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Volvo Penta Twin D6 IPS 600, 440 HP w/Joystick

Boat Reviews

Boat Review by: Rick Layzell

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Volvo Penta’s global reputation as an innovator and market leader is proudly earned through a combination of corporate commitments and passionate personnel. One of those commitments is to continuously invest in research and development to stay at the top of the leader board with product improvements that enhance the boating experience.

The Volvo Penta D6 IPS 600 440 HP is a testament to that commitment. Let’s break down the model code first:

D6 means these are diesel fuel burning engines in a 5.5 litre, in-line, 6-cylinder configuration; IPS transmission stands for Inboard Performance System; 600 is the comparable horsepower generated from an inboard while 440 is the actual crankshaft horsepower.

When Volvo Penta set about to re-engineer the platform, they employed multiple new methodologies to achieve the goals before the R&D teams even went to work.

Lower cost of ownership – longer maintenance intervals and a reduced number of service components.
Increased power – the new range of engines would bump maximum HP from the previous 435 maximum to 480
Increased reliability – utilizing new designs and materials
Future proof – design changes to accommodate modern needs while envisioning future market demands

The lowering cost of ownership goal resulted in a massive 30% reduction. That’s huge from a brand with an already exemplary reputation for low ownership costs. Synchronizing maintenance intervals between engine and transmission is part of the service model, and service notifications on the Glass Cockpit helm screen makes owning and managing regular maintenance intervals incredibly simple. Increasing power has been accomplished through upping the RPM to 3,600 and widening the series range out to 480 HP.

With the increased reliability target set at a 30% gain, exposed items like bearing and shafts were built with strengthened raw materials. Oil filtration systems were improved, and additional onboard sensors were added to monitor engine health. The IPS changes were designed to offer the same lifespan as the engine.

Finally, ‘future proofing’ is all about incorporating Volvo Penta’s technology into the Glass Cockpit at the helm. That brings consumer benefits like Joystick docking and the Dynamic Position System. These features are laser focused on one goal – easy boating.

The Glass Cockpit welcomes the captain with a pair of 16” fully intuitive touchscreens that are adaptable to any captains’ preferences. Navigation, fuel, and vessel diagnostics, and even the owner’s manual, is all found within Glass Cockpit. It’s all 100% searchable and customizable. This is the nucleus of Volvo Penta’s ‘helm to prop’ commitment where everything is designed, manufactured, serviced, and warrantied by Volvo Penta.

The Inboard Performance System (IPS) benefits are lengthy with smooth performance, exceptional maneuverability, and extended cruising capacity. In recent years’ Volvo Penta has engineered its oil change timing in the IPS drives to be synchronized with engine oil change requirements. If that isn’t smart enough, they went on to engineer the IPS oil change process so that it can be done while your boat is in the water. That’s big $$$ savings for any owner.

Our test vessel would put the twin D6 diesels to work as she was loaded within the 2024 Cruisers Yachts 46 Cantius - a boat with an exceptional ownership experience reputation. It’s also a boat that weighs 32,200 lbs dry. With an experienced captain onboard to safely guide us to open waters, we eased out to Lake Simcoe on a calm July afternoon. I watched in earnest as we efficiently pulled the yacht up onto plane and smiled at the ‘sounds of silence’ – the very moment I began to truly appreciate Volvo Penta’s underwater exhaust system.

The captain glanced over and said the magic words: “Rick, would you like to drive her?” Heck ya I would. We took her into a variety of cruising RPMs and speeds paying close attention to turning radius and noise levels. She delivered extremely well with excellent turning capabilities and nearly non-existent noise levels. After experiencing a top speed of 32.1 MPH with the D6’s purring along at a mere 3,610 RPM and cruising speeds anywhere from 26-30 MPH, I took her down to a stopped position to experience some of the Joystick and Dynamic Position System features.

Think about Joystick as your partner in tight quarters giving you ability to bump the boat in one-meter increments – hello fuel dock, lift system locks, and docking like a boss! And Dynamic Position also supports these moments by holding the boat in position at the touch of a button.

There is so much to experience here from Volvo Penta. The engines are idyllic with forward facing twin props that cut through undisturbed waters. The IPS drives are silky smooth as silent shift clutch technology eliminates days of old noisy mechanical shifting. And Glass Cockpit really does pull the engine and drive engineering brilliance into an exceptional helm experience.

Volvo Penta promised a commitment to easy boating. Promise delivered.