AUSTRALIAN CAT CLAIMS WORLD-FIRST WITH IPS
NSW catamaran builder, Sailfish Catamarans, is claiming a world-first with the inclusion of Volvo Penta’s revolutionary IPS pod-drive system on its flagship Sailfish 5000.
The brand’s authorised agent, Sydney’s Webbe Marine, said the 50-foot Sailfish 5000 is the first alloy catamaran in the world to be fitted with IPS.
“The customer clearly wanted a distinctive and unique powerboat. He had done his research and specifically requested the Volvo IPS drives,” said Gavan Daly of Webbe Marine.
The Volvo Penta drives fitted to the Sailfish are IPS600s, featuring forward-facing duo-props, that Webbe Marine said deliver 418hp at the props. Displacing 5.5lt each, the independent IPS pod drives, like Mercury’s Zeus system, provide enhanced joystick manoeuvring, running efficiency and reduced engine footprint.
“The Volvo IPS drives work beautifully on the big Sailfish 5000,” Daly said.
“By any measure this is a big boat and the new IPS technology is quite at home with the cat configuration.
“The efficiency of the IPS drives is quite impressive with IPS600 drives delivering the same performance as a 600hp shaft-drive configuration, but without the fuel costs that come with a big engine,” he said.
Sailfish Catamarans manufactures a range of aluminium powercats with gamefishing and family-friendly Platinum, Weekender, and Gamefisher models, and the launch and delivery of the Sailfish 5000 is the company’s biggest project yet.
Webbe Marine says it is a specialist Sydney power catamaran marine retailer, being the authorised agent for the Sailfish, Webster’s Twinfisher and PowerCat brand of boats, and Honda outboards.
For further information, contact Gavan Daly, Webbe Marine, 27 Marshall Road, Kirrawee, NSW, 2232, phone (02) 9521 7944, fax (02) 9542 1287, email: info@webbemarine.com.au