Bt Doctur
Well-Known Member
An older thread but beware .One of Volvo Penta`s bad ideas. Lawsuits abound just goodle it.
Avoid boats with these drives the XDP composite drives.
- Thread starter Bt Doctur
- Start date
dpmulvey
Active Member
- Dec 19, 2007
- 4,188
- Boat Info
- 1999/2007 330 Sundancer Hardtop.
- Engines
- 6.2 Merc Horixons
1.5:1 Velvet Drives
I know that boats are your business and you have forgotten more than I will ever learn. That said, I agree but disagree and no I am not running for office!! The initial concept was tremendous. The execution sucked AND Volvo gave up on its customers. A former dock mate has the drives removed from his Regal every year. The bellows are changed and when the drives are remounted, the bellows are sealed to the housings with an adhesive almost like 3M 3000 Fire Barrier Water Tight Sealant. It cost him over a boat buck a year but he never had a problem in the many years I was at that marina. There was another fellow with the same boat and same drives that did not follow the aforementioned procedure. He had nothing but problems. The alternative was to get new drives and IIRC, there was no direct hook up to the transom plates. IMHO Volvo should have taken the hit and replaced them with SX or DP depending on the original. The Volvo drive is far superior to the Merc, especially the older ones with the exhaust over the prop. There is a lot to be said for simple.
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Bt Doctur
Well-Known Member
I know, somebody`s wet dream .just like the BMW outdrives and Yamaha outdrives. No company support. They use this new "drive -by- wire" stuff on boats .Seeing system failures from poor crimps on the main battery cables. Low voltage alarms.
Cant wait to read the accident report where one goes head first into a dock because of a system failure from loss of steering.
I`ll take analog over digital any day especially towing you back to port .
Cant wait to read the accident report where one goes head first into a dock because of a system failure from loss of steering.
I`ll take analog over digital any day especially towing you back to port .
dpmulvey
Active Member
- Dec 19, 2007
- 4,188
- Boat Info
- 1999/2007 330 Sundancer Hardtop.
- Engines
- 6.2 Merc Horixons
1.5:1 Velvet Drives
Tell me about it. People look at me like I'm a cone head when I tell them give me a raw water cooled SBC or LBC (boat dependent) carbed engine straight drive any day of the week. Fewer things to break and when it does, I can replace it cheaper than I can fix some of the new stuff.
RichardS
New Member
As I've mentioned in other threads, I just finally completed a six month search, shopping for what would be our next boat, and it successfully culminated in our 2009 270 SLX.
But what an adventure that shopping search was!!!
We looked at boats, and more boats and more and more boats, until I was seeing boats with my eyes closed and hearing engines in my head while watching TV. The search was exciting and exhausting at the same time.
AND educational!!!
I had ZERO knowledge when we first started looking of the XDP travesty! I remember at the beginning of our search, we found a really nice looking Cobalt at what I considered a VERY fair price.....low hours, clean and well maintained boat, a Cobalt, very nicely built boat, and at a price I thought was very very reasonable if compared to it's other-brand counterparts. Heck, even compared to other Cobalts of the same year!
Little did I know what evil lurked at the transom.......
Somehow, while doing some research on the drive train, (I always preferred Merc, so I wanted to be sure if I went with VP that I was getting an engine well-received), I came across the first of what turned out to be MANY articles about the failure of the XDP drive, and the failure of Volvo to stand behind their ill-conceived and poorly-executed product after it was discontinued. You don't need me to recount the disaster of the XDP story, as surely by now you've all read enough about it.
But my point is, if I hadn't done some homework, I might have well bought that boat, or another with that drive, as I went on to encounter several more in my search for our next boat. Not ONE listing I found actually "advertised" the fact their boat had the XDP drive......that information was either conspicuous by it's absence in the boat's description, or only came to light by deeper investigation while questioning sellers and brokers.
While it may indeed be true that some folks have had no issues with their composite drive, I think they are the exception....in fact the rare exception.
And for SURE boats with that drive have been affected in their secondary market value. In fact, that"great deal" on that Cobalt? It's STILL for sale!
But what an adventure that shopping search was!!!
We looked at boats, and more boats and more and more boats, until I was seeing boats with my eyes closed and hearing engines in my head while watching TV. The search was exciting and exhausting at the same time.
AND educational!!!
I had ZERO knowledge when we first started looking of the XDP travesty! I remember at the beginning of our search, we found a really nice looking Cobalt at what I considered a VERY fair price.....low hours, clean and well maintained boat, a Cobalt, very nicely built boat, and at a price I thought was very very reasonable if compared to it's other-brand counterparts. Heck, even compared to other Cobalts of the same year!
Little did I know what evil lurked at the transom.......
Somehow, while doing some research on the drive train, (I always preferred Merc, so I wanted to be sure if I went with VP that I was getting an engine well-received), I came across the first of what turned out to be MANY articles about the failure of the XDP drive, and the failure of Volvo to stand behind their ill-conceived and poorly-executed product after it was discontinued. You don't need me to recount the disaster of the XDP story, as surely by now you've all read enough about it.
But my point is, if I hadn't done some homework, I might have well bought that boat, or another with that drive, as I went on to encounter several more in my search for our next boat. Not ONE listing I found actually "advertised" the fact their boat had the XDP drive......that information was either conspicuous by it's absence in the boat's description, or only came to light by deeper investigation while questioning sellers and brokers.
While it may indeed be true that some folks have had no issues with their composite drive, I think they are the exception....in fact the rare exception.
And for SURE boats with that drive have been affected in their secondary market value. In fact, that"great deal" on that Cobalt? It's STILL for sale!
Gofirstclass
Well-Known Member
Wow, I learned something new today. I try to keep up on what's good and what's not good in the world of boating, but I admit I don't pay much attention to I/O boats. Guess I have some new reading material to go through.
LiL Nauti
Member
- Mar 17, 2013
- 170
- Boat Info
- '05 280 Sundancer Raymarine e7D
- Engines
- Twin 4.3's w/ A1's Kohler 5E
I'm with you guys on the XDP drives! I learned early myself, thank GOD I educated myself and exhausted all avenues of information and others personal knowledge as well.
I almost purchased a 2008 27' or 28' Montery with VP XDP drive combo. Boat was immaculate and a red hull, beautiful boat and good price! Live around Annapolis, drove to Hershey PA to look at boat, liked it, Surveyor told me to "walk away" due to XDP. He told me this boat was a shiny penny, indeed it was. The noob I was (still am), I drove back to Hershey and had a local mechanic take drive off and inspect it, mechanic said all is well. I'm thinking at this point it's good to go! Had surveyor meet a few weeks later to survey the boat, I hit traffic and was about 20 min late... I pulled up and the owner had the boat backed into the boat ramp about to put boat in the water. I walked over to surveyor and he said its best not to continue the survey. I asked why and surveyor said the XDP drive was cracked... My first thought was that darn mechanic and the owner knew about the cracked drive and hoped I was such a noob I'd buy it. Turned it down and owner came back with a counter offer (I never made an offer...) and said if I split the 7k bill to fix drive, would I be interested! After all the drama I went through to get to this point with this boat, I declined and will NEVER ever consider VP or XDP again. Wasted time and hopes, not to mention all the money. Kinda left a sour taste in my mouth. The POP Yachts rep, the seller, and the mechanic, they all knew each other... Buyer beware! Learn from me, never consider an XDP drive, ever, walk away folks and purchase a Sea Ray! That's what I did, my 280 is treating me good...
I almost purchased a 2008 27' or 28' Montery with VP XDP drive combo. Boat was immaculate and a red hull, beautiful boat and good price! Live around Annapolis, drove to Hershey PA to look at boat, liked it, Surveyor told me to "walk away" due to XDP. He told me this boat was a shiny penny, indeed it was. The noob I was (still am), I drove back to Hershey and had a local mechanic take drive off and inspect it, mechanic said all is well. I'm thinking at this point it's good to go! Had surveyor meet a few weeks later to survey the boat, I hit traffic and was about 20 min late... I pulled up and the owner had the boat backed into the boat ramp about to put boat in the water. I walked over to surveyor and he said its best not to continue the survey. I asked why and surveyor said the XDP drive was cracked... My first thought was that darn mechanic and the owner knew about the cracked drive and hoped I was such a noob I'd buy it. Turned it down and owner came back with a counter offer (I never made an offer...) and said if I split the 7k bill to fix drive, would I be interested! After all the drama I went through to get to this point with this boat, I declined and will NEVER ever consider VP or XDP again. Wasted time and hopes, not to mention all the money. Kinda left a sour taste in my mouth. The POP Yachts rep, the seller, and the mechanic, they all knew each other... Buyer beware! Learn from me, never consider an XDP drive, ever, walk away folks and purchase a Sea Ray! That's what I did, my 280 is treating me good...
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dpmulvey
Active Member
- Dec 19, 2007
- 4,188
- Boat Info
- 1999/2007 330 Sundancer Hardtop.
- Engines
- 6.2 Merc Horixons
1.5:1 Velvet Drives
I've concluded boat builders, like US car builders of the 1970's are a lot like politicians. If you keep buying my crap I'll keep selling you my crap. I invite you to take a look at the uptown inboard composite props, the vibration deadening running gear mounts, etc..... What is out there...IF...you have the money is astounding. I feel the builders are not capitalizing on these innovations in favor of next quarter's numbers.
In 1990. I went to the Genoa (Italy) boat show. In the big scheme of things, FLIBS was a spec of dust back then. One inventor had a Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP, as on some USN Ships) retrofit for a Merc outdrive. The EPA squashed him. It seems vegetable oil was a biohazard. Another had a variable deadrise hull. He did it with odd shAped tabs built into the hull itself. Sound familiar.....albeit 26 years in arrears.......
I would think in this economy and with the attitude of the average American, some large gonads are needed.
[/soapbox]
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endless seas
Well-Known Member
From my understanding the main problems were the larger engines were to powerful for the composite drive. As long as you had a 5.7 or less then you are okay as long as you have them checked and serviced like all drives.
Jimmy Buoy
Well-Known Member
- Dec 3, 2008
- 2,468
- Boat Info
- 2003 Cobalt 293
- Engines
- Twin Volvo-Penta 5.0 270hp & DuoProps
From reading the class action law suit submission regarding these drives it was stated that the issue stemmed from the boot covering the u-joints. When steering hard port or hard to stb, the spinning u-joints would come into contact with the rubber boot. The boot would eventually wear through and seawater would leak into the area causing major rusting and failure of all metal components.
Prior to my 410, I owned a 2006 320 rinker. Got caught up with twin xdp's. 2009 to 2011 was one nightmare after another. Finally negotiated with VP and got new Ocean X Drives. Foutunetly, VP treated me fairly as i was the second owner. Still Expensive but bullet proof. The plastic drives failed on all power plants. Mine were 5.0's. Here is a list of failers to expect.
4 versions of bellows. All failed
Cracked transom shields
Cracked casings
Shafts failing
Gears failing
No bonding to props
No bonding to water intake coupler at transom plate
Exhaust bellows would come off, bubbles vibrated the shafts bellow and caused it to vibrate on shaft. Springs added to bellows, spring then catches on shaft if 1/4 High on trim.
Ask me how I know, been there! I LOVE my Sea Ray V Drives!!!
4 versions of bellows. All failed
Cracked transom shields
Cracked casings
Shafts failing
Gears failing
No bonding to props
No bonding to water intake coupler at transom plate
Exhaust bellows would come off, bubbles vibrated the shafts bellow and caused it to vibrate on shaft. Springs added to bellows, spring then catches on shaft if 1/4 High on trim.
Ask me how I know, been there! I LOVE my Sea Ray V Drives!!!
FYI, the reason the bellows with a spring still failed was due to it being not big enough for inside shat clearance. This was due to only one hydrologic actuator in the rear center plus exhaust bellows. Just to much stuff packed in one place that needed room for trimming movement.
