Boat Drive Systems Explained

[@r.a.monigold9789]

THANK YOU, Nick!!! Well presented. Easy to see the basic differences. Enough detail for the Gear Heads. Another Aquaholic "nugget" of useful and important information. From ease of servicing and longevity, all the way to "joy stick" docking (and the associated costs). As you mentioned the best system is the one that fits the situational needs of the boater.

[@PDC4Life]

Other level content, all this variety. Knowing HOW things work makes them all the more desirable. Thanks Nick

[@martigrey5872]

Good to see you explain this to people who might not know. You should check if they let you take them out to show how docking works. If you have the gopro on your head people will actually see what to look out for. Kinda like the refueling tutorial you did a while back.

[@bobuncle8704]

Excellent episode.

[@pitcat1376]

As someone who doesn't have a mechanical mind (I always skip through the engine walk-throughs), I found this very interesting and educational. Thanks Nick!

[@AQUAHOLIC]

Glad it was helpful!

[@joemiller1810]

Sometimes I skip ahead to the engine tour. Either way much appreciation for the full tours.

[@chunkychinn]

Thankyou Nick for my Sunday morning special from Aquaholic. Very informative. Have a great time filming.

[@garssympa500]

Re : the shaft-drive boat. That's it? It seems so rudimentary but, no doubt, gets the job done. I love all your videos but this one was, by far, the most educational. I always wondered what drove this boats forward. Very complete and totally fascinating.

[@MCallsen]

Shaft drive is by far the safest.

[@michiganengineer8621]

Shaft drive systems have been around from the time we first put an engine in a boat to help the wind push it along. The only powered drive system older, and not by too much, is the paddle wheel! As Nick pointed out, you only have a few SMALL hull penetrations to deal with and the boats balance is better. You lose some mid-ship interior space, some added noise in the cabin area and a minor loss of maneuverability.

[@johngauntlett4915]

Professor Nick, the possessor of all knowledge nautical.

[@davidbraun2923]

Absobloodylutely Brilliant!!! Thanks Nick a few more of these and we can stop asking Google what you are talking about...well done!!!

[@mmsmits2868]

Fantastic! You're always so clear in your explanations. Not overly simplifying while not making it too technical. Thank you so much!

[@AQUAHOLIC]

You're very welcome!

[@kieranharriman7055]

The technical side of Aquaholics. Really interesting Nick. I have to say I love the idea of joystick controls. In my mind sounds a lot easier to manoeuvre. IPS for me.

[@9VARZ]

Volvo Penta are not the only ones doing these now, too. For outboards, Mercury has a similar system with their Verado lineup (also comes with a Skyhook system which is very similar to VP's Dynamic Positioning System). I recently saw something about Yanmar also implementing joystick/DPS controls for their diesel inboards. Exciting times for the maritime world!

[@Thjonsson1]

@@9VARZ yes Mercury have it on outboards That’s why Mercury LEAD the outboard market. They take the inboard innovations and put it on outboards, like their new V12 where it’s just the gearbox and props that turns not the whole engine just like a sterndrive on an outboard

[@DannyKoKo]

Great to have this in one video. Well done!

[@triskellian]

Pretty clear explanation of the different drive systems available. I spent a lot of time driving outboards and loved them! It's amazing what a modest amount of horsepower can do for a small boat. I must admit that the IPS drives are a rather odd but fascinating type of drive. I've not seen them in the US, only on the internet. As for the outdrives, driven one many years ago and it could really push through the water. I can confirm that the maintenance can get expensive as well as a bit of work involved.

[@michaelschneider3446]

Nice overview. I would like to add the waterjet option like Williams are using or even some fast ferries

[@AQUAHOLIC]

Good point

[@GerardoLiraSolis]

@@AQUAHOLIC I did not though about jet drives but, how about surface drives also? Pershing likes it. Regards from Mexico my friend.

[@GoldenCroc]

Waterjet: Good safety, no prop that can hit something. Theoretically very low draft. Downside is mainly terrible efficiency compared to props.

[@GoldenCroc]

@@GerardoLiraSolis Surface drives: Best efficiency of all drive systems, good for fast boats. Can handle a lot of power. Downside is poor maneuverability, limited trimmability. I think they work best in a high speed range with the props they use, dont know if they give any benefit at lower speed.

[@philterry8771]

@@AQUAHOLIC Hi Nick, happy to talk to you about waterjets any time as I work for HamiltonJet :)

[@Steve-ws9kd]

Awesome! Excellent overview Nick. Have read on various blogs IPS drives have not been well received here in the US. Possibly due to perception of a slow supply chain of parts and local mechanical knowledge. That said your overview was spot on. As always you dumb down technical things for us rank amateur types. 400k subscribers seems to be with in your reach. Bravo!

[@terryperkins3368]

Thank you, I never understood all the difference. Very good information.

[@AQUAHOLIC]

Glad it was helpful!

[@taal223]

That blue hull at 11:48 is absolutely gorgeous.

[@brucesnyder8910]

Great video and information. Your enthusiasm for all things boating is so genuine and showing! It’s truly the reason your videos are so great! Keep it up Nick!

[@xkanuk7190]

The Devils Egg Whisks. Fabulous. 2nd time through on this video. Always appreciate your perspective Nick. Hopefully someday soon I can apply some of your shared knowledge. Cheers!

[@AQUAHOLIC]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@peterholtei7018]

Thanks again for a very informative and well-presented video. Seeing you being such enthousiastic when walking along all these beauties is such a pleasure! Keep going Nick - and greetz to Marianne!

[@d14551]

So interesting because you explain it so clearly.

[@Bootneck-RMC]

Thank you very much for this video Nick. 👍 As a very long time subscriber (who has not gone boating, (YET!)), I have always wondered why different boats have different drive systems on them and this video has made it a wee bit clearer for me. 👌🏻👍🏻😀

[@AQUAHOLIC]

Glad to help!

[@Natures_Symmetry]

This video was great. Now I can understand a bit more when you're talking about the engines in your videos. According to this, I'd say shaft drive for sailing around the world. Which is what I'm hoping to do one day.

[@jaimiemadden590]

Hi Nick Very good overview of powered. Drive systems. Thank you

[@ThoughtfulWander]

Nice episode, Nick! Thanks for sharing!

[@markmccue1263]

Really enjoyed this and I've learnt a lot from watching it. Thanks again Nick, and hope the house works aren't causing too much stress for you both.

[@eggo5228]

This was unusual, unexpected, but extremely useful! Great video, cheers Nick!

[@markshutt1476]

Very well done, Nick. There is a reason I'm addicted to your videos. Since most boats are basically similar, as far as layout is concerned, could you do more technical videos? Such as the different types of toilets and how they work, what do you do if the gray or black water tanks fill and you are at sea. Things of that nature. I'm just as excited to follow your home remodel.

[@nikospike]

semplicity always the best way on the sea, btw beautiful video :)

[@terryjaram8913]

Very informative Nick to someone like myself with only limited knowledge of the boating scene although it has increased hugely through watching your excellent videos. As usual well presented without being boring. 👍✔

[@FLGurl]

Thank you Nick. You sure are a wealth of knowledge. I hope everyone appreciates your information.

[@davidhorsley1149]

Not trying to be critical but you forgot one. I have always been impressed with "Surface Drives". Now maybe they are only on the larger yachts and so, that may put them out of the realm of a lot of viewers, but I believe they are super impressive. In all of these units I have seen, they give the impression that the manufacturer was striving for more than utility, because most look like industrial works of art. And at speed they are again impressive for the characteristic "Rooster tail" they lift in their wake because the top half of the "wheel" is totally above the water. As far as advantage, the putting the shafts out of the stern, as you said referencing the drives you showed, enables moving the engines further to the rear of the boat. Also, by moving the shafts and wheels back it enables a larger diameter wheel with an efficient pitch, while retaining a shallower draft. They also swing like the outdrive and pod units so the rudders are deleted lessening drag, and appear to rest between regular shaft and outdrive for maintenance concerns. As far as cons, I have only heard of two and would probably infer a third. The first disadvantage I have heard talked about is the power requirements pre-plane and the electronic controls required to manage this. These units swing such big wheels, because at plane they only utilize the bottom half, it takes big power to get on plane but precise control to prevent system damage pre-plane. I also understand that surface drives cannot be trimmed to achieve "on plane" faster, it is strictly reliant on the speed and the hulls engineered characteristic to get "on plane". The other disadvantage, I have heard, is that given that the shaft and it's driven wheel swing as a unit in steering the boat, they are not quite as maneuverable as boats with a rudder or an out drive, and also, there is a learning curve to operating a boat/yacht with surface drives. The last possible disadvantage would be an assumption on my part but would be the initial cost of the units over the other systems. Not only of the units themselves but the engines to power them. For my tastes, were I ever to find myself in a position to afford one of the boats/yachts that are my ideal (Riva, Mangusta, Princess, etc.) it will have big power (MTU, MANN), and surface drives (Arnson ?).

[@oliverfrey7511]

As a fan of outboards (while our Draco was on stearn drive), thank you for this interesting comparrison.

[@jamesonpace726]

Fabulous info, clearly explained. Thank you...!

[@johnlewis6533]

Thank you. Very informative as all your videos are. Great job.

[@normbond8888]

Good vlog Nick. In Canada & US due to the many fresh water lakes & rivers the use of outboards are most popular especially for sports & fishing boats. I/O’s are used on boats in the +19ft range as most ppl don’t sleep on these boats & they are easily trailerable along with outboards. Most shaft-drives & pods you will find on the coasts as saltwater is an issued even with zincs. The Great Lakes being huge also will find shaft-drives & pods even though they are fresh water as one needs size if travelling long distances on those inland lakes that have access to the Atlantic Ocean.

[@jamesrichardson476]

The first commercially available outdrives appeared round about 1960. They were developed by Jim Wynne (an engineer and also a legendary powerboat racer) and Charlie Strang. There's some debate about exactly who did what, and when, but outdrives mated to Volvo (Wynne) and Mercury (Strang) engines appeared at about the same time. Wynne worked with Strang at Mercury to develop the first drives but then branched out on his own. I certainly remember my father selling powerboats with outdrives on, imported from the US, in the very early sixties.

[@fartybarkins]

Well done Nick and thank you. Very informative.

[@AQUAHOLIC]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Kingjay814]

I bet that little outboard rib you briefly showed is a rocket! I love the look of a big outboard boat. SeaRay has the SLX 400 Outboard that looks absolutely killer with a triple motor config. They had a version with three 450hp racing outboards that I would have loved to own.

[@Mogsey55262]

For someone who literally skips through the mechanical things this was very interesting thanks nick 👍

[@AQUAHOLIC]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@rafaelcroes4051]

excellent program Nick...well documented.👍🏼

[@akashahmed573]

Well presented. Thanks. Will love to see some mjps or kamewa waterjets also.

[@colbr6733]

Really enjoyed this overview. Very informative.

[@riteshr.k.fatnfine3004]

I love these videos that educate us novices

[@canadadan4437]

Great video very informative thanks Nick

[@bobbrezniak6386]

Fantastic overview...I love how you spoke to the novices out here.

[@9VARZ]

Nice overview, Nick! Any chances of doing a Part 2 with waterjets, diesel outboards, pontoons, electric drives and hybrids too?

[@VirtanenDK]

He already has done a video on electric drive + unboxing.

[@Rudgeyakathedoctor]

good stuff as always , nice seeing the older boats in the yard too

[@snacklofter]

My wife said 'lets watch something romantic together this evening', so this has come at the perfect time!!! atb snack

[@AQUAHOLIC]

She'll be putty in your hands! 💕

[@snacklofter]

@@AQUAHOLIC love it - ha ha!!

[@kirkwcowgill]

Gonna play Inboard-Outboard together?

[@christopherbaas1774]

Great explanation for the layman to understand, thank you for a wonderful video!

[@AQUAHOLIC]

You're very welcome!

[@xmen9916]

Thank you so much for doing this video Nick!

[@paulchapman7684]

Thanks for that it’s good to have a different perspective explained 👍

[@manuelvanderslikke680]

And Thank you Nick for this nice explanation of the all various driving engines that is very useful and nice learning what a good show of this Sunday thanks again

[@gbmac6756]

Very informative. Thank you.

[@itsallgonemad]

Interesting stuff Nick thanks… I thought I knew the difference between the different propulsions but I had no idea Pod Drives pointed forward?!?! Every day is a school day! 😃👍🏻

[@v2rsvr843]

Volvo ips forward prop Mercury ips has rear facing prop

[@romac9516]

Glass of wine ready, it's Nick's Sunday Lunchtime Boat School :D Always wondered how the water didn't come in - now I know it's the rubber bellows.

[@michiganengineer8621]

Nick, you can get Mercury engines up to 1,750HP from their racing line although the 1750 is usually mated to a surface drive prop system. The Mercury Racing 1350/1550HP can be mated with the M8 outdrive. The general usage Mercruiser line is available up to 430HP. Very nice presentation of the most common drive systems.

[@GoldenCroc]

This is true, but its hard to compare functionally racing gear which are used at racing speeds to the more common 20-35 knot interval most of the boats Nick reviews are in.

[@edmundbloom7548]

Very good video nick, you should do another one about different shapes of hull, and maybe one about steel hulls and alluminium hulls.

[@smokeymotorsport]

Nice video, thanks Nick. I do like an educational video, great for those of us here who don't necessarily know that much about boats :-) On the outboard engine front though - have you seen the 600hp Mercury engine? It's a massive V12, really impressive, they even just turn the lower section of the engine rather than the whole engine assembly. Lots of video channels of Miami inlets showing huge boats with 4 or even 5 outboard engines, crazy!

[@5464348643]

Excellent summation! Amazing how many lack this basic knowledge, but since this video, they no longer have any excuse. Lol

[@kingv4728]

Superb, informative and nice to watch, thank you good sir

[@AQUAHOLIC]

My pleasure

[@emmettcotter1206]

Hi Nick. I'm new to your channel, after seeing your trip on John Brennan's Stormforce. Your reviews (and camera control) are excellent and informative. I hope you enjoyed your time in Ireland. Hopefully you'll hop over the border to West Cork on your next visit. Great work

[@AQUAHOLIC]

Welcome aboard! 🙂

[@chrish2996]

Hi Nick. That was a very interesting tour. A comparison of propulsion, weight distribution in regards to engine mounting, service requirements and costs. An awesome video thanks 😊

[@robertfrost1683]

Great explanations. I saw a three engine azimut with one pod missing, IPS do have a problem with seals failing. The outdrives have to be rebuilt as they seals wear and it is about $10k per drive. Volvo actually changed from stainless to bronze bushings to help this. Outboards are great, but they have about 1/3 the life of diesels. Mercury has a V12 600HP monster. One day you need to talk,about surface drives and jet drives.

[@mobstamaniac]

I suspect jet drives are more common in the colonies than in Europe, as Nick reckons they are extremely rare outside jetskis, which is simply not true. He would probably have to find a Castoldi pump on a boat or an Azimut sea jet yacht as they feature twin Hamilton jets.

[@strider6920]

Thanks for this Nick. Very informative as always. Only type we did not see is the jet boat that uses water for propulsion (as you see on tenders and some of the big high speed ferries, like the Dublin Swift). As you say, the type needed is down to your own requirements and budget. Brilliant video Nick 😊

[@stephenroberts7104]

You talk about boats engines types of boats like I talk about motorbikes, absolutely brilliant👍

[@Mr.E-]

Good job, and well explained ✌🏻😎

[@chrishigham7332]

Fantastic video!! I’d love more videos like this please

[@nobodyimportant7520]

awesome, the BASIC stuff sometimes is the best. cheers

[@derjaeger3321]

You may want to add that almost every type of drive can now be equipped with a joystick: shaft drives may also need thrusters. I enjoy your videos here in the US and BTW I love Sunseekers.

[@paulkidd4443]

Very informative Nick. Thankyou

[@AQUAHOLIC]

My pleasure!

[@marks9772]

Luv it, great explanation. Informative and well done

[@fredm.9300]

Now THIS answered a lot of questions for a NOOB like me. Thx a lot. 😊

[@AQUAHOLIC]

Happy to help!

[@LeistungDrehmoment]

Simple and good explanation for understanding boat drive systems I just hoped there will be a surface drive Enjoyed watching!

[@marknightingale1771]

Thanks Nick. Interesting stuff as ever!

[@alexmnblyth]

great! i was also so interested to find out about the outdrive in the style of an IPS (for water sports) (it’s called forward drive, really interesting invention by volvo)

[@mikenib]

Excellent video. Thank you!

[@clivewitcomb2839]

Kid. In. Sweet. Shop! Lovely video - and I finally understand the basics of the IPS system! X

[@jackirichard414]

Thanks for all the great info. 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@nigelmaisey272]

Very nice little Video Nick … interesting to hear about the IPS system and a bit worrying to hear it relies on computers !! Maintenance could be a nightmare 😱 Anyway Don’t forget the most efficient system is Surface drives … Shame more companies are not using them … also then jet drives … Hope you can find a couple of boats with those systems on !! 👍😎👏❤️🛥

[@cookiemonster2299]

Great idea to do a video on the propulsion systems that we generally come across in your tours 👍❤️🇬🇧

[@TheMarpalm]

Great review. One point that is made about IPS is that they are quieter because the exhaust comes out the back of the pod. Have you noticed this?

[@kevinbanham2429]

Very interesting Nick👍🏻👍🏻

[@hambo6969]

That was very interesting. I love features like this.

[@debbiejudd4933]

Very informative. Ill have to watch this about 10 times to get it all. Lol. Thank you Nick.

[@norbi1au]

Wow... 🤔 Thank You Very Much 🙏❤️ it was a very informative explanation, easy to understand... You are very knowledgeable and I love Your Videos... and of course the effort You put in each of them... Keep up the Good Work 🙏❤️

[@AQUAHOLIC]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dnmurphy48]

Genuinely fascinating, I never knew any of this.

[@NaughtyNimitz]

Thanks to your channel, i am thinking about getting my licenses and first renting boats and later on buying a boat.

[@kenklose]

As a long time subscriber of this channel, this video really didn't cover any new ground, but it is nice that you gathered all of that knowledge into one succinct video, well done! Now upload the bloody Cannes footage! It's been too long since we've been able to gawk at a mega-yacht on this channel?

[@AQUAHOLIC]

On it right now!

[@robertfrost1683]

Elevate Yacht Management and Nauti Styles are one of the first KZbinrs to edit and upload full yacht videos. The KZbinr race is on.

[@Kim_Jensen]

I just loved the unhinged nerding at the end :D Thanks

[@davidodonovan1699]

Thank you for explaining these systems to me. God bless you sir. I wonder if the screw drive propeller systems used in Thunder Child 2, by Safe Heaven Marine, here in County Cork, Ireland, have a simular system? Also, water jet propulsion seems like a good technology for me just to note here, for the record. Just so I don't forget it. But again. Thank you for the information in this video. You're doing a great job and I can tell that you enjoy doing it. Well done sir.

[@mobstamaniac]

Jet drives are more common than Nick seems to realize, they are in a whole range of vessels both commercial and recreational. However it's possible that in the UK and Europe they might be less common than in the colonies.

[@PieterBreda]

Thanks. I asked for this a long time ago.

[@Willster451]

Great video! Please make more like this

[@1x3dil]

Thank you for that explanation I have often wondered what is the best way forward as regards propulsion , and as you rightly say it depends. Definitely a no straight forward answer , but very enlightening all the same . Best wishes and kind regards as always 😀👍👍👍

[@georgeburns7251]

Another very nice video. Very informative and thank you

[@AQUAHOLIC]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@mohamadkhaleel2571]

Great information maet🤙

[@giorgopoulos]

Thank you Sir for another great video.

[@JonseyFly]

Thanks Nick. Really useful video. Something a bit different.

[@pershing2]

Always entertaining. Some comments on the shaft drive please: It is the least efficient due to that the force is directed slightly downwards instead of straight backwards. Unlike sterndrives and IPS (and Arnessons) it pushes the front of the boat down instead of lifting it up. This is why IPS is superior in speed and consumption with the same engine. Since the propeller is fixed they are more challenging to reverse with than the other systems. Especially with only one engine. A single propeller spins the water in a certain direction and the vortex created initially pushes the boat sideways rather than backwards (Duoprop drives or two counter rotating engines on shafts solve this.) The sidewards movement is extra obvious when starting to reverse from standing still and it is not until the boat has started moving backwards that the rudder has any effect. (Different going forward when the water hits the rudder and the rudder can direct the thrust from the propeller.) Hitting e.g. a rock or something at speed with a shaft drive, the shaft can push the turning propeller up and the propeller opens the hull like a can opener. That will not happen with IPS, which as you said are totally sealed off, or the stern drives.

[@vincentbarnes7839]

Very interesting video well done