Volvo D4 with joystick

[frenzy]

Thank Alt for your reply,

must admit that my previous boat also had KAD 300s and I had no problems what so ever. Maybe I was just unlucky with the issues I had with the latest one.
I suppose that’s why I am so cautious and trying to get as much information as possible before I commit.

 

[volvopaul]

Thanks for the reply
As far as I am aware it has the Dp sterndrives. Sea trial is organised. Should the outdrives be pressure tested rather than just tested with the dip stick.

There is no dipstick, you have to dismantle the drive to check the oil .

 

[volvopaul]

The joystick system on an outdrive boat is a very expensive piece of kit to run.
The shift actuators wear out , the shift cables wear, the steering rams 4 of have electric position sensors that fail, shal I go on.

 

[julians]

The joystick system on an outdrive boat is a very expensive piece of kit to run.
The shift actuators wear out , the shift cables wear, the steering rams 4 of have electric position sensors that fail, shal I go on.

Sounds horribly complicated, solving a problem that doesn't really exist.

I'd be avoiding a boat with that system.

Can you easily remove/disable the joystick elements, such that if the various sensors fail they don't stop you using the boat? Ie if the joystick system fails can it still be operated like an old fashioned boat, or does it put itself into some kind of limp mode that requires the broken component fixing before it will operate even as merely an old fashioned boat?

 

[Momac]

The more I read about the D series engines the more inclined I am to stick with older technology kad engines.
The kads may not be perfect but it seems they can always be fixed.

 

[julians]

The more I read about the D series engines the more inclined I am to stick with older technology kad engines.
The kads may not be perfect but it seems they can always be fixed.

Its not the d series specifically, its the joystick control of the d series. ie you can have a boat with the d series without joystick control - I suspect the majority of d series engined boats dont have the joystick control (mine doesnt have it for example) - mainly because it was a pretty expensive optional extra when new.

 

[frenzy]

Thanks Again everyone for the honest Opinions.

At this stage I will walk away from this boat as I have not heard anything positive about the Joystick system.

disappointing but i do not feel like spending big money on a system that needs that much maintenance.

 

[Momac]

Its not the d series specifically, its the joystick control of the d series. ie you can have a boat with the d series without joystick control - I suspect the majority of d series engined boats dont have the joystick control (mine doesnt have it for example) - mainly because it was a pretty expensive optional extra when new.

Yes I realise the joystick was an optional extra.
I get the impression the older engines are more robust so an older kad may be a safer bet than an old D4?

 

[DavidJ]

Yes I realise the joystick was an optional extra.
I get the impression the older engines are more robust so an older kad may be a safer bet than an old D4?

Problem being to get away from VP electronic wizardry you have to go back 20 years to KAD43’s

 

[julians]

Yes I realise the joystick was an optional extra.
I get the impression the older engines are more robust so an older kad may be a safer bet than an old D4?

Pros and cons to each I reckon.

I think I'd probably still go for the more modern engine, if everything else was equal - which it probably wouldn't be.

The newer engine would almost certainly be attached to a newer boat as well , and would be more expensive than the older engined boat.

 

[CHI]

I have a 2014 model year boat with D6 series engines and Joystick , and so far not had a problem with the steering system. Maybe just lucky.

 

[CHI]

Frenzy. You should google Boat Test .com. " Sterndrive Joystick." Some info regarding the components, although the DPH legs have the steering cylinders on the leg , under the water. Again so far no problem as yet , although these are prone to failure, but VP have brought the replacement price down. Good Luck

 

[frenzy]

Thanks for that Chi.
I do believe luck has a big part to play in this as in my previous post, I had the same engines (KAD 300) in two different boats and different results. . It’s good to hear a positive as my choice of boats has been reduced by removing the joystick option.

 

[wawando]

Hi,
I had a Leader 10 with twin D4 260 with DP drives and joystick.
That thing worked like a charm!
I trained to handle the boat without using it but after a volvo maintenance when Isaid i did not use it and he asked: why??? I stopped being fundamentalist and used the joystick. Zero probkems and even my unskilled boat crew was able to practice docking with the joystick.