Volvo IPS improvements

Oh I think you'll find some here who don't like the company itself and any innovation from them an excuse to balk.

And just when I thought you've turned a corner you say that. Can't stand it when someone has a differing opinion? My writings are based solely on my experiences with the product, not dock talk or hearsay. I speak up so people can decide for themselves what to buy not just fanboy blubbering.

I think it's well documented that Volvo is one of the most innovative marine manufactures in history.

Yes innovate but that doesn't translate to reliable

No corners to be turned. I call them how I see them, and also speak up so people can decide for themselves what to buy or not buy not from just blubbering and dock talk. My writings are also based on my experience with the product. Brought one from Detroit to Easthampton., sold them, taught on, gave orientations on and transported more than I can count. Btw, it wasn't you I was referring to. Go back a few years to the trashing of IPS by certain people in threads comparing it to Zeus and others threads. and you'll see what I mean. Reminded me of when they came out with the Duo-prop and everyone trashed them till the patent ran out. A lot of anecdotal "evidence", and precious little scientific.

Please back that up. Do you have any stats?

Two questions. What years? And were they serviced according to the maintenance schedules by factory certified Volvo technicians?

EVC failure....... i've seen it pop up on a few of them......lol...... turn off battery switches, wait 30 seconds, restart and you won't see it pop up for months (usually..... lol)......

Early EVC 1 was a PITA and was replaced under warranty, which Volvo is very good with. I think we did 150 changes and not one e-mail from Volvo moaning.

Volvo is always at the fore-front of marine tech, like many companies, and sometimes you get a swing and a miss. Other manufactures just bunt.

Gee I've never heard of a tech having to check multiple things before zeroing in on the cause of a problem. Did they get it figured out and fixed or did they walk away ? I had a Volvo tech come from Long Island to Cape Cod on a Saturday night to perform a warranty repair. That's 10 hours of travel time including 2 ferries. I sure wouldn't have balked if he had to call the factory if he needed advice.

Well, anyone can have occasional issues. We have Volvo Stern Drives and service was flawless. Better than our Mercruisers on which we had few problems. On Volvo IPS and straight drives in recent years, in the US, I've heard complaints against dealers, but praise of Volvo for their handling of warranty claims. Unfortunately, too many times people had to go beyond dealers to Volvo to get things resolved correctly. In Europe, what I've heard, all second hand, from Volvo owners and from builders using Volvo has been positive and equal to their experiences with other manufacturers. I haven't had direct experience with them. Still I've strongly questioned others because I was bothered by the turns several manufacturers have made to Volvo. The reputation that had followed them disturbed me. However, today, I'd be more than willing to buy a Volvo powered boat if that's what the boat I wanted used. Still, I'd greatly prefer Cummins and MAN. Specifically, if buying a Riva Rivelle, I'd go with MAN but if buying a Rivamare, which only comes with Volvo, I would still buy it. Grand Banks 60 only comes with Volvo and I wouldn't let that dissuade me. And, I am a fan of Sabre and would definitely buy them with a Volvo IPS. If you say "no" to all Volvo, you're eliminating a lot of quality boats as they've greatly increased their base in the last few years.

As to used Volvo, I'd look at age and survey and used IPS I'd be reluctant based on what I think about the original purchasers of many of them rather than the engines. I've seen too many purchased by beginners and subjected to a lot of abuse.

"As to used Volvo, I'd look at age and survey and used IPS I'd be reluctant based on what I think about the original purchasers of many of them rather than the engines. I've seen too many purchased by beginners and subjected to a lot of abuse." I agree with OB. That's why I don't see them for larger boats so much as entry or early level. They're not the be all and end all of marine propulsion. They're something that helps a guy or girl who's not that experienced dock cleanly. Just like outdrives and outboards have their place. That's why I don't understand the venom. Volvo has brought a ton of people into boating, and kept many of them in boating. They're a good company that backs their product and they're probably the most innovative in the industry.

The key for the newer Sabre boats with IPS is that they were specifically designed for IPS from the hull up. That not only impacts performance, it also provides a great deal of extra space. On our 45, it made a utility room available where we had a full sized washer, dryer, storage cabinet, freezer, and most important, a wine cooler.

Made a significant difference in the experience on trips of a month or more.

As with most computer components Volvo or any other. A lot of fixes is verify proper battery voltage and a clean ground to engine, then if getting strange readings I have found that disconnecting starting battery and all electrical connections to computer and sensors should be disconnected and verify no corrosion then reconnected and disconnect a few times once that is completed reconnect battery and see if issue goes away. It will fix most issues or will show you a sensor that had a bad connector connection crimp or burnt pin. I would have no issue buying a new boat with Volvo D6 duo prop, IPS no thank you don't want the headache of water intrusion and rebuild costs. The most unfortunate issue with Techs factory certified or not is a lot of them are parts exchangers. When I was a certified Ford tech the service manual would have you pin out (check Circuit) readings for an issue say no start but engine cranks, you can test all the way to the computor and all sensors and the last step may say try know good sensor or module or computer. Had it happen a few times. I hold on to old parts to assist in diagnostic issues.

As that choice isn't available and I have no performance data to compare, it's hard to speculate, but based on their development and refinement with IPS I'd very likely choose the IPS. Sabre has spent a lot of time and effort with pods. By the same token, I wouldn't think of asking LARS to put shafts on his Delta. Princess is another builder, in spite of all the reasons I wouldn't choose them, that has long worked and designed around IPS. I always consider the pairing.

The one time I had the choice to make, I had a choice on a Sunseeker between IPS and MAN. I did test one with IPS and it performed well, but I had complete performance data on IPS, MAN 1000 and MAN 1200. I chose MAN 1200 as I felt the MAN 1000 was underpowered and the MAN 1200 and IPS were relatively equal in performance. The IPS had overall better fuel usage but due to misuse of space a smaller fuel capacity. The IPS had a greater draft. The MAN performed better in mid range. Last, you picked up no space or other advantages as the boat was clearly designed for shafts, not for IPS. If my only choices had been MAN 1000 and IPS, I might have chosen the IPS, just for the added speed.

I go in with objectivity and evaluate the given options.