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Volvo Penta V8 380 FWD EVC2 DP CAT

Boat Reviews

Boat Review by: Rick Layzell

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Market leading innovations are always a driving force behind retail sales. Consumers, engine builders, and boat builders alike are always searching for the latest cutting-edge technology to make boating easier. Enter the Volvo Penta with Forward facing drive – one of many industry firsts from Volvo Penta.

First up, let’s break down the V8 380 FWD EVC2 DP CAT model code:

V8 – relatively straight forward, the aluminum block is an 8-cylinder V8.

380 – her output is 380 horsepower – that’s a lotta HP!

FWD – Forward facing drive – innovative surf solutions begin!

EVC2 – Electronic Vessel Control – It comes together at the helm and makes sense when we review Water Sports Control & Glass Cockpit.

DP – Duoprop – Volvo Penta was the first to market with two props, too.

CAT – catalytic converter delivering clean emissions.

With that all explaining what’s under the proverbial hood – or in the engine compartment, I should say – let’s look at applications.

Forward facing drive opened up a myriad of opportunities for boat builders, consumers, and Volvo Penta themselves. As the wake surfing market began to take off back around 2010, Volvo Penta recognized that they already created a forward facing drive for use in other applications. Re-engineering that technology would take a short period of time to meet their global commitment to quality, reliability, and performance standards. So, in due course Volvo Penta unleashed their forward facing drive to the recreational market. Today, there are upwards of 40 OEM’s (Original Equipment Manufacturer’s) actively offering Volvo Penta’s forward facing drive technology to their customer base.

Our test boat was none other than the Regal LS9 Surf – a 28’11” long masterpiece that showcased not only Regals’ exceptional commitment to fit and finish but also exemplified the marriage of engine and drive system technologies. I’m excited to show you how this all resulted in an easy to operate watercraft that delivered outstanding results. It is a ‘next level’ operator experience.

The V8 rests beautifully in the engine room and Volvo Penta’s engineering shines here with regular maintenance items positioned well forward for easy access. A standard inclusion is their ‘Easy Drain’ system which cannot be understated. The readily found blue button on the port side of the engine is easily pushed down to drain all the water from the manifolds and the heat exchanger, thus relieving any concerns about freezing. While you may or may not be surfing early spring or late fall, there are plenty of glorious cruising opportunities in these two ‘shoulder seasons’ and this simple technology makes it a breeze.

Forward facing drive is the critical key to success in creating jaw dropping surf wakes and Duoprop is a key element of that technology. The Duoprop twin counter-rotating propellers work in undisturbed waters to create unparalleled thrust while delivering straight tracking with the bonus of faster acceleration. During on-water testing trials, I personally appreciated how there was virtually zero engine vibration regardless of RPM.

Moving to the helm we see how Volvo Penta’s technology commitments are just beginning with the engine and drive section. We haven’t even discussed their Electronic Vessel Control, which brings us to Glass Cockpit. It’s awesome! Our test boat was equipped with a pair of screens designed to simplify all aspects of vessel operations from engine diagnostics to performance results, all using intuitive user-friendly touchscreen technology. Glass Cockpit will guide you with ease through the traditional data like speed (GPS based of course), RPM, trim, water and oil temperatures, and so on. You’ll also benefit from miles per gallon, navigation charts, and tracking, plus it’s all fully customizable. And yes, you can control the interior, exterior, and underwater lighting as well as manage your favourite sounds – all from the Glass Cockpit touchscreens.

Looking at the needs of the surfing crowd, our test boat was also equipped with a 3rd Glass Cockpit screen at the companion helm. This screen is directly integrated with the helm screens and serves as a supporting cast for the captain. If your rider wants a touch more speed, or a tad more or less ballast, this and so much more can all be handled from the companion screen. If you’ve got younger kids on board, the companion screen is easily locked out to avoid any operational error.

Not to be overlooked is the Volvo Penta Water Sports Control. This cool technology takes all the amazing elements of Glass Cockpit and pulls in complete watersports functionality. Utilizing up to 20 unique user profiles, Water Sports Control allows the driver to hit full throttle while the engine accelerates only to the set speed and holds that speed throughout the riding experience. Rider preferred power trim and trim tab angles are also retained in the profile. Ballast tank controls – the LS9 has 3 tanks total – are also easily managed from the Glass Cockpit. The Water Sports Control screen automatically pops up when the driver hits the ‘tow’ button on the flush mount control box or activates on the Glass Cockpit screen.

We typically test for hole shot results to show how the engine and drive mates to the hull to get the boat up and on plane. For this test we looked instead at 0 to 11 MPH (normal surfing speed) and the results were very positive. From a dead stop and with Volvo Penta’s Water Sports Control activated, we found ourselves comfortably at 11 MPH at 6.05 seconds on multiple passes. We later tested this with an experienced rider behind the boat and his ear-to-ear smile was all we needed to see.

Moving beyond the surfer (and knowing the buyer will look for multiple uses from their boat), we looked at a range of cruising speeds. With 4 of us on board and fuel tank at 80% capacity we were delighted to find comfortable cruising speeds on the LS9 at 23.3 and 26.9 MPH.

And a test isn’t a test without top speed trials, so we set about working on that as well. Afternoon winds had picked up and our calm morning waters had churned up some small wakes and whitecaps. In the end we settled in on a top speed of 46.2 MPH at 5,940 RPM. For those who need to ‘find 50’ I am confident it’s there under the right circumstances – keeping in mind that many top speed trials are done with driver only and limited fuel. I am even more confident that you will be extremely satisfied running the Volvo Penta / LS9 combination at her wide array of towing, cruising and entertaining speeds.

As electronic technologies and consumers appetite for more continue to evolve, so too has Volvo Penta’s commitment to meeting those demands with a focus on easy boating. It’s great to see that industry and consumer expectations are being exceeded by a global brand with an exceptional reputation, a passion for being first to market and a customer first commitment.