Not sure if this has been mentioned, but looks like Volvo finally got the EVC and EC to the GAS sterndrive line-up.

Just noticed this recently. Looks like the 5.7 and 8.1 offer this as a 5.7GxiE engine code.

Looks like Merc now has some competition on the Digital Throttle and Shift market...

This looks new for 2009, but don't see that Formula has the engines listed. They do offer the Helm View option.

I can offer up some comments....
Having recently re-powered this past year with the Volvo EVC gas version I can say it is a very slick setup.
I have the VP 5.7L 300hp OSi "Ocean Series" with the XDP drive.
Once you try the digtal shifter/throttle you will never want to go back to mechanical.
The EVC does a great job, throttle response is instant, the engine stays at exactly what ever RPM you set it to. Regardless of external forces, the computer will maintain your RPMs.
My favorite feature is the PTA (Power Trim Assist) which automatically changes the leg trim according to RPM.
With the optional NMEA module tied into your GPS the engine computer offers up lots of info on fuel economy, distance remaining, etc.... it's all really nice.

termlk, welcome aboard! Nice to see another boater here.

When you repowered, what engine(s) did you remove? What kind of boat did you put the new VP engine/drive in? Where there any unexpected issues with the repower? Can you explain more about the PTA? Does it change the trim according to RPM's or boat angle? In other words, does it wait until you come on plane and the rpm's go up, or does it anticipate the full throttle and make trim adjustments when you move the throttle?

Also for Formulafan, for those of us not familiar with VP's, what do EVC and EC stand for?

Hi! Glad to be here!

My boat is a Bayliner 2550 cruiser. The old engine was an OMC 5.7L (260hp) with an OMC Cobra leg single prop.
Yes, repowering a 20yr boat with a "hi-tech" engine package was a tough decision at first but the hull was in mint condition and I wanted reliable power plant for a number of years to come so that's what I did.
Volvo EVC stands for Electronic Vessel Control, EC stands for Electronic Control vs MC - Manual Control.
The repower was quite painless. No problems or issues. The only thing that had to be done at the transom was a couple of extra bolt holes drilled for the transom plate. Other then that it was plug and play.

PTA (Power Trim Assist) is a software "add-on" to the standard EVC/EC system, I didn't know much about it at first and luckily my engine actually came with it.
PTA automatically trims your leg depending on engine RPMs. It's only RPM based, boat angle isn't factored in.
There are 5 different settings that can be customized.
You can manually override the trim settings at anytime and you can turn PTA off completely, but you really would never want to. With PTA you get on plane much faster, and just generally find you have overall better boat control when slowing down and speeding up. With this system you never have to trim the leg, only time I've touched the controls was to lift the leg when coming close to a beach. I find on this Bayliner hull it's a day and night difference with PTA on or off.
Some of the other things you notice with EVC are "smoothness", every action performed with the engine/leg is done with precision. Shift into gear and it's always the same predictable motion. Push the throttle and it's always a smooth acceleration to whatever RPM you want, and the engine will sit at that RPM regardless of conditions. The computer adjusts the fuel flow to always maintain the RPM. You can't easily make a mistake, if you were to move your throttle/shifter from WOT to reverse in an instant, the computer would slow the engine down appropriately, shift to neutral, then to reverse and apply the gas....all without user intervention. It may sound like you are giving up some control but once you've tried it, manual controls seem outdated. :-)
I am very pleased with the EVC system. The price between the electronic throttle/shifter vs the manual was virtually identical....but many dealers were not familiar with it.

That's a nice, clean looking installation. Did you do the work yourself or have a shop do it? Did the electronics on the new engine require any additional wiring?

I had one of those old OMC Cobra engine/lower 5.0L's in a 1990 Reinell. It ran well but needed new shift cables about every three years.

Are your new controls fly-by-wire? No more shift cables? I'm jealous if that's what your setup is.

I had to have a shop do it, EVC gas is way too new to fool around with.
All the wiring was re-done. The EVC system is modular in a sense. There is an engine module that sits on the top of the engine, then you have a helm module for each station. The gauges are all run in a point to point serial "network" type of connection off the helm module. Lots of different things. But being all modular the wiring is pretty clean and simple looking compared to the sphagetti mess of wires I had there before.
My system is the fly-by-wire....no throttle or shift cables. The digital throttle/shifter feel like a joystick on a game console. Very smooth and effortless.

Oh yeah, ya had to say that last part just to make me jealous, didn't ya!

This sounds like it was well done and one of the situations where repowering makes a lot more sense than buying a new boat.

Thanks for sharing the info and the pics.

What waters do you boat on?

termlk, very nice setup. Just out of curiosity, do you know if that system/control could be retrofitted to a newer VP engine drive package?

I don't really know if you could retrofit a newer VP engine to EVC. When I look at all the extra hardware bolted to the engine and the additional sensors, it makes you go ...hmmmm.
If it was offered as an upgrade and reasonably priced it would definitely enhance your setup.
My guess is that any engine earlier then 2008 wouldn't be compatible. The production run for my engine only started in Oct. or Nov. 2007....my engine was the first gas EVC installed in Canada.....yeah I know, I felt a bit like a test bed but EVC has been around for a while on the VP diesels....the gas version is virtually the same.

We boat out of Sidney, BC

Termlk,

I've got the DTS system on my Formula. How do you like the EVC system with the Volvos ?

Is the drive engagement smooth as silk when going from neutral to forward or reverse ??

Sounds like January 2009 for the Volvo version of AXIUS coming !

I've never been on a boat with DTS, but I would expect it to be very similar to EVC. I having nothing bad to say about EVC, I think it's a great system. As you know having digital throttle / shifting is like nothing else. Anyone who has driven my boat comments how precise the EVC system is.
Now when it comes to shifting, it is smooth, but there is still a little "clunk" when it gets into gear. I checked into it and that is quite normal with the XDP leg, maybe with other legs it's quiet.

Termlk,

Do you have time to post a picture of your throttles and EVC controls ? Just curious what they look like ?

Is the engine sync automatic on your setup ?

On mine, I have to press a sync button and it automatically syncs above 950 RPM...

Thanks!!

Formula: Hate to jump in late on this discussion but I believe he has a single and therefore does not have a need for syncing.

Looks like you added the Volvo QL trim system as well? How do you like it and how did the install go on drilling that one BIG 1" hole thru the transom?

Been looking at the post from my BlackBerry the past few days, so finally got to a computer.

Thanks for the info D-Rod on the single engine installation.

At least the EVC controller and gauges are the same...

Nice install !