Further Good Newz for ZF Marine Propulsion Systems Down Under
by ZF Friedrichshafen AG 1 Mar 2021 23:23 PST
Good Newz © ZF Friedrichshafen AG
A trans-Tasman collaboration has resulted in New Zealand sport fishing boat Good Newz being the first vessel in the Southern Hemisphere to be fitted with the full suite of ZF Marine Propulsion Systems.
The 60-foot long craft, formerly known as No Xcuse, received a major overhaul at leading boat builders McMullen & Wing, with design work carried out by LOMOcean Design, which saw the entire stern module replaced to accommodate a new drivetrain and engine combination.
Delivering power from the twin Scania 1,180bhp engines are ZF 2000 A transmissions, shafts and propellers, as well as the full control system, including ZF SmartCommand, ZF SteerCommand, and the ZF Joystick Maneuvering System (JMS), which enables the iDrift and iAnchor functions.
This package means Good Newz is capable of reaching the Pacific Islands from its Gisborne (New Zealand) base by cruising at 10-knots, only utilising the standard fuel tanks fitted.
"Good Newz hitting the water is the culmination of over 20 years of ZF working closely with LOMOcean Design on numerous projects," said Gary Bain, ZF Services Australia OE Business Manager.
"Despite the unprecedented challenges we have faced over the past year, the well-planned execution of the project has provided a fantastic result, especially the collaboration of all key parties working together.
"With our experts on the ground in New Zealand video conferencing our Australian-based team, the collaboration was able to successfully integrate and calibrate all of the systems on the vessel.
"The resulting combination has been warmly embraced by the boat's skipper, with the JMS proving to be particularly smooth in its operation.
"Preliminary sea trails have seen the vessel reach 33-knots in testing 30-knot winds, with propellers straight "out of the box", a rare occurrence with complex theoretical sizing methodology and a testament to the approach taken by designers LomOcean for accurate vessel data."
"The Works"
Good Newz is the first vessel of its kind to feature an entire driveline and control system sourced from ZF locally, with the SteerCommand electric steering system the very first installation of its type in the Southern Hemisphere.
Allowing for more precise steering, and ultimately safer operation, SteerCommand features a patented reactive force feedback system at the steering wheel, allowing for tighter turns and easier manoeuvring.
SmartCommand meanwhile integrates the latest CANbus communication technology with a user-friendly multi-function control head.
Simple to use, the system includes multiple functions such as Easidock, which modulates clutch engagement and engine speeds for safe docking, and AutoTroll, which allows for full control at low engine speeds.
Additionally, the craft is fitted with ZF's JMS, which gives operators the ability to move the vessel sideways, rotate 360 degrees on its axis, or hold the vessel's position accounting for current and wind.
Using ZF's iAnchor function as the base platform, ZF's new iDrift technology offers users the ability to control drift speed and direction when a vessel is in windy conditions, or even in combination with a strong current, all while maintaining the bow's heading.
The versatile ZF 2000 A transmission is perfectly matched to the engines, with much of the base manoeuvring in trials completed with the motors at idle.
The transmission is suitable for a wide range of applications, such as sports fishing boats, luxury motor yachts and express cruisers, as well as different propulsion systems, such as waterjets, or in the case of Good Newz, ZF shafts and propellers.
Further details on the full range of ZF Marine Propulsion Systems for the region are available through ZF Services Australia, via the website at zf.com/au, or by calling 1800 ZF SALES (1800 93 72537).