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Volvo engine with Volvo sterndrive / outdrive

Volvo makes eighteen horsepower gas engines using five engine sizes from 135 Hp to 420 Hp.

Volvo also makes eight horsepower diesel engines using three engine sizes from 130 Hp to 370 Hp.

Volvo-Penta and Volvo-Penta of the Americas are other popular names for these engines and sterndrives / outdrives.

After a wildly successful launch of the first of the new “A” series Cobalt line.

Should Cobalt introduce a “C” series line for 2012?

Will the next Cobalt Boat look something like this?

If the “A’ is step up from a regular line Cobalt boat, should the “C” line be a step below the regular Cobalt line-up?

What should be the specs of the first model in such a boat?

Number One (and there is no number two). It should bring to the boating world a new value that says Cobalt and is a true Cobalt Boat, but at a savings.

How would this be accomplished?

It must weight less. Weight demands engine power to give the Cobalt standard of performance with a V-6 engine.

So,  make it lighter by shortening the boat somewhat. Changing to the beam measurement to less than 8’. Design into the mold the swim platform and any swim platform extentions. Cut back on amount of seating, as Cobalt seats are plush and that adds weight. A new approach to the engine room hatch for further weight savings.

Make it a sporty boat model with a less deep cockpit and hull.

Use a 30 gallon gas tank size.

Skip the separate anchor locker.

Use a Volvo SX drive for smooth, silky shifting like a Mercruiser Bravo I sterndrive or a Volvo duoprop outdrive.

Use a Volvo-Penta marinized Chevrolet V-6 engine for its low cost as it does not need marine exhaust manifolds with Cataliytic Converters inside those marine exhaust manifolds.

Seabuddy’s suggested specs for a V-6 powered Cobalt Boat: LOA of 20’2” using a updated version of the Cobalt boat hull first used from the later 1980s on. This is a great running boat with a V-6.  She has a deep V running bottom of 20 degrees. Its designers, Jim Wynne and Dan Bramhall, knew their stuff around fast, good handling, boat hulls for both the lakes and oceans. Figure on a Beam of 7’ 5” and a weight of 2,500 – 2,700 lbs.

See the break in the water about midships to see the Fast Trac Raegal hull

Regal makes family boats that save fuel and go fast for their engine Hp. You should buy and pay less for a smaller engine and go just as fast while using less fuel because of the Regal Fast Trac hull bottom that is special to see and took years to develop and refine at Regal Boats.

In the Regal 2300 bowrider the Fast Trac hull really shines. Take a ride to feel this for yourself. It is an award-winning design that pays off everyday you are on the water. She gives a special experience for a 24’ LOA bowrider.

The next thing that any Regal boats bowrider boat discussion must include is the up-scale features that come standard with the boat. SS bows in the standard Bimini top (not aluminum), a 54 gallon fuel tank, an onboard fresh water supply, stainless steel hinges in the cockpit, docking lights, SS hand rails, depth gauge, cockpit carpet, tilt on the helm wheel, flip-up bolster seating for the co-captain and the captain, auto fire set-up, battery switch, SS detailing on the windshield,…the list goes on. These very well may be options or even not available on other boats that come standard with the Regal 2300.

Note…Do not pass over a full review of the folding arch tower when you inspect the boat for yourself.

tower arch folded down - its special

Pick a DuoProp sterndrive (outdrive) from Volvo-Penta matched up to either a 300 or 320 Hp Volvo marinized Chevrolet engine (these are 350 cu. in. engines with different internal parts to develop their Hp and Torque at different rpm levels to match up the power package of Volvo engine, Volvo DuoProp, and the 3,900 lb boat to deliver what you want, when you want it to a captital T.

Also, remember, the stripe and the gelcoat hull color molded in while the hull is being first molded. Seabuddy (Chris Brown) likes either red or the black, personally.

regal 2300 bowrider windshield detailed in SS

The tower arch set at full height

a good balance of storage spaces and water access

New for 2010 - Volvo Marine Chris Craft Corsair

If you are looking for pure boating pleasure just wait until you climb aboard the newly redesigned Corsair 28. Now with even more room, more luxurious teak, and handling that cuts through any wake with ease, the New Corsair 28 is even more of what Chris-Craft boaters have asked for. Its generous dimensions provide ample interior space, and allow for more powerful twin-engine configurations. The power and acceleration of this model give it a responsiveness that will take your breath away.

Get the twin 320 Hp Volvo and Duoprop sterndrive power choice and you get a boat that has been tested to achieve a full 60 mph at WOT. The duoprop allows for a very low rpm (2,500 rpm) cruising speed of 30 mph for a full day of 250 miles of cruising on any trip. NY to FL is now a 5 day trip. That is rare treat for this popular distance cruise. Chris Brown (seabuddy) has done this cruise almost a dozen times now.

She is 29’ 8” LOA and about 9,000 lbs with the twin Volvo marine engines coupled to the Volvo duoprop outdrives. Beam is 10’.

The new seating and helm on the 28' Chris Craft Corsair

Re-done for 2010, inspect for yourself the new seats for the Captain and first mate within the new cockpit.

Take a look at the optional buckskin upholstery.

The new helm look.

Note the deck hatch natural light feature.

The big increase in real teak detailing as standard equipment.

This is the same running hull that put Chris Craft back at the forefront of boating even with all the other changes for 2010. You will love the ride, so says Chris Brown, seabuddy.

New Helm design for the 2010 Chris Craft Corsair

Get to a Chris Craft dealer or visit the factory and try these new seats

Volvo V-6 engine with an SX outdrive

Volvo offers its feature packed SX sterndrive coupled to its Chevrolet 4.3 sourced Volvo V-6 marine engine to Monterey Boats. Then Monterey Boats has priced that upgrade at about the $1,000 final price.

Get more; 1) engine 2) get-up-on-plane power 3) a far smoother shifting system in the outdrive 4) with power steering  included in the package. This deal at Monterey boats makes a real statement.  

Chris Brown (seabuddy) is going to compare a Mercruiser marinized 4 cylinder engine packaged with a Alpha I outdrive (the base engine / outdrive package) to the $1,000 upgrade charge for Volvo’s marinized Chevrolet beginner V-6 engine with its Volvo SX outdrive this time.

1)      Biggest difference you will get for your $1,000 will be FAST ACCELRATION in your Monterey boat. Why? The ability to twist up the speed of the prop like a rocket booster is onboard the bowrider comes from the torque increase. The 4 has 150 ft. lbs. or torque at 2,000 rpm; the V-6 has 240 ft. lbs. At 3,000 rpm its about 170 ft. lbs. for the 4 and 250 ft. lbs. for the V-6. This is the engine speed range that a bowrider boat uses to get up on plane. This makes the difference in getting going.

2)      The SX Volvo outdrive shifts F-N-R using a cone clutch like a Bravo I, II, III drive and the Volvo DuoProp all do. The Mercruiser 4 uses a dog clutch. A dog clutch bangs or clunks when shifting. A Cone clutch is smooth and quiet. Hear and feel the difference in the water for yourself.

3)      Power steering is not included with a 4 cylinder engine in a Monterey boat. Its about a $300 option to add it while the Monterey bowrider boat is being crafted.

4)      GM builds most of either engine for both Mercruiser and Volvo. The GM assembly plant for the 4 is Toluca, Mexico.  The GM assembly plant for V-6 is Romulus, Michigan.

5)      The V-6 does not require a Catalectic Converter to be emmissions legal in 49 states. The in-line 4 does. That is why its only a $1,000 for all of the above.

180 FS 2010 Monterey Boat

See this Helm layout and feel this bloster flip-up Captain chair for yourself

This boat has the most comfortable driver’s chair and top luxury helm area of any boat this size. It is top of the class in the mind of Chris Brown  –  seabuddy.

Compare it to any other under 20’ boat for style, function, and one that gives the Skipper a sense of command to other outdrive V-6 powered boats you are looking at.

In the Volvo Duo-Prop sterndrive, one gets a smooth shifting, quiet, quick to plane and gas fuel saving of the two propeller feature with a powerful V-6 that does not have to have any, let alone two, Catalytic Converters for 2010, except in California. These legal and functional issues saves an owner thousands at the time of purchase and every day the family is going boating on the water.

Nice walk - thur transom design adds alot to this 196 Chaparral

The LOA is 19’ 6” and the beam is a full 8’ for a good size cockpit that accommodate everybody. Weight is around 3,000 lbs, which calls for the V-6 higher Hp Volvo engine for good, all around performance with either a full load of folks or for all the water sports; wake boarding, skiing, tubing, and wake surfing.

Do not buy a good boat and then skimp on the sterndrive. Try a single prop drive and then a Duo-Prop drive and feel the difference for yourself, especially when comparing an Alpha I outdrive against a DuoProp sterndrive. The shifting is different, how the boat gets going is easy to feel in the seat of your pants, and the fuel burn at cruise is about 15 – 20% less. She is a slipper of gas – not a dollar drainer. It’s the way to go in the opinion of Chris Brown – seabuddy.

nicely finished sun pad for the ladies

Figure on WOT throttle speeds in the mid 40s to upper 40s range with a light load and still easily breaking 40 with more people on board.

walk-in makes boarding and water sports easy

photo of VEC boat sterndrive hull part coming out of the VEC mold

Larson is expected to continue using VEC for its 23  foot and shorter boats for 2011. Glastron boats may or may not use the VEC molding process for its boats made in MI.

In the Donzi Sweet 16 boat, Volvo and the outdrive for powering boats was matched up and shook the boat industry with a bang!

Jim Wynne had Ray Hunt design him a 17’ boat for the sterndrive from the Volvo company. He was to bring attention to the penta outdrive by winning boat races with this boat.

Wyn-Mill, as she was named, did not do the job. But the idea, this size boat matched to the stern drive by Volvo was about right.

Jim then, himself, designed a 17’ boat named Wyn-Mill II and promptly won eight world marathon records.

The difference between the two boats was mostly in the running strakes and the chine location.

A 17′ mold from the race boat wooden plug of the Wynn-Mill II, with a different deck, was pulled for some prototype fine-tuning by Don Aronow.

Once he sold his Formula boat company, Aronow shortened that boat mold to make his boat, the Donzi Sweet 16’.

Now the world turned upside down in small boats, with the Don Aronow Donzi Sweet 16, powered by a 110 Hp Volvo outdrive.

It stole the hearts of every young or want-to-young male that saw it; on the water, at a boat show, or in the window of the famous specialty store Abercrombie and Fitch at their 5 th Avenue Manhattan store.

Monterey has a 318 SSX bow rider that has an LOA of 31’ 10” that can come with twin Volvo stern drives and Volvo’s JOYSTICK control for an easy, 10 minute, learning curve to master all boat control. You control your boat via the drives, four props, and two throttles from one simple joystick to overwhelm wind, drift, waves, current all at once with the Volvo – Penta computer on board. Point the joystick in the direction you want your Monterey bow rider to move and how fast and Volvo’s joystick puts the boat there for you. Hey, you’re the captain of the ship in all conditions in 10 minutes.

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Standard is a Volvo / Chevy engine mated to a Volvo Duo Prop inboard outboard two propeller on one shaft drive. This is the drive invented for modern boating that changed boating for craft over 20’. The top power package uses the same drive with a bigger torque and Hp engine. Volvo uses the Chevy big block in their marine package to get high Hp (425 Hp) without using any catalysts to be emissions legal for 2010.

Monterey molded their 278 SS bow rider at 28’ 10” LOA. The beam is 8’ 6” for easy towing across the USA. The 278 Super Sport Monterey bow rider has a dry weight of 5,510 lbs.

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