Volvo's new stern drive! Forward facing.

[Solitaire]

New from Volvo USA.

 

[benjenbav]

Mebbe you're supposed to mount it on the bow...

 

[Hugin]

Next they will tell you it's worth a £5000 premium

 

[[2068]]

I'm sure that efficiency and speed will be a little better, but that design is losing one major advantage of a sterndrive with rear-facing props, which is that the props can be moved much further away from harm in very shallow water by tilting the drive.

Also, if you are unlucky enough to hit something at greater speed, the "kick up" will trip the props on the bottom.
Sales of replacement propellors are about to get a lot better.

Un-fouling a net or line will no longer be possible from the bathing platform: diving kit or a lift will be needed.

Upside is that there is less chance of cutting your leg on a propellor when swimming, as it's tucked underneath the boat. Wakeboarders on lakes will be happier.

.

 

[Solitaire]

Interesting wake pattern behind a Regal 2100 fitted with the new drive.

 

[Hugin]

Also, if you are unlucky enough to hit something at greater speed, the "kick up" will trip the props on the bottom.

Yep, good observation.... the kick up wont work with forward facing props; at least not without some damage. I think Volvo got this one wrong..... the efficiency advantage, if any at all, will be miniscule. But of course it's something new, so there's always people willing to pay extra for the latest gimmick

 

[tribblehunter]

Well that's thrown me a curve ball.

Can't claim the FlushSok will work with every make and model of sterndrive now!!

I guess I can say every model before VP decided to IPS the sterndrive range...........

New model FlushSok will be made to suit these if we see any in the UK. Wonder if these will go the way of the composite drives.........

 

[[2068]]

It might sell ok to wake boarders in nice deep lakes in the States.
I can't see it selling well in the UK with shallow entrances/anchorages and floating debris.

 

[Sdpaddler50]

Hmm, more efficient like a pod, but I don't think I would want it for reasons noted. I would also think the turning radius will be less that aft facing props.

 

[Hugin]

http://www.volvopentaforwarddrive.com/

According to the press material it seems targeted for wake-boarders running petrol inboards...... so probably not usable with a 500-600hp diesel lump. That would have been more interesting, IMHO

As with IPS Volvo tries to sell the thing by comparing its performance to traditional straight shafts rather than existing rear-facing duo-prop stern drives. Not an entirely honest approach, I think.

 

[Beamishken]

Looks like a c--p idea to me can't see why they would come up with something like that
Must be struggling for Good ideas

 

[tico]

Is it me, but looking at the animation, the props are turning the wrong way...... High speed reverse?

 

[[2068]]

Is it me, but looking at the animation, the props are turning the wrong way...... High speed reverse?

It is you ... look again

 

[AdeOlly]

I think the major point of ForwardDrive is safety. The props are out of the way under the boat so is a much, much safer setup than a normal duo-prop drive when boat is being used for water sports. If I was in market for a small boat for water sports use I'd have this setup in a heart beat. But not otherwise.

 

[ari]

I'm inclined to think that if you get your legs under the bathing platform whilst the props are spinning (and therefore the boat is moving, presumably toward you since if it is moving away then it is increasing the distance from you) then it isn't going to make a lot of difference which side of the drive the props are.

I also think that surely it is a matter of utmost basic safety that if you areclose enough to anyone in the water for them to become entangled then engines are in neutral and switched off, be that outdrive, shaft drive or IPS.

 

[mlines]

The real challenge surely is getting it on the trailer. Is there not going to be a loud metallic grinding noise as it chews through the trailer

 

[tico]

No definitely... look at 'Comfort' under the benefits tab

 

[mm1]

I know this looks real but seriously is it? Why try to reinvent the wheel! I think the duo prop outdrive is a great piece of kit as it is. Hard to find the benefit in this new one. Is it 1st of April?
MM1

 

[maverickofpoole]

I can't believe this would add much if anything to safety when partaking in water sports. When I want to either recover or jettison someone in/out of the water the engine is stopped with the drive being put in gear to stop tidal effect moving the props. i think there are more downsides than upsides

Martin

 

[jrudge]

If you want safety then use a Jet Boat. I was in New Zealand on a lake of xmas and they were nearly all jet boats - maybe the same in the UK - but I have never spent the day next to a gravel pit to find out!

We have a jet rib, and I am much much more comfortable with that than anything with a prop.