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Ductboy
USA
833 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 07 2010 : 19:45:49
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I have owned a bunch of different boats, but never an I/O.
I am considering at a 2008 boat with a Volvo D4, jackshafted to a Volvo Duoprop I/O.
My ideas of I/O's is probably way off as they seem to require a significant amount of maintenance to keep them working properly well.
I know that many advances have been made as far as corrosion resistance, but I also see that Volvo has made some changes to thier I/Os for 2010. Is the new product that much better?
What can I look forward to in terms of maintenance on a yearly basis?
The boat would be slip kept in salt water.
Thanks for whatever info you feel like passing on.
Dan |
Be careful of the toes you step on today, they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow...Buddy Cianci |
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KiDa
USA
12800 Posts |
Posted - Mar 07 2010 : 19:59:28
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| Which model Volvo? The composites have HUGE issues. The "metal" DP's are OK in my opinion. |
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Best Regards,
David
Saint Max
'99 330 Sundancer
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Capitalism is to this administration what Judaism was to the Third Reich.
-- Me |
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JoLin
USA
74 Posts |
Posted - Mar 08 2010 : 06:02:41
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I have an 11-year-old (metal) DP that works just fine. I can't vouch for how it was cared for before I bought it last year, so I had a major maintenance performed in the Fall. The mechanic pronounced it "good". No corrosion issues, no pressure test issues, looks like it'll last indefinitely if I don't do anything dumb.
My first outdrive boat too, so I have nothing to compare it to, but I like the Volvo so far. And YES, outdrives are maintenance-intensive. On a yearly basis you'll need to R&R the drive, replace gear lube, lube gimbal bearing and u-joint, inpect bellows. My Fall service with bellows replacement cost $600.
Hope this helps |
John and Linda
1999 Chris Craft 240EC |
Edited by - JoLin on Mar 08 2010 06:13:38 |
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Good Grief
USA
813 Posts |
Posted - Mar 08 2010 : 06:48:50
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I've experience with the gasoline sterndrives ('03 vintage), not the diesel, as the diesel sterndrive is a different animal. But a friend of mine has twin D350's / DP on a 37 Formula - boat does over 50 mph - he love's 'em.
the gasoline DP sterndrives have done me well - some clutch adjustment issues when they were new, and the trim position sensor can be finnicky - other than that, I'd recommend them to anyone. |
-Gene
If you're not a liberal at 20, you don't have a heart. If you're not a conservative at 40, you don't have a brain - Winston Churchill |
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TheGreatEscapeII
USA
170 Posts |
Posted - Mar 08 2010 : 06:50:52
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| There have been some reports of paint issues on the newer 2009/2010 products. This issues with the Volvo's composites have been the bellows and it appears they have fixed that problem with their 3rd generation replacement design. |
Joey D
2005 Chaparral Signature 240
5.0 Volvo GXI Duo-Prop |
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LouC
1332 Posts |
Posted - Mar 09 2010 : 19:38:18
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I've had the I/O in salt water thing for years....and the main problem is that the antifouling paints for aluminum do not work that well...you can get a lot of barnacles in the pivot housing and even around the bellows and trim lines...so you may need to pull the boat mid season to clean it off and re-paint...if you do this and keep up on the zincs...and check the manifolds/risers when needed (4-6 years or so) then an I/O can live a long time in salt water...it's just much more work than a straight inboard or an outboard...one session of cleaning barnacles out of the pivot housing will convince you of that....
The regular maintenance as far as the drive is a yearly drive oil change...pull the drive at the end of season to check the bellows for water intrusion...the gimble for proper smoothness...the ujoints for loosness and wear...I do this and lube the gimble and ujoints in the fall...then reinstall the drive in the spring...if you neglect an I/O you will regret it...so if you want low maintenance choose another power package in salt water... |
1988 Four Winns 200 Horizon 4.3 OMC Cobra
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi Quadradrive II |
Edited by - LouC on Mar 09 2010 19:41:06 |
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folieadeux
USA
550 Posts |
Posted - Mar 10 2010 : 10:21:31
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| I agree with LouC, the Volvo drives are great but the maintenance issues must be followed carefully. I kept my last boat with twin Volvo I/O's in a salt water slip for almost 5 years. Biggest PITA was hauling the boat every 3 months to clean barncles. |
Neal and Barbara
Savannah,GA
"Olive or Twist" 2006 Meridian 391 T-Cummins 380QSB, Onan 9K |
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Ductboy
USA
833 Posts |
Posted - Mar 10 2010 : 16:05:34
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Thanks for the replies.
Its funny, I currently own a boat with twin Hamilton jet drives. Whenever people ask me about them, they inevitably mention the high maintenance costs. While its more than straight shafts and props, it sounds like they're a lot less work than an I/O. I clean them, paint them, and chance the zincs. The zincs are pretty expensive, but they very rarely need any sort of repair.
Dan |
Be careful of the toes you step on today, they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow...Buddy Cianci |
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LouC
1332 Posts |
Posted - Mar 10 2010 : 16:26:37
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| A lot depends on the level of fouling you have...some areas have a lot and some much less even though it's the same salt water...there is a lot of fouling here on the North Shore and not as much on the South Shore from what I hear...not sure what actually makes the difference... |
1988 Four Winns 200 Horizon 4.3 OMC Cobra
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi Quadradrive II |
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Good Grief
USA
813 Posts |
Posted - Mar 11 2010 : 06:39:38
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I don't think you're gonna get the same level of fouling in RI as Dan's getting in GA. Yes, you will have to maintain sterndrives . . . they're obviously much more akin to outboards than they are IB's.
Like anything, keep after the maintenance (I assume you paint the bottom and wax the top periodically, no?!) and you'll be fine.
I thought you original post was WRT Volvo outdrive performance/quality/reliability - I believe in that light Volvo provides a superior product to it's nearest competition. BUT both volov and it's competitor will need their regular maintenance.
dos centavos. |
-Gene
If you're not a liberal at 20, you don't have a heart. If you're not a conservative at 40, you don't have a brain - Winston Churchill |
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LouC
1332 Posts |
Posted - Mar 11 2010 : 15:32:36
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| The fouling partly depends on water salinity and temperature...I can tell you we are in LI Sound and while it's not as salty as the ocean and the water temps are not warm all summer like the South...the fouling is BAD with a capital B here....I know from talking to people that certain areas of LI are not as bad for fouling... |
1988 Four Winns 200 Horizon 4.3 OMC Cobra
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi Quadradrive II |
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Ductboy
USA
833 Posts |
Posted - Mar 11 2010 : 15:58:42
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Gene
I guess my post was more about reliablity and mechanical maintenance requirements and less about performance, which is obviously going to vary greatly from boat to boat.
Where I keep the boat is on a river about 2-3 miles up from Fishers Island Sound. I think the salintiy level in the river is pretty low (Ive never taken a drink), but the current is swift and the river is few by a fresh water stream upstream from the boat. So I figure twice a day, the river is flushed out at least partially by fresh water.
Dan |
Be careful of the toes you step on today, they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow...Buddy Cianci |
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LouC
1332 Posts |
Posted - Mar 11 2010 : 18:36:39
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| Well if you are diligent about the maintenance...they are reliable...the one I'm running is 22 years old and I've had to do a bellows...gimble...trim lines...and some drive seals...that's it for the drive related repairs...on the engine...I replaced the manifolds once since I've had it and rebuilt the carb and replaced the starter...not bad for 22 years old and I bought it when it was 14 years old...so if you can live with the marine growth issue I would not be afraid of stern drives... |
1988 Four Winns 200 Horizon 4.3 OMC Cobra
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi Quadradrive II |
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Topic |
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Opinions on Volvo Stern Drives