Duel rudders, Your takes:

[Wake Bandits]

This through the hull, dual prop Volvo system would cure the reverse and low speed issues with a WB boat:

[dogbert]

Hey, you're onto something. Forget the rudders altogether and just offer a rotating prop/rudder combo (like an I/O, except underneath the boat).

[Domsz06]

interesting.

[Wake Bandits]

It's call the Volvo TPI system.
Docking is super easy and fun with them. Almost like having side propulsion.

[CP3]

This through the hull, dual prop Volvo system would cure the reverse and low speed issues with a WB boat:

they have been talking about putting those in wake boats for a while now. so far no one has stepped up to the plate

[Wake Bandits]

Reverse, low speed handling and docking is not just a minor annoyance,, it's a big issue with most WB boats.

We'd love to see this, at least offered as an option.
The boat would turn in it's own radius too.

Hope Charlie gets on the phone with Volvo by the time we're ready to buy again.

Supposed to be very complicated, technical, and expensive though.

[da.bell]

RZ1??? or Z1????? Is it a diesel????

[whitlock87]

um, you said the exact same thing.

if you have dual rudders you will still only be able to turn when moving forward, same as a single. You might be able to turn a bit more at a slightly slower rate since you would have more water getting by since the prop is not moving. But just like when you have a single rudder when you stop moving, whether the prop is turnig or not you can't turn. I can turn my single rudder as long as I'm moving forward, whether the prop is turning or not.

If the boat is not moving IT CAN NOT BE TURNED BY THE RUDDER!

I have a 4 blade prop. When I cut the throttle back to neutral, I lose all steering.
With twin rudders you will still be able to turn as long as the boat is costing.

There is a difference between costing and drifting. Costing you are moving faster then the water. (So you will be able to turn as long as water is passing over the rudder)
Drifting you are at the mercy of the elements. (No control)

[dogbert]

RZ1??? or Z1????? Is it a diesel????

We all wish. I'd think they would have to redesign the v-drive, trannies and drive shafts on most of the boats to handle the extra torque.

I wish I had a diesel last night. Over 1000 lbs of people and 1200 lbs of ballast, my baby was really struggling to get going, but once she got there, boy, was the surf wake sweet.

[chpthril]

This through the hull, dual prop Volvo system would cure the reverse and low speed issues with a WB boat:

So that would give an inboard about a 4' draft and the bow rise of a run-a-bout

Reverse, low speed handling and docking is not just a minor annoyance,, it's a big issue with most WB boats.

We'd love to see this, at least offered as an option.
The boat would turn in it's own radius too.

Hope Charlie gets on the phone with Volvo by the time we're ready to buy again.

Supposed to be very complicated, technical, and expensive though.

poor low speed/docking maneuverability is a small trade off for the superb handling/tracking of an inboard while pulling a boarder.

[zad0030]

So that would give an inboard about a 4' draft and the bow rise of a run-a-bout



poor low speed/docking maneuverability is a small trade off for the superb handling/tracking of an inboard while pulling a boarder.

I dont think it would be too much different from whats there now... only thing different would be handling in reverse

[evil0ne]

Don't forget the alignment issues EPIC had with their dual rudders. If they got out of alignment it would mess up the wake, etc.

[zad0030]

If the boat is not moving IT CAN NOT BE TURNED BY THE RUDDER!

I have a 4 blade prop. When I cut the throttle back to neutral, I lose all steering.
With twin rudders you will still be able to turn as long as the boat is costing.

There is a difference between costing and drifting. Costing you are moving faster then the water. (So you will be able to turn as long as water is passing over the rudder)
Drifting you are at the mercy of the elements. (No control)

ERR wrong. I drove a supra and when I put it on the trailer using just slight bumps i noticed while in nuetral and "DRIFTING" the boat would still steer.

[mtnsmith]

It's actually Volvo IPS, and yes it would give the boat a huge draft. That thing is also very heavy and would make the boat extremely stern heavy. I like the idea and so does most of the express cruiser boating world so far, which is the key market for this system. Mercruiser came out with their own similar system this year called Zeus. Both are very cool as far as what they have done for boat handling. This type of propulsion is nothing new to the cruise ship industry though, they have had what they call the Azipod style propulsion for a number of years. The maneuverability gained by being able to angle the prop is huge as anyone that has owned a stern drive or outboard knows. You just can't beat the wake from a traditional inboard set-up. Big bulky outdrives cause a lot of water turbulence that aerates the water and makes it less firm, thus giving the win to inboards for the wake. As far as the dual rudder set-up, I think it is pretty neat and being able to direct more of the propulsion is a neat idea, but on such a small boat, is it really needed??? I am not sure how many of you have driven a large boat...50-foot plus...but a 20-ish foot long boat is really never difficult to drive, just my opinion though

[Domsz06]

If the boat is not moving IT CAN NOT BE TURNED BY THE RUDDER!

I have a 4 blade prop. When I cut the throttle back to neutral, I lose all steering.
With twin rudders you will still be able to turn as long as the boat is costing.

There is a difference between costing and drifting. Costing you are moving faster then the water. (So you will be able to turn as long as water is passing over the rudder)
Drifting you are at the mercy of the elements. (No control)

Difference between the boat moving and the prop moving. The prop can be in neutral and a single rudder will still turn as long as the boat is moving. WHen I cut my boat to neutral I can still stear until the "Boat" stops If you are coasting the dual rudder is still going to do nothing for you.

I'm not sure why your boat doesn't turn while coasting, All three tiges I have driven as long as I"m coasting I can still turn them. Not a lot, as the speed decreases but they all turn.