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Changing Boating Forever
Since the 1700's, the way in which we move a boat through the water has changed very little.
Starting with oar power, we have seen the development of the paddle-wheel, screw propeller, outboards, turbines, sterndrives, water jets and surface-piercing propellers.
 What each of these systems has in common is the relative inefficiency of the propulsion system itself. In the case of the inboard shaft, as a vessel’s speed increases, the efficiency of the inboard shaft actually decreases proportionally. As a result, more and more horsepower is needed to achieve increasingly modest speed improvements.
So, the question is: How to achieve greater vessel performance without simply throwing horsepower at the problem?
The answer is start from a blank sheet of paper and redesign the means of transmitting the engine’s mechanical energy into vessel momentum. In short, start a revolution.
The Result is Volvo Penta's Inboard Performance System 400/500
 The Volvo Penta Inboard Performance System is more than just a marine engine: it is a complete helm to propeller inboard performance system designed to make your boat perform better and your boating more enjoyable.
The combination of the Volvo Penta’s D6 marine diesel with Electronic Vessel Control (EVC) and a revolutionary new propulsion unit--employing dual counter-rotating propeller technology--results in performance that is faster, leaner, cleaner and quieter.
 But these breakthroughs in marine performance and efficiency pale in comparison to how much fun running a boat is once again.
Driving a Volvo Penta IPS powered boat is like being at the wheel of a sports car: the handling characteristics are nimble, agile, precise and, yes, fast.
“Marvelous to drive, fun to drive, like a hot rod.”
What Makes The Volvo Penta Inboard Performance System Superior?
Volvo Penta’s D6 incorporates the cutting edge of marine diesel engine technology and is available in two configurations: the Volvo Penta IPS 400 (310HP) or the Volvo Penta IPS 500 (370HP). Because of superior efficiency, the Volvo Penta product designations 400 and 500 suggest the horsepower required of a conventional inboard shaft system to achieve comparable performance. Engine features include common rail fuel injection, double overhead camshafts, 4 valves per cylinder, turbo charging and after cooling.
The Volvo Penta IPS 500 has the added benefit of a Compressor for even greater acceleration. The combination of the Volvo Penta D6’s large swept engine volume with EVC minimizes engine emissions and maximizes performance. World class marine diesel performance is the hallmark of the Volvo Penta Inboard Performance System.
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“When we tested the boat, we knew it was exactly what we had been seeking for years because we know that our customers now can use the boat as they are using their car.”
Laurent Fabre, Directeur Projet Moteur, Beneteau |
Common Rail Fuel Injection is at the core of Volvo Penta’s efficient D6 marine engine. Diesel Technology Forum (dieselforum.org) describes and defines common rail fuel injection as a technological advancement that has vastly improved the efficiency of the diesel engine. All internal combustion engines need two key ingredients to operate: air and fuel. The precise delivery of these ingredients is what makes clean and powerful combustion possible. Just as turbochargers help deliver copious amounts of air to help diesels operate cleanly, efficiently and powerfully, the parallel revolution in fuel delivery has ushered in the renaissance of diesels.
 The way in which fuel is injected into the cylinders determines the torque, fuel consumption, emissions and noise of diesels. Two factors are important: the fuel pressure as it enters the cylinder, and the shape and number of the injections.
A common-rail injection system separates the two functions — generating pressure and injecting — by first storing the fuel under high pressure in a central accumulator rail, then delivering it to the individual electronically-controlled injectors on demand. This ensures that incredibly high injection pressures are available at all times, even at low engine speeds.
High fuel pressure produces a fine mist of fuel that burns better and cleaner in the combustion chamber. Not only that, but for each combustion cycle, the common rail allows up to five injections per cycle. Benefits are lower fuel consumption, better engine performance and less noise. Common Rail also eliminates typical “diesel knocks.”
 Electronic Vessel Control is complete instrumentation and an engine control management system for Volvo Penta marine diesels. EVC offers a high level of onboard systems integration: electrical shift and throttle for smooth and safe control, a complete range of easy to read data link gauges, a large liquid crystal display (LCD) all delivered through a single CAN (Controller Area Network) cable.
With EVC, boating is safe and easy while installation diesel forumis a snap. Standard features include engine synchronization, scalable information systems and intelligent engine management that maintains constant power output regardless of temperature or fuel quality.
"The fact that you can do more with less impresses me: Speed versus maneuverability with less horsepower, less engine size, and
less fuel consumption … that’s all a plus."
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