General opinion

[JOFO17]

I have always avoided VP because I basicly know nothing about them. I stuck with Mercruiser and. Johnson/evinrude because so many people I knew had them. But now a guy at the Marina is selling a really nice boat that he has taken great care of and is a perfect setup for fishing. BUT.... it has a v-8 Volvo penta and I am a bit unsure about them. I just want to know how some of you feel about them. Are they reliable? More costly to repair then Mercruiser? Give me some feedback and help me decide. Thanks

 

[tpenfield]

Re: General opinion

I am a Mercruiser guy . . . but I would not pass up a good boat if it had a V-P. The engine part is the same. . . and (IMHO) V-P / Mercruiser copied their designs pretty well, adding a few of their own twists.

So, it is really a Fords vs. Chevy type of question.

 

[skydiveD30571]

Re: General opinion

I think you'll find that VP's are a little more expensive to maintain only because they are less common than Mercs so the parts are a little more pricey. I also think you'll have trouble finding someone who dislikes their Volvo. Like tpenfield said, the engine part will basically be identical. The impeller is easier to service than a merc, and many people say other types of maintenance are easier on a VP too. You would also like the shifting of a cone clutch system since it is smoother and quieter.

If the boat is a good price I definitely wouldn't avoid it because it has a VP. Grab the service manuals for that boat's engine/drive combo from the stickies section here and see what you think. I think you'll be pleasantly suprised!

 

[Maclin]

Re: General opinion

Some years/models are more problematic regarding maintenance or repairs than others, so provide the year and model of engine and outdrive to get opinions more specific to that boat's setup. Not all V8's from VolvoPenta are GM, some are Ford in certain models/years.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: General opinion

IMHO Volvo Penta is the Cadillac of drives. Volvo was the first to the market with a mass produced stern drive.

Volvo had quiet, smooth shifting cone clutch drives, and the Duo-prop drives before Mercruiser. When Volvo wanted to put a big block in front of one of their drives, they did it. When Mercruiser tried it with their drive, they broke it, and had to develop a new drive to handle the extra power. If you could accuse anybody of copying drives, it would be Mercruiser. If you want to change the impeller on your Volvo (any model) lift the engine cover, and get working on the pump. If you want to change the impeller on your Mercruiser Alpha (or it's ancestors), take the bottom of the outdrive off.

Volvo parts are a bit more expensive, and there are fewer dealers in the states. But... with this thing we have called the Internet, shouldn't be very difficult to find the parts you need.

What model drive is on the boat you're looking at? The only really problematic drive that Volvo made was the composite XDP drives.
If it's a 2 series drive (270,275,280,290) they are tough as nails, but the lower numbered ones don't usually have power trim.

 

[Maclin]

Re: General opinion

My (1991~) 570/DP is great, all parts available, DuoProp, nice GM 5.7l V8 275hp, hard to beat in my biased view

 

[beermak]

Re: General opinion

In argentina the same boat with a merc vs volvo will sell for more and faster. I no ppl who avoided mercs literally. I would never pass a Volvo drive...

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: General opinion

IMHO Volvo Penta is the Cadillac of drives. Volvo was the first to the market with a mass produced stern drive.

I always LOVE this "who was first" argument.........which of course, doesn't really mean mean much...... It's like a "Chicken-Egg" (which came first?) scenario.

If you REALLY want to know who first "invented" the stern drive you have to look at the history of Kiekhaefer Corporation............whose engineers really invented the thing........Volvo didn't "invent" a stern drive....... they sort of "bought" the (AVC) design and brought the Aquamatic to market "first" .

They certainly did improve on what the Kiekhaefer people originally designed......


Make no mistake, It all started at Kiekhaefer though.....You can read all about it in the following article:

The information below comes from patents and the book, Iron Fist, by Rodengen. It is a biography of the life of Carl Kiekhaefer the founder of Mercury Marine. Chapter 26 (pages 360 to 379) is titled, "The Great Stern Drive Conspiracy."

Stern Drive The Invention of the Stern Drive




Now should you buy a used Volvo Penta engine/drive combo boat?

If it's a really old one, No........... for same reason I wouldn't buy an old Mercruiser MC-1, TRS, MC-II , OMC Stringer, Cobra etc......... They're old, obsolete and parts are scarce.


If you're talking about a newer Volvo SX drive, (mid 90's and newer) Absolutely. There's nothing wrong with them!


EXCEPT: If you like to scrounge used parts on Ebay, Craigslist, Boat Trader etc........

For example, you will find approx 3 times more new and used Mercruiser engine/drive parts on ebay (boat parts) in any search than you will find for Volvo ( a moment ago it was 28,xxx : 10,xxx)

New parts are approx the same price if you're a smart shopper. (probably with some exceptions)



When I started my search (Fall 2006) here in the NW (Seattle/Puget Sound) area for a replacement engine and drive for my 87 Four Winns Liberator (in my sig), Over about a 6-month period, I found several complete "Fanbelt-prop" SBC/BBC Alpha/Bravo I II III combinations for about $4500-$8500............ I searched Seattle Puget Sound and Portland Or.

I even priced new engines and drives (in 2006)

The Volvo Penta big-block Duo-Prop combination was almost exactly the same cash price (NOT Incl install) as the Mercruiser BBC/Bravo III .........it was similar with the smaller engine/drive re-power combos.


I did NOT find any complete used Volvo Penta engine/drive combinations for sale in the same areas during the same time period........If I had, I probably would have bought one. I wanted a Volvo BBC DUO-Prop combo to put in the boat.



ymmv...



Rick

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: General opinion

Volvo makes great marine product. Looking at my little v6 they spared no expense in building it the sx drive is smooth and troulbe free..fresh water pumps are very easy to change. You would not be dissapointed..Nothing like there car line.:faint2:

I

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: General opinion

... it has a v-8 Volvo penta...

Did VP ever use Ford engines? If so, make sure it's a Chevy engine.

 

[Don S]

Re: General opinion

Did VP ever use Ford engines? If so, make sure it's a Chevy engine.

Yes they did. Back in the 70's they used them for a few years, then again in the mid 90's (94 thru 96)while they were in the process of buying out OMC they used the Fords. Marine parts are almost non-existent for them.

 

[Maclin]

Re: General opinion

The content of Don S's post is exactly why there is no answer to "Is VP ok", just too many unknowns around what the OP is looking at.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: General opinion

The content of Don S's post is exactly why there is no answer to "Is VP ok", just too many unknowns around what the OP is looking at.

Yeah, that's why I asked if they had ever used Ford engines. He could read all the "VPs are great" posts he wants, and then get one with a Ford engine, and be sorry the first time he has to buy exhaust manifolds or some other Ford specific part.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: General opinion

I always LOVE this "who was first" argument.........which of course, doesn't really mean mean much...... It's like a "Chicken-Egg" (which came first?) scenario.

If you REALLY want to know who first "invented" the stern drive you have to look at the history of Kiekhaefer Corporation............whose engineers really invented the thing........Volvo didn't "invent" a stern drive....... they sort of "bought" the (AVC) design and brought the Aquamatic to market "first" .

They certainly did improve on what the Kiekhaefer people originally designed......

Notice I was careful not to say Volvo invented the outdrive...
I was well aware of the Mercury people disclosing their design to Volvo when Kiekhaefer's ego got in the way. You can't deny the fact that Volvo had the rocks to take a risk, and mass produce something completely different than what was the tried and true at the time.

Of course any search for Mercruiser parts on your favorite buy, sell, trade site is going yield more results. Mercury has the market share on this side of the pond. There was actually a whole lawsuit about that.... but we won't go there . Yes, Ford powered drives are a problem too. Easily remedied though. If it's a boat with a Ford powered stern drive (this includes Mercuiser as well), take a pass.
But if you need parts for an SX, DP, or even an older 200 series drive, chances are you're going to be able to find something within 10 minutes of your search...
They haven't exactly reached electric shift stringer, or king cobra status yet....


Make no mistake, IMHO Mercury builds excellent drive systems. I wouldn't take a pause to buy a boat with a Mercruiser drive. But given the choice of two identical boats with Merc, and VP drives, I would lean to VP.

 

[Maclin]

Re: General opinion

Yeah, that's why I asked if they had ever used Ford engines. He could read all the "VPs are great" posts he wants, and then get one with a Ford engine, and be sorry the first time he has to buy exhaust manifolds or some other Ford specific part.

EXACTLY!, need more info, 'tis a complex marine world out there...

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: General opinion

Notice I was careful not to say Volvo invented the outdrive...
I was well aware of the Mercury people disclosing their design to Volvo when Kiekhaefer's ego got in the way. You can't deny the fact that Volvo had the rocks to take a risk, and mass produce something completely different than what was the tried and true at the time.

Of course any search for Mercruiser parts on your favorite buy, sell, trade site is going yield more results. Mercury has the market share on this side of the pond. There was actually a whole lawsuit about that.... but we won't go there . Yes, Ford powered drives are a problem too. Easily remedied though. If it's a boat with a Ford powered stern drive (this includes Mercuiser as well), take a pass.
But if you need parts for an SX, DP, or even an older 200 series drive, chances are you're going to be able to find something within 10 minutes of your search...
They haven't exactly reached electric shift stringer, or king cobra status yet....

I did notice! :joyous:

Nowadays, it truly is a "Ford vs Chevy" similarity (Ford being Merc and VP being "Chevy" as it were.........)
.........except that there's FAR more "Ford" parts and service people available and for every "Chevy" sold, "Ford" sells 10



Not that it really matters by the way................. for the OMC people, that little history revealed that even the OMC drives came from people that originally worked for Kiekhaefer. Carl Kiekhaefer truly WAS the "Chicken".......before the "eggs" that followed.

Make no mistake, IMHO Mercury builds excellent drive systems. I wouldn't take a pause to buy a boat with a Mercruiser drive. But given the choice of two identical boats with Merc, and VP drives, I would lean to VP.

If I was buying new and always paying someone else to fix it I would lean to VP also.....

If I was buying used and fixing it myself, because there's far more used "parts" availability (on ebay alone) for Merc, I would lean towards Merc......

 

[JOFO17]

Re: General opinion

I ended up missing out on that particular boat but reading all of the replies at least gave me lots of info on VP. Enough that I no longer avoid them. Now I'm considering a boat with a 1982 270 matched to a 350 Chevy. Any thoughts on the 270 out drive???

 

[adimice]

Re: General opinion

When I got my 1983 Albemarle 350, 280DP, I was trying to figure out which engine I had. I figured it was an original VP, later a Merc short block with all the VP stuff put back on. I could be wrong but it seemed to me that GM would make a bunch of short blocks, then VP or Merc would order up a bunch and stick their components on it. Same block, different companies. Like when Suzuki make the Johnson 140's in 03. My 280 outdrive was converted to DP. In my opinion the 350 and 280 combo are bullet proof. I have no knowledge of the 270 OD

 

[Fishermark]

Re: General opinion

Off topic I know... but reading through this post I didn't notice the date of the original post. It's always a shock to see a thread with Don S posting it in.