Volvo IPS

[OhioProstar]

I was on a flight the other day and a Yatching magazine was left in my seat back. Flipping through it I found an interesting article on Volvo's new Improved Performance System which got me to thinking that a similar system for an inboard might make some sense. The power could still be applied more center to the boat like it is now and turning/backing would probably improve. I wonder if any of the inboard companies have tried something similar.

http://www.volvo.com/volvopenta/global/en-gb/marineengines/powerforleisureboats/ips/ips400/

http://www.mby.com/auto/newsdesk/20041101132742mbynews.html

[ski_king]

That is a interesting drive design. Who knows, could be the next new wave. I wonder how it will work with a 350 hp gas V8.

[Mag_Red]

:cool: Very interesting

[ski_king]

I can see the advantage of he inboard with the prop and rudder under the boat, with the advantage of I/O control at low speeds. Also the Duo Prop setup is said to be very efficient.

On the down side, it has 2 right angle drives which cuts into the efficiency and looks expensive.

Who knows, after all I did see a prototype MasterCraft with a Mercruiser I/O once.

[G-man]

Rob Shirley is rumored to have proposed the V-drive engine in a direct drive boat. MC said no so he started Infinity Ski Boats. The volvo reminds me of that.

[OhioProstar]

You guys saw it here first, if MC builds one I want the first ride at least.

[ski_king]

OK, I did the preliminary design work for MC. Looks like it will take up more interor room than the v-drive.

[team north]

my only real concern with that is the prop is fully exposed to anything

[JimN]

The prop being fully exposed is based on the fact that this isn't designed for shallow water. Another thing, the Volvo Penta in the link is rated near 375HP and being a diesel, it's gonna be torque galore! Counter rotating props is really nice for low speed control, though.

[AirJunky]

it's gonna be torque galore! Counter rotating props is really nice for low speed control, though.

No kidding. Remember the Extreme Boats from Texas a few years ago? Only AWSA approved I/O, more manuverable than a PS190, had an option for a 700 horse engine, and capable of like 20 mph in reverse!

[OhioProstar]

Actually PowerSlot you have the engine heading in the wrong direction in your pic. I would think the scale of the unit for a 50' yacht might be a little larger than what would apply to a 25' or less inboard, so scale it down 25% and turn it around.

[JimN]

Ohio- click on the second link at the beginning of this thread. The motor and prop are in the right direction. Also, look at the cone on the prop where the nut would be. There's no reason to have a cone like that if it's at the rear. The 2nd link explains a lot. They have an angled view of it and it shows where the access to the propshaft and gears would be. Also at the rear, which is normal. The skeg usually angles down and to the rear, like this one.

[Leroy]

I'm hope I'm not in the twilight zone, but I think in several years this will impact ski boats. Was in Yachting couple of months ago also. Predict a prop much more forward and with computer controlled variable trim. Getting the turbulance of the prop forward with smooth flat hull to level out has got to make really flat wake. Taken to the extreme imagine the prop in front of a boat or just pulling a ski boat how good the wake would be. Really has to be improvement in the big boats.

[ski_king]

Almost like a boat with front wheel drive.

[Ryan]

It's like front wheel steering!

If you think about it we are all driving like a fork-lift right now. But, I like how my forklift er...MC drives. But, with my carb'd '93 I'm behind the times.

Imagine the trailer ... we thought we had prop guard issues now. Or maybe it would look like Reto's German X2.

[Ryan]

. pic

[OhioProstar]

Jim, You are right, looks like with the prop forward you have more saftey.

[MC_TT_Doug]

Interesting design, but looks expensive compared to an inboard....Looks more expensive in upfront cost as well as ongoing maintenance and repair compared to an inboard. Hitting a slightly submerged log with something like that would probably take the entire lower unit with it resulting in repair costs in the thousands rather than the hundreds we have today for similar damage on an inboard. I owned an I/O back in 1990. It only took me one season of problems with my I/O to decide that I would never own an I/O again. No thanks! ;-)

[JimN]

If you go to the link, it says that if something is hit hard enough, part of it will shear and the shaft will drop out of the drive. The drive is installed in a way that it won't leak. Yeah, stern drives are expensive and this will have a deeper draft than a direct drive. They never said it was designed for a ski boat, either. That was brought up here. The Volvo Penta drives are really nice, though. These are made for larger boats and not for anything this small.

[zinsane]

Here is another article on IPS. The only current production model available is a Tiara 40. The lower unit is made of bronze and is completely sealed from the upper via o-rings. The whole unit is designed to shear off if it hits anything so the whole hull of the boat will not be destroyed.


http://www.motorboating.com/motorboat/features/article/0,12696,1020965,00.html

[Storm861triple]

On the down side, it has 2 right angle drives which cuts into the efficiency and looks expensive.
Not as much as any ONE of the following cuts down on efficiency:
1. Packing
2. Out of alignment drive (I bet almost every one one this forum is)
3. A propeller that isn't pointed in the correct direction

This drive would be far more efficient than our current drives.

-Tom

[ski_king]

Not as much as any ONE of the following cuts down on efficiency:
1. Packing
2. Out of alignment drive (I bet almost every one one this forum is)
3. A propeller that isn't pointed in the correct direction

This drive would be far more efficient than our current drives.

-TomGood point Tom.