Would you buy a 40PC with IPS ? Survey


I'm a 2006 40pc owner with IPS. Bought the boat in Dec. 2010 and absolutely love it. It's our first big boat and our goal is to make sure that every weekend this summer we're gone. Yes, I've had water in one of my pods due to the infamous "bronze" steering seal ring. The local Volvo Mechs had my pod in their shop over the winter. Due to the water we changed out the clutch, ring, all seals, and a whole bunch of other little stuff. The estimate was close to $6000, but I had extra work done which raised that bill quite a bit. It's a dream to park, the exhaust comes out the back of the pods underwater, so no smells at all, and very quiet. Next winter I'll be changing the other steering ring whether it's leaking or not. I think Volvo recommends every 5 years they be changed. Very disappointed in Volvo for not standing behind their product. Mine was the first year they offered IPS, so hopefully they've corrected all their mistakes (at our expense) by now.
 
Big Fish,

I understand that Volvo now recommends replacement of the stainless steel steering ring every 350hrs some say 3yrs. I have not looked for my self but was listed on the IPS site. I should find it before stating the above,
Are you on the Volvo IPS site?

Any issues with your engines? Have you installed the oil coolers and the strainer covers with clear updated covers?
 
I wouldn't buy a boat without IPS drives. I have a 2008 40PC and haven't had any issues others seem to have experienced ( knock on wood). I have no idea on how anyone figures $5000 per year on maintenance unless it includes repairs. I do an oil change, and fluid change on the lower units every year. The oil I do myself. the lower units were less than $400 to have an authorized dealer do.
No other issues, and I have around 500 hours on the engines, and close to 3000 miles on the boat. Another thing to consider is that I do believe you get around 25% better mileage. I get around 1.25 miles per gallon for both drives, and no one I cruise with gets better than 1. Thats a difference of 600 gallons over the last 3 seasons or almost $800 per year for me. Maybe I've just been lucky, but it seems to me there's a lot of folks with straight line diesels that also have issues.
 
With close to 4 gallons of gear lube per pod, I wold venture to guess that Volvo will eventually put a water in gear lube sensor like the did in the Ocean X DPS units.

Too bad this technology isn't standard across the board, because its not a fresh vs salt debate.
 
Rich,
Great Loop, shorline with mulltiple nights onboard, this is not a use profile for a berth that you have to crawl into like a cave. Really thinking about that profile puts you in at least a 37 PC, 40PC would be better, 45 Yacht the best. But not wanting volvo IPS and wanting late model is getting more limiting.
Fill us in on your 400SS ride in Chicago if you get a chance.
Greg
 
Get the biggest one you can afford! You can always increase your comfort in a bigger boat. A smaller boat has limits, I would rather have extra potential space to use than wish next year I would have gone for 3 more feet. Best case senario is to keep this thread going for another year and get more kinks worked out of the drives and then buy one. I heard that there is some kind of copper ring that fails in those drives and if your in areas like me that go from 8' to 1' in 30' wide channels, it would probably limit your hangouts and increase your fear factor. But thats my 1 cent. I haven't earned the right yet to even give you my 2 cents. Clueless
 
I am reading this thread and am fascinated by the fact that most of the posts are from people who have never owned an IPS powered vessel. As an owner of a 40pc that is currently being repaired for the infamous "water intrusion" let me give you some thoughts. First, this was my first diesel powered boat and I would never go back to a gasoline powered boat again. The fuel economy, trouble free operation, safety, cruising speed and longevity of a diesel engine cannot be compared to gasoline powered vessels especially when you get above 30 feet. As far as IPS is concerned, this was the first problem I had with IPS drives since I purchased the boat. After speaking with other IPS owners I have discovered a little known fact, lol. While IPS owners, who do have problems with their systems, complain, the majority of owners with problems (other than water intrusion) has either run aground or haven"t serviced them according to Volvo recommendations. Yes, service on IPS systems are more expensive but that is because they are bigger and more complicated than simpler outdrives or V-drives. Speak to any large boat owner and ask about the cost of repairs on large diesels or surface drives when an object is struck. By the way, other than water intrusion, almost all IPS installations are trouble free.

Now back to water intrusion in IPS drives. When Volvo Penta first released them, it seems they made a mistake. The steering seal was made of bronze and after a period of time, it corrodes and the seal begins to leak. Volvo has since redesigned the seals, both steering and propeller shaft seals. They are now manufactured from 316L stainless. When drives are serviced correctly, the bronze seals lasted about five (5) years, the stainless steel seals are expected to last two to three times longer. If the repair falls "out of warranty" it is expensive (approximately $11,000). Because of this, some IPS owners don't repair their vessels when water intrusion is discovered. They simply replace the drive oil and keep running their boat. That is what causes catastrophic failure.

Lastly, the directional control, ease of operation, fuel economy, cruising speed and quality of support from Volvo Penta cannot be matched and I would not go back to "normal" propulsion after owning an IPS powered boat.
 
F3504x4ps said:
Big Fish,

I understand that Volvo now recommends replacement of the stainless steel steering ring every 350hrs some say 3yrs. I have not looked for my self but was listed on the IPS site. I should find it before stating the above,
Are you on the Volvo IPS site?

Any issues with your engines? Have you installed the oil coolers and the strainer covers with clear updated covers?
Click to expand...

F350,

I could be mistaken, but I think I read recently on the volvo website that they recommend the ring be replaced every 5 years. This may have been the recommendation BEFORE they had all the trouble with the rings. I have found nothing in my manuals. I AM on the Volvo IPS website. I think you guys can get on the site. One of the threads here indicated you could just type any numbers in for a serial number and it will let you on. Maybe a search could find it.

Issues with engines?...none really. Strainers have been upgraded. Put oil coolers on the transmissions this winter which reduced the transmission oil temps by 70 degrees. Volvo mechs recommend I replace fanbelt pulleys to metal (they're plastic now) with a quoted estimate of around $2000 for that upgrade.

I wholeheartedly second the opinion of the other IPS drivers above. It's an awesome machine. I'll never go back. I think once we get these ring problems taken care of we'll have some good years with no headaches (wait a minute...it's a boat...who am I kidding). As for running aground with the pods, that's what chartplotters are for. Maybe I'm a little anal, but I drive with one eye on the plot and the other up front. (I'll probably be back next week to report I've run aground).
 
F3504x4ps said:
Formula Tenn said:
now that i've read this post all the way, it is obvious to me that you need a 40pc with inboard diesels. problem solved. :) and no thanks are needed :D i might know where one is at on the TN River with silver hull sides, she's a beauty, let me know if you wanna buy it ;)
Click to expand...

See no thats all I needed, Formula Tenn to hook me up and tell me what I need. LOL ;D.

So what years offered inboards? 2008? or was 2007 and up were IPS?
[/quote

sorry f350 but after group27's post i'm gonna have to re-think this thru again. Looks like he's got experience w/pods and i've got experience with inboards. he likes his pods and i like my inboards so we're back ta square one. you were lookin for real world answers and he gave you some really good insight on the pods which i can't do. but i've always thought my dream boat would be the 40pc w/either inboards or pods, she'd be able to take us anywhere we wanted to go. in all honesty if i were to be able to make that move i'd be doin' a bunch of research on both and also looking at what the market had to offer. a really sweet deal would probably have some influence on my decision just as input from actual owners experience would. i'd also have to add that it really does appear that the pods are a really good product with relatively few problems and i still believe that is what people are gonna be looking for in the future as well whether it be Formula or any other brand.
Click to expand...
 
Just look into getting a older model 40PC with the engines that you are used to and add a bow and stern thruster. Then you can move the way you want and have the engines you like. Just pray for fuel to come down so you can use it as the diesel guys do. Bow thrusters are around $8000 and stern are probably around the same, but you can spin like a top!! My 1 cent again...Clueless

Size wise, has anyone that went to a 40' or 45' wish that they had gone 37 or 33?????
 
Big coincidence reading this post today. I just got a quote on a 2012 40pc with Volvo IPS, with my 31pc as trade in. Seems like Volvo IPS is what they are pushing. Even thou this is the future of boating, I am not sold on the system, too many negatives so far.
Would love to see how the percentage of problems/sales with IPS compares to the percentage of problems with Mercruiser with stern drives. Maybe the number of IPS complaints is a tiny percentage?
 
gr8trn said:
Rich,
Great Loop, shorline with mulltiple nights onboard, this is not a use profile for a berth that you have to crawl into like a cave. Really thinking about that profile puts you in at least a 37 PC, 40PC would be better, 45 Yacht the best. But not wanting volvo IPS and wanting late model is getting more limiting.
Fill us in on your 400SS ride in Chicago if you get a chance.
Greg
Click to expand...

Greg,

Went for a short ride since the boat had been sold on Thursday while the boat was unloaded. The short ride was nice, waves were in the 1-2ft range so not too much to compair for ride. They will try to setup a longer test drive with in the next month. The 400SS will work for us, 4 sleep in cabin and 2 out on deck when we have the kids bring their friends, with cockpit ac and heat they will be fine for a weekend. Will report back once we drive again.

While at the show we were looking at Tara boats, I asked the sales person if he would but a boat with IPS and this was his responce No Way, one of the three boats they brought with 500 IPS had an issue while driving from Winthrop harbor to the new 31st Street Harbor approx 30miles (not sure) , They wanted the tech to ck out and see if it would make it back to their dealer. He also stated that their is so much to go wrong it's hard to diagnose.
 
Group27 said:
I am reading this thread and am fascinated by the fact that most of the posts are from people who have never owned an IPS powered vessel. As an owner of a 40pc that is currently being repaired for the infamous "water intrusion" let me give you some thoughts. First, this was my first diesel powered boat and I would never go back to a gasoline powered boat again. The fuel economy, trouble free operation, safety, cruising speed and longevity of a diesel engine cannot be compared to gasoline powered vessels especially when you get above 30 feet. As far as IPS is concerned, this was the first problem I had with IPS drives since I purchased the boat. After speaking with other IPS owners I have discovered a little known fact, lol. While IPS owners, who do have problems with their systems, complain, the majority of owners with problems (other than water intrusion) has either run aground or haven"t serviced them according to Volvo recommendations. Yes, service on IPS systems are more expensive but that is because they are bigger and more complicated than simpler outdrives or V-drives. Speak to any large boat owner and ask about the cost of repairs on large diesels or surface drives when an object is struck. By the way, other than water intrusion, almost all IPS installations are trouble free.

Now back to water intrusion in IPS drives. When Volvo Penta first released them, it seems they made a mistake. The steering seal was made of bronze and after a period of time, it corrodes and the seal begins to leak. Volvo has since redesigned the seals, both steering and propeller shaft seals. They are now manufactured from 316L stainless. When drives are serviced correctly, the bronze seals lasted about five (5) years, the stainless steel seals are expected to last two to three times longer. If the repair falls "out of warranty" it is expensive (approximately $11,000). Because of this, some IPS owners don't repair their vessels when water intrusion is discovered. They simply replace the drive oil and keep running their boat. That is what causes catastrophic failure.

Lastly, the directional control, ease of operation, fuel economy, cruising speed and quality of support from Volvo Penta cannot be matched and I would not go back to "normal" propulsion after owning an IPS powered boat.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I am looking for, Yes all the issues, well 90% are water intrusion and like you stated the excessive cost is due to owner neglict or lack of knowing that water is in the oil. I want a Volvo Diesel for the fuel economy and range they offer. But feel at this time would steer clear of IPS for a few more years. I too wish more owners would post about their great experience and trouble free use. Rich
 
For that past several years I believe 2010 above, (correct me if I am wrong) you could only get a 40PC with IPS pods. I checked with Formula and for a fact I can not order a 2012 or 2013 with out IPS Pods. IPS is the only power package available. I would like to test drive a 40PC though.

Rich

Everyone keep up the great posts. great reading for sure.
 
F350,

Did you mean Tiara in your previous note?

Don't rule out a 37pc with the D6-3xx and joystick. You get a proven engine and drive combo with the precision of joystick.
 
I have a 2001 40PC with 8.2L mercs and vdrives. Love the boat and wouldnt change anything about it.
It does exactly what we want for a boat. In the early 2000's mercruiser went to a cheaply made trans cooler and had problems with water intrusion into the trans, mine was one of them. So I guess you could say that water intrusion isnt restricted to IPS/POD drives only.
Obviously we dont get quite the fuel mileage that diesels get but that does not bother us all that much.
I have a good friend in our harbor who has a 2008 40PC with volvos and IPS and the boat does not ride an ounce different then our 2001.
The biggest problem that he has is getting service on the Volvos, the new local Formula dealer does not have techs who are qualified to work on Volvos so he has to employ the local Regal dealer who has volvo techs our pay to have to Volvo techs from STL make the trip to the lake.
All in all, for the price difference between what I payed and what he payed I would chose the older 40PC with the gas/vdrive setup anyday, several hundred thousand dollars can buy a lot of fuel to make up the difference.
I am sure one day I will end up with pod drives but that may only be because that is all that is available in the future.

If anyone has any more info on the supposed 450SS that may be in the work I think several of us would be interested in details.

Good Luck
 
FormulaFanMN

Agreed on the 37PC with D6-370 DPH-c sterndrive this is what I am leaning toward in the 400SS or the D6-400 for the added cooling and added efficiency over the D6-370. I just need to physically see one and be on one, I like the 40PC just wish I could get it as a sterndrive. Not making a rush decision.

Yes I did mean the Tiara, Thanks for clarifying

Rich
 
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