Nice that they save all that money on fuel. They can put it in the bank towards the inevitable service costs of IPS drives.
My concern about systems like the IPS drives is that they make handling a boat too easy, and neophyte owners will think they are boat handling geniuses. Until something goes wrong. There's a lot less to go wrong with regular inboard drives like we all have. Then again, we are old codgers who have spent years learning how to run a boat. And dock it.
Case in point. There's a 64' OAlex next dock over. I suspect the new owner cannot yet solo until a licensed captain signs-off with his insurance company. The hired captain, 100T Master, has taken the owner under instruction. Apparently, instruction is pretty much focused on bow and stern thrusting. So, they have gone out a few times over the last few weeks and practiced a dozen approaches each time around our very current challenged marina. To wit, they've (owner
and captain) have hit the docks and been sideways against 3-4 boats at a time. They recently accomplished a marina first; the captain plugged up the 65' fairway between two T-heads at one point. Sounds like the 100T Master's sea-time consisted of emptying ashtrays on a floating casino.
The owner has shown no discernible aptitude for handling his boat around fixed objects--like Aslan! After the crash, they commenced approaches on the empty space behind me--I hope I didn't make him nervous standing there. Anyway, his technique is, essentially, to get 25'-30' off a face dock and alternately bow/stern thrust over. He never uses his engines to maneuver or pass over a spring line to get alongside. I guess his captain is going for job security. IMO, they ought to turn off those thrusters and learn to drive the boat onto the dock. Now, we all sit up and take note when those motors fire up.
To make matters worse, after laying across and pinned to several boats last weekend, they eventually departed the marina failing to report their collision. I hailed them, and they said there was no damage to the boats they hit. Again IMO, not really their place to decide. So, I made certain the absent owners and the marina were made aware. When the defense again was,
no damage done, I suggested the marina take a look at the damage the OAlex did to itself--several thousands of dollars. How can you say you did no damage to others when you take a bow sprit inside your cockpit door and grind away on your boat's side. We peeled their paint off one of the boats they didn't damage. BTW, the 100T Master tried to power out of that spot with predictable results.
When later asked by one of the
victims for insurance information, the owner was quick to reassess his position. I imagine his insurance carrier would take a dim view of his future captaincy of their insured vessel. To me, it's a matter of integrity. But then, I'm sensitive. A guy hit me in August (while I was aboard) and tried the same tactic. He decided it best to pay me in cash while explaining it was all just a big misunderstanding. Isn't it always
after you're caught.
Anyway, reason most of these cool new yachts are coming in is service on their Volvo IPS pods. My neighbor has a Azimut 55 with 3 pods and 2 of them are currently in need of service - every season there is something with at least 1 of them. Apparently not many marina's willing to work on them and have to wait on Volvo specialist to come in and do the work. So I'm curious what you guys are seeing and hearing about Volvo IPS Pods reliability and overall owner satisfaction?
