Volvo IPS - CMD Zeus

A little info

Gents,

Props forward on IPS or aft on Zeus. Do you really believe the aft facing has any greater protection? I walked by a sterndrive the other day, all blades curled very nicely. Be it shafts, struts, lower unit housings, only a full keel helps prevent extreme propeller damage (oh, a little better navigation with all these new electronic toys helps as well).
Yes, a number of customers have cleaned off some Volvo Penta IPS drives. Rocks are very good at doing this. One of the drives might still be for sale on E-Bay.
As for electronic steering and engine control. The EPA has seen to it that the old technology is dead, as it will never meet today's standards. So we really have little choice. But mixing an engine manufacturers electronics, with a drive or transmission manufacturers product (say Yanmar/? or Cat/?) might be more troublesome perhaps. So a single company producing an entire package can be an advantage.

I hope you see my point here. I love what I see in future yachts like the Lazarra 92.

That's incorrect, IPS is for installations in even numbers only.

I think Orion meant the number of 'engines' instead of 'propellers' in the post #1. i.e. Marquis 50, Cruisers 52SC, Absolute 56...

Volvo Penta Sweden has suggested to me a triple IPS installation, so it must be possible...

The IPS can be installed as a single, twin, triple or quad. The only limitations are software and beam.

Prove me wrong then, I've never heard of a single or triple.

Hi,

There are a lot of very skilled and knowledgeable posters here so before laying down a challenge find something taxing to challenge

Triples: http://www.volvo.com/volvopenta/rus...Page.htm?channelId=2922&ItemID=10075&sl=en-gb

Quads: http://www.volvo.com/volvopenta/rus...Page.htm?channelId=2922&ItemID=13147&sl=en-gb

Absolute Yachts have triple IPS/600 since 2006, Marquis is coming soon and I am sure there are others too...

Hello again!
Sorry if the post was interpreted as offensive, it won't be repeated! The reason for putting the challenge out there was because I had searched to the best of my abilities without results, now I know better so I thank you!

Cheers

Just to clarify...

Volvo established a facility in Chesapeake, VA last year specifically to help boat builders incorporate the IPS system into existing and new hull types. For single or triple installations, a special insert is molded into the hull. I attended a press conference at this facility while a triple-mold was being faired. I have some pics of the event, including a shot under the hull of a triple rig installation, but can't seem to find 'em. Will post upon discovery.

From what I was told, the center drive needs some kind of tunnel modification of the hull. All IPS drives can use an insert to facilitate the installation.

That's correct Lars. Here's a pic of that triple IPS mold insert during the fairing process...

And here's a pic of the triple-IPS installation...

Still no singles however Alpina. It just does not work out well (no redundancy, not the right ratios and props, too low of a speed range).

So what about the Zeus-system? To late, to little and much to underperforming or what?

Marquis has the 50 Sport Coupe with Triple IPS as well as the Tiara 58 Sovran. Both with Triple Volvo IPS 600 435hp per engine but with the IPS drives they say it is equivalent to a shaft drive 600hp engine.

I can't comment on the Zeus system, I haven't used it. However I have used the IPS system in various boats, ranging from 25 foot day boats to the LSX. It makes no difference to me whether someone thinks the Zeus is better, as a propulsion engineer, I believe the IPS is a better system. And frankly, I have no interest in being a guinea pig for Mercury, as many of us have over the years.

Volvo-Penta is one, if not THE, most innovative company in marine propulsion history. They originated the I/O drive, the duo-prop system and most recently, the pod drive for the consumer market. From what I've seen, the people at Volvo are conservative and careful. They are more concerned with building a great product, then improving their bottom line. As someone who has developed products specific to this field, I tend to support companies that originate ideas, not those that duplicate and claim.

I don't have any experience on Zeus, but I do have a fair amount on Axius and IPS. My comment to YF is ditto.

I forgot the Silverton Ovation 52 has triple IPS drives as well.

the zeus drive in our Cobalt 46 ft yacht handles excellent. very tight turn radius. the yacht is very heavy for its class, but it performs excellent.
we are using twin 475hp cummins . zero to plane is 13 secends, 15 seconds to plane with 850lbs weight on transom (pwc). top-speed is at 39 mph.

i will try to scan some pictures