Click for Westport Click for YF Listing Service Click for Nordhavn Click for Ocean Alexander Click for YF Listing Service

Cummins QSC 8.3 Zeus pods long term support

Discussion in 'Engines' started by JamCruiser, Jun 20, 2020.

You need to be registered and signed in to view this content.
  1. JamCruiser, Jun 20, 2020
    #1
    JamCruiser

    JamCruiser New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2020
    Messages:
    3
    Location:
    FL
    Hey guys, I'm new here, read a lot of posts on Zeus pods, have found this forum to be very helpful, thanks in advance. I'm looking at a few late model (2016/2017) downeast style boats (Sabre 48 flybridge / Riviera Belize 54 Daybridge) for cruising mostly around the Florida ICW and taking occasional trips (1-2/yr) out to the Bahamas (watching for fair seas) and up the east coast. A few boats I'm interested in have Cummins QSC 8.3 Zeus Pods since it seems nobody is using them anymore on their new models.

    I've read about warranty issues and have a pretty decent understanding of what I'd be getting myself into regarding pod maintenance. That said, I'd appreciate any insight on the following concerns:
    1. Are the Zeus drives still being produced today? If so, does anyone know whether they will continue to produce replacement drives/parts? I'm concerned that I won't be able to get my hands on a replacement drive if one were to sheer off 5-7 years from now.
    2. It seems that the Zeus pods have evolved over the years and later systems are more reliable than earlier ones. Can anyone speak to when there were evolutionary changes in the Zeus pods? Are there particular production years that performed better than others?
    Also, can anyone recommend an experienced surveyor that can perform a survey/inspection on a Zeus pod powered boat around Palm Beach County Florida?

    Thanks again!
  2. Capt Ralph, Jun 21, 2020
    #2
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,741
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
  3. olderboater, Jun 21, 2020
    #3
    olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Messages:
    7,132
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
  4. sgawiser, Jun 21, 2020
    #4
    sgawiser

    sgawiser New Member

    Joined:
    May 13, 2008
    Messages:
    63
    Location:
    Jupiter, FL
    Several friends who had Sabre 48's with Zeus had a real problem with finger pointing. I think Sabre is delivering many more IPS boats than Zeus in part because of the support issue.

    Give Downeast in Jupiter a call and I think they may be able to give you some insight into this issue.
  5. PacBlue, Jun 21, 2020
    #5
    PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    1,988
    Location:
    Dana Point, Ca
    With IPS you have one supplier to manage.

    Look into who makes the Zeus pod, gearbox and engine, how many companies do you have to deal with? When something goes wrong, does the blame game start and will you be caught in the middle?
  6. Fishtigua, Jun 21, 2020
    #6
    Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2007
    Messages:
    2,937
    Location:
    Guernsey/Antigua
    Sorry, but as an ex-Cummins and Merc dealer, I've lost all faith in the Zeus system. Unless you get the boat at a knock-down price, I mean really low, I wouldn't touch one without a full service history or a late model.
  7. Capt J, Jun 21, 2020
    #7
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,435
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    Why? I've seen the random electronics issue with Zues, I've also seen the finger pointing. However, I've never seen any serious failures. I have seen a handful of blown up IPS drives. A customer with a 2015 boat, extended warranties, a blown up drive and Volvo first went down the deny game, scanned his props, tried to say those were off and he hit something (the prop scan didn't indicate anything), he had to go up the food chain to have them cover it..........meanwhile all this screwing around, delayed repairs, while the boat is stuck in North Carolina, and he's in Maryland, and waiting for it to arrive........
  8. Capt J, Jun 21, 2020
    #8
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,435
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    I'll also add that I REALLY like pods for the fuel efficiency (25-40% better) and maneuverability in a twin engine application. Once you go to 3 or 4 engines or pods, I'd rather have shafts as the fuel efficiency with triples is only 10% better and not worth the maintenance cost and in a 4 engine/pod installation they tend to burn the same amount of fuel AND much more maintenance of 4.
  9. PacBlue, Jun 21, 2020
    #9
    PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    1,988
    Location:
    Dana Point, Ca
    Your are officially the first one to publish 4o% percent efficiency benefits for pods.

    We have already discussed that issue on other threads and that is not a valid number.
  10. Capt J, Jun 21, 2020
    #10
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,435
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    The Cabo 40 zues is THAT number, 40% in real life. At 33 knots cruise it uses 1.97 gallons per nautical mile with shafts, With Zues it uses 1.36 gallons per nautical mile which is just a hair better than 40%, that's the best one that I've come across with as far as fuel efficiency goes.
  11. Regal4460, Jun 22, 2020
    #11
    Regal4460

    Regal4460 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2016
    Messages:
    1
    Location:
    29693
    Ex pod (Volvo) owner....run away....money pits and Volvo is terrible in customer support. Friend (ex Zeus owner) feels the same way about Zeus.
    Just saying.
  12. JamCruiser, Jun 22, 2020
    #12
    JamCruiser

    JamCruiser New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2020
    Messages:
    3
    Location:
    FL
    PopPopsBoat likes this.
  13. JamCruiser, Jun 22, 2020
    #13
    JamCruiser

    JamCruiser New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2020
    Messages:
    3
    Location:
    FL
    I appreciate all of the feedback here. I'm getting more and more comfortable moving forward toward the Zeus drives. My main concern was really parts availability moving forward and hearing that these engines are still being offered today makes me feel confident that there shouldn't be any huge issues with availability in the short-mid term.

    Funny part is that when I started looking at pods I was actually targeting the Zeus system since I've always heard that volvo parts can be expensive and techs are harder to come by than when compared to cummins. Never thought that it would be the cummins solution that I would come to question support on!

    I'm not as concerned with the finger pointing on warranties since I imagine those warranties are already expired on the 3-4 year old boats I'm looking at. I just tried digging up the warranty terms on the Zeus system without luck.... Anyone know what the standard warranty terms are?
  14. Capt Ralph, Jun 22, 2020
    #14
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,741
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    One last thing;;;; Do you have a local shop you like? At a marina already? Previous business or good reports?
    If it was up to me in Jacksonville FL and had to choose between Volvo or Cummins Merc, I'd go Volvo because of the area support.

    It's going to be the shop that takes care of your stuff that is going to make life on board fun or not-so...
  15. Capt Ralph, Jun 22, 2020
    #15
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,741
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    All Cool. Da boss fixed it and your getting good responses.
    Welcome to Y F and keep us up on all your thoughts. Members and new readers from all over the world want to learn and here is where the answers are. Sometimes full of arm wrestling but all still here.
  16. PacBlue, Jun 22, 2020
    #16
    PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    1,988
    Location:
    Dana Point, Ca
    Finger pointing is worse in any situation when it is out of warranty, then you are left on a deserted island.
  17. Capt Ralph, Jun 22, 2020
    #17
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,741
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    A+
    Even the middle digit does not help much then.