Recurrent/Known SeaRay Zeus Issues - Looking for Others Experiences

[Dissapointed]

I had significant problems related to the Zeus Pod design. Mercury and Searay understand they have substantial liability but refuse to accommodate their customers unless you have legal representation. They will require that you sign Non Disclosure Agreement indicating you will not pursued any further legal action. I have spoken to other Searay owners with problems
Similar to mine such as power steering actuators and transmission failures. After spending tens of thousands
of dollars on lawyers and threatening a class action law suit they provided minimal recourse. There are defiantly enough Searay owners with similar problems to file a class action, however, I had to cut my looses and get my boat sold.

 

[Carver370]

I was involved with Captaining a boat that had the "seal fix" and it proved to really not solve anything at all. My client ended up selling his Zeus boat after spending almost 100k fixing the Zeus drives over the course of 800 hours. We took this boat back and forth from Florida to Michigan 4 round trips and never made it one way without a major failure and a messy engine room.

 

[Smitty5440]

I have a spare Zeus Pod complete with Z12 propellors for sale. I am looking for 10K for the whole package. I will arrange for shipping the unit. I have documentation to prove ownership-so no funny business.

 

[hynespa]

I have a spare Zeus Pod complete with Z12 propellors for sale. I am looking for 10K for the whole package. I will arrange for shipping the unit. I have documentation to prove ownership-so no funny business.

@Smitty5440 - A couple red flags:

* you just registered to CSR today and this is your first and only post
* the boats you have listed in your profile are not even remotely close to make / model / year on one having a Zeus Pod
* no other location information in your profile
* when I Google your handle some of the results come back to Lagos Nigeria.

How did you come across to “own” a Zeus pod?

 

[Smitty5440]

Correct, I joined today with the sole intent of selling this Drive.

I did a salvage recovery of this drive from the Detroit River where it sat for about 2 weeks . The drive was torn off a 47' SeaRay on a shallow water shoal . The drive is in excellent condition with no apparent damage on the gearcase or props from the impact. The only evidence of the incident is the splined drive coupling that is broken right where it is supposed to shear off. I have government documents that assert ownership from the salvage of the drive to me.

I am willing to provide photos and videos to any interested party, and as above willing to arrange shipping.

I have never been to Nigeria lol

 

[Virgilio casalta]

In repairing/replacing various components of my Zeus system (2012 470DA) over the past 7 years, I have learned there are several known problems relating to the system. Particularly, the Trim Tab Actuation System, Steering Seals and Prop Shaft Seals. I have invested well over $35k repairing/replacing these systems or their various components. I recently had to replace the steering seals in both drives (one failed, one was preventative) $300 seals, $7000 in labor, travel and yard costs. If you are approaching 500 hours on your drives, you WILL have to replace these seals, and I recommend you do it preventatively. When they fail, they pressurize the transmission and blow the fluid out of the reservoir cap (that blows off) covering the engine room and bilge with steering fluid. The only procedure is to shut down the affected engine and proceed single engine with minimum steerage.
I am discovering from various sources, these (and others) are well known problems and Mercruiser/Cummins/SeaRay continue to market and sell these systems, without fully disclosing the known issues or a comprehensive program of maintenance. ( The Volvo IPS drives have similar issues)
I understand boating is a problematic enterprise, however, continuing to market a poorly designed and poorly supported product is not only disingenuous, but dangerously negligent in that loss of steering in POD equipped vessels can be dangerous.
I am not inviting opinions, I am only asking for others who have had failures (of any sort) not due to damage or improper maintenance practices to respond with their experiences If they choose to. You may PM me if you wish. I am collecting this data to support making a claim for recompense. Your help is greatly appreciated and i will post the results for others to pursue if they wish.

I have 10.years with this garbage of.system we most sue mercury, and sea ray all together for this garbage of system.i have all the documents video parts and all the information that you can imagine.

Please contact me we most sue mercury for more than 200.000.000MM for this.

We must find 10 or more owners with this crap of system . I have 10 years with this nightmare...!!

Eng. Casalta

 

[Virgilio casalta]

In repairing/replacing various components of my Zeus system (2012 470DA) over the past 7 years, I have learned there are several known problems relating to the system. Particularly, the Trim Tab Actuation System, Steering Seals and Prop Shaft Seals. I have invested well over $35k repairing/replacing these systems or their various components. I recently had to replace the steering seals in both drives (one failed, one was preventative) $300 seals, $7000 in labor, travel and yard costs. If you are approaching 500 hours on your drives, you WILL have to replace these seals, and I recommend you do it preventatively. When they fail, they pressurize the transmission and blow the fluid out of the reservoir cap (that blows off) covering the engine room and bilge with steering fluid. The only procedure is to shut down the affected engine and proceed single engine with minimum steerage.
I am discovering from various sources, these (and others) are well known problems and Mercruiser/Cummins/SeaRay continue to market and sell these systems, without fully disclosing the known issues or a comprehensive program of maintenance. ( The Volvo IPS drives have similar issues)
I understand boating is a problematic enterprise, however, continuing to market a poorly designed and poorly supported product is not only disingenuous, but dangerously negligent in that loss of steering in POD equipped vessels can be dangerous.
I am not inviting opinions, I am only asking for others who have had failures (of any sort) not due to damage or improper maintenance practices to respond with their experiences If they choose to. You may PM me if you wish. I am collecting this data to support making a claim for recompense. Your help is greatly appreciated and i will post the results for others to pursue if they wish.

 

[Virgilio casalta]

Good afternoon, I'm making a group of sea ray owner to make a class action against Mercury, sea ray and Brunswick.

I think and I have the proof of a bad design. I have spoke with the people of HELAC that is the company that design the pods and made the actuator for mercury. They told me that mercury is aware of the problem.and they haven't do nothing.

Please.all.the owner and people that have suffer this scam please email me and send me your contact and information of the boat. To make a class action against the evil people in Mercury. Is unbelievable that they haven't make a recall to change that seal with a VITON seal.

Please contact me at vcasalta@gmail.com or call me at 786-7049290.

I have suffer this nightmare for more than 10 years and there is none one that wants to buy this scam.

Please if.you have a related person please give my information. I have like 5 people but we need as many as we can. To make this people pay for this scam ...!!

This boat have ruin my life. I invest more than _1.6MM in this garbage...!!!

 

[Virgilio casalta]

I had significant problems related to the Zeus Pod design. Mercury and Searay understand they have substantial liability but refuse to accommodate their customers unless you have legal representation. They will require that you sign Non Disclosure Agreement indicating you will not pursued any further legal action. I have spoken to other Searay owners with problems
Similar to mine such as power steering actuators and transmission failures. After spending tens of thousands
of dollars on lawyers and threatening a class action law suit they provided minimal recourse. There are defiantly enough Searay owners with similar problems to file a class action, however, I had to cut my looses and get my boat sold.

We have to make a huge group of owner to make a billion dollars class action against this mercury evils . I have lost hundreds of thousands of use dollars in depresation . And they have to pay that. Also I. Insurance and maintaining the boat.

Please contact me via email: vcasalta@gmail.com
786 7049290 or 786 7042578 as soon as possible

 

[Virgilio casalta]

I had significant problems related to the Zeus Pod design. Mercury and Searay understand they have substantial liability but refuse to accommodate their customers unless you have legal representation. They will require that you sign Non Disclosure Agreement indicating you will not pursued any further legal action. I have spoken to other Searay owners with problems
Similar to mine such as power steering actuators and transmission failures. After spending tens of thousands
of dollars on lawyers and threatening a class action law suit they provided minimal recourse. There are defiantly enough Searay owners with similar problems to file a class action, however, I had to cut my looses and get my boat sold.

Please send me your contact info please

 

[techmitch]

Please send me your contact info please

Dissapointed was last seen:

Dec 14, 2019

 

[PlayDate]

I'm pretty sure that your not going to get a lot of CSR members joining you to form a class action lawsuit. If you believe you can prove that SR and Mercury knowingly sold a defective product.....have at it.....

If your lawyers want to create a class action.....all they have to do is get the Court to agree that other current and past owners should be notified. Depending on that response.....the lawyers make the millions and the current and past owners get gift cards for new seals.

I am not a fan of these systems and most of the owners who had them either accept the maintenance costs or have sold their boats.

Although it is a minor point….your spelling and word use distracts from your message.

 

[Virgilio casalta]

Sorry, for my English.
Im venezuelan, and I bought this this garbage 10 years ago. I have suffer 10 years find out that this is a bad design. I spoke with Todd Ashcroft in Mercury service and they know that they have a Problem.

If we all the people that bought this scam. We can do something against Mercury and sea ray .

Could you help me ..!!

 

[ocgrant]

Dude, move on.... those that have these pods like them and deal with their issues. You having an issues for 10 years is your issue no one else. I would have sold it and moved on 9 years ago. Trying to recruit on this forum is not going to work as most of the POD owners here like their boat and accept the way they are. Me never wanted pods but if I had the opportunity to buy a new boat I would not hesitate to look at a boat with newer IPS drives from Volvo as I think they are nice.