So you are looking at purchasing a Sea Ray Yacht? Good choice. If you have spent any time around a marina I am sure you have seen more than a couple Sea Rays while you were there. As the largest manufacturer of fiberglass pleasure boats in the world, Sea Ray was, is and will continue to be the preferred boat of choice for someone looking for a cruising boat in the 18-61ft. size range. I am sure that you are wondering, as did I for some time, why Sea Ray is such a dominant name in the boating industry? Here are some reasons: Product Range Sea Ray offers a huge range of models that other manufacturers cannot even come close to. This allows boaters to grow within the Sea Ray brand over the years, not having to jump or move to another manufacturer for that next step up in … [Read more...]
Why Purchase a Hatteras Yacht?
Superior Performance and Safety From the moment you fire up the engines and cut through your first wave, the Hatteras Advantage is apparent. Hatteras has developed a series of hulls that deliver a sharp entry and a soft, stable ride– the renowned “Hatteras ride.” This has been achieved by years of industry leading study and testing, the result of which is a convex style hull entry forward to midships that cuts through the waves while pushing water out for a dryer ride. Moving from midships aft, Hatteras hulls have a variable deadrise, which transitions the wave cutting entry point to a more flat aft bottom section for increased speed and improved stability. The competitors, unable to compete with Hatteras in ride stability, go all out on speed…eeking out another knot or so by … [Read more...]
Pod Drives in Yachts: Volvo Penta IPS, Cummins Mercruiser Zeus and ZF Marine
There are currently 3 different manufacturers producing pod drives for recreational boat applications, Volvo Penta has IPS, Mercruiser has Zeus and ZF Marine has the ZF pod. In this article I will explain each in hopes that you will have a better understanding of them and their primary applications. Volvo Penta IPS Volvo Penta was the first company to come up with a pod drive system back in 2005, beating out the Cummins Zeus pod by over 2 years. Today there are more than 10,000 IPS units installed in more than 250 boat models worldwide...making it the most widely used pod drive system in the world by a long shot. This is largely due to the range of applications the IPS pods will work for, there are 9 different power packages available with 3 different pod sizes, and the ability to … [Read more...]
The Truth about Pod Drive Powered Boats and Yachts
This is a no BS assessment of my experience with Pod Drive powered yachts, from my personal experience as well as talking with numerous captains and owners. Mercruiser Zeus Pod Drive Volvo Penta IPS Pod Drive Since hitting the scene for the first time in 2006, Pod Drives have been a huge subject of discussion throughout the industry...are they truly the next evolution in propulsion technology that will knock out the ages old shaft drives? Let's take a look at the pods themselves without all the fancy computerized technology. They are basically based off the old sterndrive technology that came around in the 1960's and is still around today...a system that reduces drag and has a more direct line of thrust than traditional shaft drives, resulting in better fuel economy … [Read more...]
Yacht Controller: Is it Something You Need?
The yacht controller can truly be a great asset to your yacht and enhance your boating experience. Docking and low speed maneuvering is made simple so that even the most novice captain can look like a pro. The yacht controller is used to position your yacht precisely where you want from any vantage point on the vessel...you are able to move freely around your yacht while maintaining total control of the engines and thrusters. From my experience I have heard nothing but good things about the system, from yacht owner-operators to professionally captained ones. Owner-operators can dock their yacht even in rough sea conditions with ease, taking away the hassle and anxiety of docking. Professional captains love the system because it makes their job much easier and frees … [Read more...]