Future of pods

Ships and tugs have been using them for years. 'cept for that one cruise ship in the Bahamas, draft is usually not an issue and everything is a benefit.

I can see quickly large yachts using them, stay with the big ZFs and others and keep it down to two main drive lines.

Some SFs have tried to use pods with a jackshafts with some good results.
Huckins is just fixing to deliver a new SF with Cummins / Zeus drives with jackshaft. (ugly boat IMO))

Were managing a Meridian (fancy Ray) with Zeus. The owner is happy.
Our diver has learned to change the wheels in dark water (blindfolded) and install new bottom vert tabs. Zincs still takes a few minutes.

For us, I'm not rich and famous, operate in shallow water, and prefer the KISS rule.
,rc

There's three or four 100 + foot Browards still in Service that are running with Ulstein Speed Zee drives. (tractor drives) These units were fixed and not azimuthing but I believe one was variable pitch. Between Rolls Royce and Schottel there would be plenty of choices for 100' and up yachts to choose a pod system that fits the propulsion package.

I think if you want higher performances (Pershing and similar) surface drives will win versus pods. Volvo IPS has a limit of about 40 knots. I know of an Absolute 47 which touched 41 knots in light mode with the IPS600 Volvo D6 435hp and is one of the fastest.

It is is possible that the ZF can go faster to this due to the propeller looking back configuration.

So far Volvo is winning hands down and I think it has 80% of the market share versus the ZF and other pods. I do not understand since ZF is easier to apply and requires little hull design change versus the IPS. I think this is mostly due to after sales networks and service centers being open everywhere.

I am not sure if Ferretti Group (Riva) will jump into pods. So far they never have tested them as far as I know on any of there boats. The Itama 45 and Mochi 44 Dolphin would be a good place to start for them, but I see no interest. Both brands have always been shaft driven boats, even before the Ferretti acquisition.

As as large pods go, also remember the Fortjes system from France which was equipped on a new 29 meter Maiora a couple years back.

The Rolls Royce system is currently being manufactured for yachts and has all the same characteristics whilst the Schottel is catching up at this point pod wise but they sell quite a few pump jets to the yachting market .
Rolls Royce has an all Carbon Azipod / AZP65c that's being manufactured exclusively for the Benetti group for their F-145 fast and a few other vessels like the Azimut Grande etc.
It seems that Rolls Royce has realized the $$ to be made in yachts after acquiring Vickers in 1999 and has aggressively acquired manufacturers the last ten or so years positioned in both the commercial and yacht sector such as kamewa and Ulstein propeller. The big difference in these systems Zeus, IPS and the Ulsteins would be the pricing.

Capt J

Can Spurs Marine or any kind of line cutters be fitted to IPS or Zeus pods?

Wow, That's a question.
I can see a cutter on the first wheel from the case, probably where it's really needed.
Cutters in between wheels could take some magic. There is too much room between the wheels for them to clear themselves and like on a past Volvo DP Z drive I had; a line will lock them up. The forward facing (IPS) wheels would foul and lock up big time, Zuse with a case cutter may clear, IMO.

There seems to be a HP threshold for the mechanical smaller pods at this time. the ZF 4000 is rated at 1200 HP @ 2300 RPM and was fitted to a couple of Viking S/F with C18 mains in 2011. ABB and Schottel electric pods begin their ratings @ 1MW
So that would be a neat trick to pull off in small to medium sized yachts. In lieu of two main propulsion engines just install suitable sizes gens on the stringers and run diesel electric if they can scale the power back a smidge. A bit of "Pie in the Sky" on my part But an interesting thought.

Thank you Fish.
That looks like a circle of Mako Shark teeth! Looks really aggressive compared to Spurs Marine. I don't have any experience with this pod manufacturer and was curious to how this was done once A "Lobstah" (Maine) boat builder was mentioned.

This is not going to keep the wheels from fouling from a pot line. It may keep fishline and trash from getting between the Wheels.
It looks like a plastic shield is covering the case to first wheel gap.

This will not replace spurs or cutters as on straight inboard installations. AND these only work sometimes.

http://www.volvopenta.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/Penta/EVC/Eng/English_LineCutter.pdf

Ok, but 1200hp ZF's really opens the doors to a lot of things. I think the 65' Searay Fly fitted with C18's and the ZF pods would provide plenty of power. You have to figure 1150hp acerts/pods will give you the same speed/propulsion as about 1500hp and straight shaft from my experience......

Honestly my preference is Zues after running all of them. Volvo is just as smooth in dockside handling and so forth.....I simply don't like the Volvo network,warranty claim, and foward facing props. ZF's work good and are a quality product but do lack a little of the dockside finesse the IPS and Zues have. If CMD could mate a C18 Cat to their pods it would be a good match......or even anything in the 1000hp range.