Volvo Penta Dealership

By Andrew Spaulding, Crowley's Yacht Yard

Email: andrew@crowleys.com



Volvo Penta D6 attached to a Aquadrive

Through specific training this past winter we were able to add the Volvo Penta D4/D6 engine line to our Volvo Penta dealership. We are now factory certified to service including warranty work on the Volvo Penta D4 and D6 engines which power larger yachts. Crowley’s Yacht Yard is now the only service yard in Chicagoland factory certified to perform this work. This certification is a welcome addition to our Volvo Penta dealership which includes factory certification to maintain and repair IPS pod drives. 

Volvo Penta’s D4 and D6 engines use recent advances in diesel technology to improve power output and reduce harmful emissions. Common rail fuel injection, 4 valves per cylinder, double overhead camshafts, a turbo charger and intercooler are some of the features that allow the D4/D6 diesel engines to be compact and light weight for their output. The D4 engine line covers inboard diesel engines from 180 to 300 crankshaft horsepower. The D6 engine line covers from 330 to 435 hp.

One of the most interesting recent innovations in engine control units is Volvo Penta’s Electronic Vessel Control (EVC) unit. The EVC allows the engine functions to display on certain NEMA compatible electronics. Since Volvo Penta IPS pod drives steer the boat electronically through adjustments to the pod angle, EVC can hook an autopilot directly to the IPS. Now that the electronics can speak with the engines (and vice-versa) and smart phones can function as electronics, I’m looking forward to the day when I can text my boat to meet me at my favorite riverfront watering hole.

Volvo Penta IPS

Well over 100 yacht manufacturers worldwide use Volvo Penta IPS drives to power their new yachts. Many of these installations are done with the D4 and D6 engines. As Chicagoland yacht owners purchase new boats, they can be sure that Crowley’s has factory trained technicians available to service and repair their new engines and drives. Volvo Penta IPS offers significant advantages over traditional shaft and prop configurations. IPS makes a huge difference when it comes to performance, emissions and onboard comfort. Lower fuel consumption and higher top speeds are two performance characteristics that are significantly improved when compared with standard shafts on planing hulls.

Here at Crowley’s Yacht Yard our history working on Volvo engines goes back decades. Many of the boats in the yard over the years have had Volvo engines. Our technicians have experience going back to the Volvo MD series from the 1970s, through the 2000 series of engines to the modern D1, D2, and D3 series of engines. Many people don’t know that Volvo Penta also makes a line of gasoline powered engines that are typically paired up with the Volvo Penta Aquadrive sterndrive units. This along with saildrives gives Volvo Penta a comprehensive product line to serve any customer.

Our continued commitment to training our technicians allow us to take care of any Volvo Penta engine, IPS or Aquadrive warranty or standard service. Let us know if you have any questions regarding Volvo Penta recreational marine products.