[PCW] Azi-pods and Canoe Stern

[Alan Bliss]

Azi-pods, both pushers and pullers, have been appearing on various  
displacement hulls such as "tractor" style tug boats. Many warships,  
such as the U.S. Navy's Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates (FFGs) have  
retractable pods powered by approx. 300 hp electric motors, which they  
use to supplement close-in maneuvering. (Indeed, the USS Samuel B.  
Roberts, FFG-58, once famously used hers to creep out of a minefield  
in the Persian Gulf). Cunard's new Queen Mary 2 is powered exclusively  
by huge pull-me type azi-pods.

The appeal is obvious, but I agree with Bob Deering, they sure look  
like expensive damage-magnets.

Alan Bliss


On Apr 21, 2009, at 10:23 AM, Robert Deering wrote:

> Aren't the azi-pods intended for high-speed/planing hulls?  The  
> Tennant
> canoe-stern is a displacement hull.
>
> I personally don't like the pods - they look like an absolute  
> disaster for
> fouling on floating rope or striking debris prop-first.
>
> Bob Deering
> Juneau, Alaska
>
>
> On 4/21/09 6:18 AM, "Guy Mandigo" <gmandigo at earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>> The recent ... in the past five years ... addition of azimuth pods  
>> to pleasure
>> boating has stirred my attention.  I know of only a few power  
>> catamaran
>> manufacturers (AfriCat being one) that have added this form of  
>> propulsion.
>>
>> And my discovery of Malcolm Tennant's 'canoe stern' has caused me  
>> to consider
>> incorporating the two.
>>
>> My big question:  Whether the Cummins/Mercruiser Zeus (a pusher) or  
>> the Volvo
>> IPS (a tractor) is the more appropriate.
>>
>> Has anyone any thoughts about this combination?
>>
>> Guy
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