Hit anything lately ?

Any drive system will be damaged if you hit anything or run aground with any speed behind you. I would say that hitting an object with any type of drive system would be a concern if you're going over 8 knots and running aground at any speed. The pod systems are designed to break away in an extreme case of hitting something and leaving the hull without a hole in it from the drive system. I have not seen any damaged units to testify to this at all.

I agree that hitting something with these pods could become extremely expensive. On of the worst drawbacks to these systems (other than grounding damage) is damaging the seals which is often caused by fishing line-once water gets in the trouble begins.

Have you seen this first hand? Which seal are you speaking of?

Can't see fishing line being any more problem than on any outdrive. As far as the upper seals are concerned it's not like they're spinning so the line would just drape until it washes off. The prop sears would represent the same problems with the same results. One major plus with the pod would be that they break off and seal. Hit that hard with an I/O and it could rip your transom.

Have you ever seen this happening to an I/O? I have seen many drives missing but no damage to the transom. Normally it just bumps up and then down again, with or without damage from the grounding.

I have seen this first hand. the seal that was damaged was a lower seal on the Volvo IPS drive.

I've seen damage of all sorts to transoms from all sorts of causes. However I meant to write 'rip out of your'. Thanks.

By lower seal I assume you to mean the seal at the hull?

So fishing line cut the seal?

What diameter/test would you say the line was?

What was damaged besides the seal?

Did it let water in to the boat, drive unit or both?

Isn't there a seal on the inside of the hull as well?

Seems like a major weakness in this system if fishing line alone can mess up one of the main seals.

The lower seal is behind the prop and is vulnerable to damage by fishing line on every option with a lower unit.

"Seems like a major weakness in this system if fishing line alone can mess up one of the main seals."

Does it to very large ships all the time. It doesn't take much monofilament to destroy a lip seal.

Yes I understand that. But on a new system like this one would think that had been taken into consideration and perhaps over come.

Simple. Just invent a product that is hard enough not to cut with a razor but soft and pliable enough to stop water migration while not costing enough to break NASA's budget.

See, I knew there was an answer.

But seriously, if the damage happens at the pivot point of the drive, I would think there would be a way to shield the seal in a way that would preclude line from getting in and doing damage to the seal.

I guess I need to take a closer look at the drives at the Miami show.

One of us is misunderstanding m2m. Is it the lower seal behind the prop or the hull seal? Don't see how the later would be possible. Don't see how there would be enough movement to work the line in or to cause a cut. The pods on tugs spin 360* and get a lot of work but I haven't heard of that problem there either.

5200!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hehehe

Capt J, thank goodness you're not an engineer.

hehehehe well 5200 does meet all of your qualifications. Hard enough not to cut with a razor (well you can but it takes a lot of work), pliable, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. hehehe

Either have I. And that's way I asked those questions. I was trying to find out which seal he meant. If it was a prop shaft seal that failed that would be no different than what can happen on most any type of drive. Or even to a shaft bearing.

But if it was the pivot point seal that would be a big design flaw IMO.

Yeah, but it always seems to end up on you arm and leg.