Volvo Penta is a mainstay in marine engine technology throughout the world with a history spanning over 100 years of innovations. Given its longevity, Volvo Penta possess an impressive list of industry firsts, starting with the B1 marine engine in 1907, and continuing with the Aquamatic sterndrive in 1959, Duoprop in 1982, Electronic Vessel Control in 2005, the Inboard Performance System—known by the acronym IPS—and joysticks in 2005, and the award-winning Glass Cockpit last year.
Recently, we conversed with Ron Huibers, president of Volvo Penta of the Americas, discussing Volvo’s new engines, especially the V8-350, the growth of sterndrives in the pontoon and deck boat market and, most importantly, Volvo Penta’s core values, which shape the company’s vision as an innovative supplier of marine propulsion systems.
The V8-350
Over the last couple of years, Volvo Penta has designed, developed, manufactured and produced an entirely new line of gas sterndrive engines. The first engine in the new series, the V8-380, made a strong impression in the industry, claiming a National Marine Manufacturers Association Innovation Award at the International BoatBuilders Exhibition & Conference in 2012. Volvo Penta followed the V8-380 with the V8-430 in 2013, and most recently the V8-350 this year.
The V8-350 was designed from the V8-380 engine block, but weighs less than the 380hp counterpart and other marine engines in its horsepower class. Like the V8-380 and V8-430, the V8-350 delivers improved top-end performance, industry-leading horsepower-to-weight ratio and up to 20 percent increased fuel efficiency, while also exceeding all U.S and international clean-air standards. It uses variable-valve timing (VVT) technology to optimize torque at low RPMs, while maximizing performance in the higher RPM range, resulting in faster acceleration, increased top speed and smoother, better response in the mid-range.
Always Growing
One of the first questions we were able to ask the Volvo Penta president was why launch a new V8 at 350hp when there are already two impressive models at the 320hp and 380hp benchmarks? “Our strategy is to offer the widest possible range of power choices to meet our OEM partners’ needs,” said Huibers. “The addition of the 350hp model was a natural extension of our new-generation lineup of high-performance, fuel-efficient clean-burning gas engines.”
Sterndrives & Outboards
Huibers explained that sterndrives offer unique advantages for modern pontoon and deck boats. For one thing, they provide a clean transom and open the boat for 360-degree activity with easy unobstructed access to the stern swim platform and better visibility astern for towing. The improved low-end torque of the new sterndrives is especially beneficial for towing sports. Sterndrives are quieter and meet a higher standard for emissions than outboards. In addition, power steering is standard with sterndrives, increasing maneuverability and decreasing response time for the driver in situations that require quick thinking and action. Volvo Penta’s fully integrated helm-to-prop systems are designed to simplify the boating experience so that everyone can enjoy and partake in the fun of easy boating, he said.
Core Values
According to the Volvo president, the company’s core values are “quality, safety and care for the environment.” These values guide the company’s product development and business strategies. Volvo Penta’s vision for its leisure marine business is to make the boating lifestyle more accessible and fun for today’s families.
“We sum it all up in the phrase, ‘easy boating,’” says Huibers. “Many of the innovations we have pioneered in recent years have been driven by this concept of making it easier for boaters to enjoy themselves by removing many of the perceived barriers to a happy boating experience. You’ll see it across our product lines with easy boating solutions like the Glass Cockpit, joystick controls and EVC and also in our after-the-sale service and maintenance plans. The investments we continue to make in the gas engine range, including our standard five-year factory warranty coverage, are bringing new, exciting performance to the sterndrive segment.”
Talking with Huibers, it becomes readily apparent that he enjoys a lifelong passion for boating, and his desire is to convey his excitement and the joy of boating. He sees great potential in the fast-growing pontoon and deck boat market, and believes Volvo Penta’s sterndrives are positioned to address the growing demand for power and performance among modern owners.
Power For Pontoons
He points out that pontoon boats are becoming multi-function recreational and entertainment platforms. As these boats have become bigger, heavier and multi-faceted, they require more power for a wider array of water activities. He believes that modern pontoon boat owners are no longer content to putt around the lake with the 20hp outboards of the past.
“As these boats are designed to carry more people and do more things, they need more power so that everyone can have more fun,” said Huibers.
We asked how Volvo Penta’s core values of quality, safety and care for the environment are reflected in the company’s products and the president noted that safety is paramount in boating. “Boaters must have absolute trust in the quality and safety of their boats’ engines,” explained Huibers. “Safe boating means a happier, trouble-free experience for everyone.”
Quality is harder to define, since the word means different things to different people. While discussing quality, there were several aspects of Volvo Penta that Huibers brought up time and again, including a full range of available sterndrive options, horsepower of the models offered, performance metrics, environmental impacts of boats and their engines and the five-year warranty that is offered with their engines. Huibers pointed out that the extended warranty helps to lower costs of owning and operating a boat and gives consumers peace of mind to enjoy their time on the water worry-free.
Respect
When asked about care of the environment, the president’s answer was simple and sincere. “Respecting the environment is about boating for us and our children. That is what drives us when it comes to the environment. Boating is about the joy of being together with friends and family on the open water, enjoying the vastness and abundance of nature. With that in mind, Volvo Penta wants to ensure that our customers have enjoyable, trouble-free days on the water and that we create products that minimize the effect on our natural resources and waterways.”
Huibers was proud to mention that Volvo Penta marine engines are some of the cleanest-burning engines on the market.
“We look beyond current laws and regulations to which our engines must conform, and in many cases our emission levels are lower than the requirements by large margins,” stated Huibers.
Reminiscing on pontooning in the past, Huibers mentioned the lengths that the industry has grown, especially when compared to the stereotype in the movie The Great Outdoors with John Candy. In the movie, Candy’s character takes his family to the north woods for vacation and spends time boating and enjoying the water. In a few scenes, pontoons are seen slowly sliding through the water with little to no power. However, today that is not the case with engine options available, such as Volvo's V8-350. Pontooning is a growing industry, as Volvo Penta is a growing company, and the engine manufacturer is looking forward to the future in preparing and developing new engines to fit the needs of everyone.
