X

Imtra Learning Center

Imtra’s Learning Center is a great resource for everything you need to know about your boat’s equipment and systems. Everything from product overviews, product comparisons, buying guides, troubleshooting guides, maintenance tips and more can be found here, and it’s always being updated. Be sure to also check out our video library for product demonstrations, how-tos, webinars and much more!

 

Imtra Learning Center

Zipwake Interceptors: What’s the Cost of Installation?

Zipwake Interceptors: What’s the Cost of Installation?

Author: Conrad Taylor/Wednesday, March 18, 2020/Categories: Trim Control- Zipwake

Rate this article:
2.5

Imtra’s Zipwake Product Manager Jamie Simmons helps you size up the costs involved in buying and installing Zipwake interceptors.

The cost of installing interceptors on your boat depends on your type of boat and the performance benefits you want. Both will impact the number and size of the interceptors needed and the labor required for installation. If you are replacing an existing set of trim tabs, installation costs may be impacted, as well.

(To learn more about how interceptor systems work and how they compare with trim tabs, read “Trim Tabs Vs. Interceptors: Which are Better for my Boat?”)

If you have a 30-foot lobster boat and you say, “I need a little bit of lift” as you accelerate to higher speeds, you could add two 750mm interceptors and be happy with the resulting improvement in the trim of your boat underway. If you would like to have more significant lift and roll control, you will want to add as much coverage as possible, say four or six units instead of two.

LearningCenterBanner...

The design shape and weight of your hull, plus the weight and power of your engines will factor in, as well. A typical center console boat with a planing hull shape and ample power may need only a pair of interceptors. A cruising boat filled with cruising gear and driven by engines that are already slightly underpowered will likely need as many units as you can install at the transom. Some boats in the 40- to 60-foot range already have trim tabs but can benefit from adding interceptors.

At Imtra, we have a database of all the models we’ve outfitted, including for those manufacturers who offer Zipwake interceptors as an option rather than standard equipment. We also have quite a bit of info on after-market applications we’ve done for other vessels. Using that extensive database, and even if we don’t know your specific boat already, with a little extra analysis, we can spec out a system for almost any boat, 17 feet to 100 feet long.

Product Cost: Zipwake Series S and Series E Interceptors

 

Zipwake Interceptor Model Price (complete kit)
300 S $3,160
450 S $3,500
600 S $4,290
750 S $4,920
400 E $6,430
600 E $9,670
800 E $12,010
1000 E $14,340

*Prices are subject to change and may vary

For several years, Zipwake has sold its successful Series S interceptors through Imtra’s distribution network in the United States for boats up to 50 feet long. In 2019, responding to the demand for larger units on larger boats, the company introduced the larger Series E, which covers boats as long as 100 feet. The new series may be a better choice than the Series S for some boat models in the 40- to 60-foot range.

The Series E is more expensive than the Series S. It has twice the stroke length (60mm vs. 30mm) and operates at twice the speed. To provide the additional strength and power, dual servos are employed. The list price for the smallest pair of Series E interceptors (600mm wide) is $9,000. The list for the smallest pair of Series S (300mm wide) is $2,490. Street prices can usually be found at significant discounts from list.

 

Product Cost: Zipwake Installation Examples

To give you an example of different installations and costs, here are several different boats we’ve equipped recently. Product prices are quoted at full retail price; you will often find lower street prices.

Boat Type Equipment Cost Labor (Time Estimate)
Jarrett Bay 27
(CC with single pair of Zipwake Series S 300s/450s)
$2,650 - $3,325 8 - 12 hours
for flat transom
Palm Beach 42
(Cruiser with two Zipwake Series S 750s and two Series S 450s
$4,725 - $6,900 12 - 20 hours
for flat transom
Cruisers 60
(Flybridge cruiser with four Zipwake Series S 750s and two Zipwake Series S 300s plus an additional control panel for flybridge)
$7,700 - $9,500 20 - 30 hours
Scarborough 63
(Sportfisherman with Zipwake Series E, either one pair 600s, 800s, or 1000s or with two additional 600 tunnel interceptors)
Additional controls may be needed for more than one helm
$8,900 - $20,000 8 - 30 hours
Sunseeker 95
(Motoryacht with 4-6 Zipwake Series E units and additional controls)
$10,375 - $30,000 10 - 40 hours

 

How much you’ll spend installing your interceptors depends on the difficulty of the installation, the number of units to be installed, and the cost of labor at dealers and installers in your area. Labor rates vary widely depending on the boatyard anywhere from $85 to $140 per hour, so be sure to check with a couple of nearby installers to learn the going rate in your area. The bottom line is that installation may be a fraction of the cost of the product, but if many hours of labor are required, it may be comparable.

In most cases, we can come up with a way to install interceptors that fit the space available with little fuss. But sometimes, the mechanics of mounting each unit and running connecting cables are complicated by the position of equipment on the transom, for example, zincs or underwater lights.

The most labor-intensive complication often results from the curved shape of a boat’s transom. If the transom is not flat, some glasswork and gel coat or paint will be needed to build up a flat pad where the transom meets the bottom of the hull. On other boats, you may need to fill in a trim-tab pocket that’s no longer needed, which could take a fiberglass worker multiple days of labor.

The best way to find out what a Zipwake system would cost for your boat is to contact your local dealer for a quote.

If you’re interested in installing Zipwake on your own, be sure to consult this extended installation video

 

Related Products:

 

Print

Number of views (17532)/Comments (0)

Please login or register to post comments.

Related Articles

Zipwake vs. Seakeeper Ride - What’s the Difference?

Zipwake vs. Seakeeper Ride - What’s the Difference?

Both Zipwake and Seakeeper Ride are automated trim systems for powerboats that offer underway roll and pitch control with devices mounted on the transom in place of traditional trim tabs. While both systems aim to accomplish the same goal of helping the boat ride steadily in its most comfortable and efficient state by automatically reacting to changing conditions and generating lift on the transom, there are some significant differences between the two products.  

Monday, June 12, 2023/Author: Conrad Taylor/Number of views (11304)/Comments (0)/ Article rating: 4.1
Tips for Troubleshooting Zipwake Interceptors

Tips for Troubleshooting Zipwake Interceptors

Zipwake systems offer built-in self-diagnostic tools that can tell you exactly what part of the system is experiencing issues if the system isn’t working properly. Follow along for tips on how to troubleshoot a Zipwake system.
Tuesday, July 19, 2022/Author: Conrad Taylor/Number of views (7074)/Comments (0)/ Article rating: 3.5
Zipwake Dynamic Trim Control System: FAQs

Zipwake Dynamic Trim Control System: FAQs

While interceptor technology for the marine industry has been around for decades, it’s still a relatively new concept to recreational boats and their owners. Imtra has been offering Zipwake interceptors since 2018, and while more and more people are famil
Monday, May 23, 2022/Author: Conrad Taylor/Number of views (7010)/Comments (0)/ Article rating: 4.0
Trim Tabs vs. Interceptors: What’s the Difference for My Boat?

Trim Tabs vs. Interceptors: What’s the Difference for My Boat?

Imtra’s Zipwake Product Manager Jamie Simmons explains the key differences between trim tabs and interceptors. Learn why serious boat owners choose Zipwake.
Wednesday, March 18, 2020/Author: Conrad Taylor/Number of views (28981)/Comments (0)/ Article rating: 3.8
RSS