Check this out!!

[bfrank]

Volvo Penta Inboard Performance System

Volvo News Story
Looks pretty cool!!! I wonder which ski boat it will go into first?!?!

[Tip]

Pretty cool.

[jeffro]

i bet thats about 5x's more expensive to fix if you run "a little shallow"!

cool idea though.

[GIZMO]

Best of both worlds. Low speed manueverability of a I/O and high speed handling of a direct drive. Very cool! Add this to my dream wakeboard boat list TigeMD.

[David]

Looks very innovative, but my guess is that It is going to take some time to break into the industry. Looks cool though!

[Tige M.D.]

yea, i would like to know how deep that drive hangs down. but imagine a tournement boat that will back up the direction you want it to
the link says if you hit something at high speed the drive will sheer off. CHA CHING!

[smendez]

I read the entire report in "Motorboat Magazine" or something like that (I bought it off the stand and now I can't remember )

The whole unit is designed to break off in case of running aground, causing little damage to the entire system and the boat. Apparently, they have some sort of self sealant mechanism to keep the boat from flooding and sinking.

The magazine review also raved about how maneuverable it makes the boat it's in. Mostly because of the way it lifts the boat out of the water. By doing this, it also becomes more efficient, pushing the boat faster and further with less gas.

For that very same reason, it may not be a good thing with wakeboarders, though it may be great for slalom skiers.

I love engineering and this is quite a revolution in marine propulsion. It's definitely thinking outside the box.

[Jeff]

I had the oprotunity to drive a 400 Cruisers with the new IPS system the boat preforms twice of what it did with direct drives. Top end increased 18 mph. It also is more efficent, as well as easier to dock and manuever.

Right now it is only available in twin diesel applications 35 - 50 ft. It is only a $20,000 dollar up charge on a $300,000.00 dollar boat. Minimal upcharge considering the intial investment.

Jeff Morales

[joe8395]

This is a great idea but look at the boat it's being shown in...no way will you see this application in a wakeboard boat.