaft output drop is different, so in actual fact OG is sat on a little goldmine, when running the boat he has its better than money in the bank .
Don’t get me started on IPS.

After a few years lurking unused in a garage ( quite common in the effette South, we dont keep coal in the bath either ) the little baby gearbox made from cast iron and other non ferrous materials , the word 'ferrous' comes from the Latin word 'ferrum,' which means 'iron, was sold to a buyer who popped over from Germany to collect , the handover took place in lonely deserted wind swept car park at Dover Docks.
The transfer of a rather heavy box from the back of an Audi to a Mercedes went unobserved by the security camera and/or it was to cold for them the come outside, we both bought some henchmen along for security purposes due to the value of the transaction.
Between OGs appalling German and the buyers little group we mustered enough understanding to complete the exchange and to explain where the nearest chip shop was.
Bring English , one is very reluctant to discuss matters of personal finance but can say the box was sold for an amount sufficient to fill a 1000L fuel tank to be found on the perfectly average type of vessel commonly found down here in the prosperous South.
Am aware of the location of two other "spare" gearboxes and of a third which could possibly be resurrected, howeve,r am sworn to silence unless being greeted with a very special handshake.
Some of this account may be entirely fictional or may have elements of truth.
A Merry Winterval to All. Even to those in the wastelands beyond the M25.