Newbie - pods are scary?

[Shaps]

Wouldn't the drives be built heartily enough to withstand the holding of a position in current or the like? Here's one of the reasons I asked this question from the start: when or did the system become hearty enough, well designed enough?

Shap, thank you again for the PDF. How or where do I find whether the drive is JH or above? Is above higher in the alphabet, like KL? The design isn't likely to be the same when initially released as what is installed today. From a mechanical view, there must have been changes which cannot be upgraded. If I consider used boats with pods, I'd think there's a year plus newer I'm better off with given consistent maintenance.

The drives are certainly stout enough. Full stop.

@Aml327 on here has HH drives that have been upgraded to effectively JH pods.I can't answer for all pods out there obviously.
And yes, as they go up the alphabet they are newer versions.

 

[becnme]

I seldom use the joy stick and do not have Dynamic Positioning.

 

[HP12Sea]

There's a very good reason boats with pods are cheaper than their counterparts.

The market is telling you they are a big problem.

Spend more or save up more so you can spend more to get the same boat w/o pods or just get less boat.

Good luck

 

[Shaps]

There's a very good reason boats with pods are cheaper than their counterparts.

The market is telling you they are a big problem.

Spend more or save up more so you can spend more to get the same boat w/o pods or just get less boat.

Good luck

May have been true at one point but not the case now

 

[km1125]

During a discussion with my surveyor a couple of years ago, he made the following point regarding the pod drives not mentioned above.

When holding position, or docking the drives are CONSTANTLY moving, shifting, rotating, engaging/disengaging as they deal with current, wind and operator inputs, thus creating heat and wear that does not apply to vee drives or straight drives.

I do love technology, however sometimes the trade offs are not in balance.

I'm quite happy with my mechanically injected diesel and Vee drives.

While I could have upgraded to the MARETRON system, I replaced the dead Sea Ray SYSTEMS MONITOR with old fashioned alarms and bilge counters, utilizing the factory wiring.

So yes, I'm an old fashioned, old fart with an old boat, but in a harsh saltwater environment IMHO reliability is key and increased complexity can decrease that reliability.

Straight or Vee drives have no sensors, no electrical connections (neutral safety switch aside) and are either engaged or in neutral. The K.I.S.S. principle, Keep It Simple Stupid wins every time.

Just another opinion thrown out there...

BEST !

RWS

Yes, the pods move around and shift gears but that's not a function of the pods, it's a function of the position-holding feature. It would be the same if you have AXIUS with outboards or outdrives.

And on docking, it's a function of the skipper rather than the pods. If the skipper is constantly slapping the joystick around then the pods will follow his direction. If he's diligent then the pods won't be swinging around nor shifting much as he's maneuvering into the dock. I frequently see newbies slapping that joystick around back and forth trying to overcompensate for their last maneuver, rather than predictably and confidently applying the joystick and moving the boat directly into the slip as is meant to be done.

 

[Shaps]

Yes, the pods move around and shift gears but that's not a function of the pods, it's a function of the position-holding feature. It would be the same if you have AXIUS with outboards or outdrives.

And on docking, it's a function of the skipper rather than the pods. If the skipper is constantly slapping the joystick around then the pods will follow his direction. If he's diligent then the pods won't be swinging around nor shifting much as he's maneuvering into the dock. I frequently see newbies slapping that joystick around back and forth trying to overcompensate for their last maneuver, rather than predictably and confidently applying the joystick and moving the boat directly into the slip as is meant to be done.

And in either case, the pods can take it.