BOAT REPORT
NOrd wEsT 370
Aquamatic joystick control
Using the same technology as the IPS system, Volvo Penta’s Aquamatic
joystick control option for its sterndrives has been eagerly awaited by
owners and the industry alike. Yes, Cummins MerCruiser Diesel beat Volvo
to it with its Axius system launched last year but Volvo still rules the marine
roost when it comes to the number of boats that use its engines, so, while
there is no retro-fit option for existing owners, this is still the big one.
The same DP outdrive legs sit at the back of the 370’s transom, and
peeking into the engineroom the only change appears to be the addition of a
discreet black CPU box. This is the brains of the operation, enabling the
electronic, fly-by-wire steering that allows the legs to move independently
of one another. It is this independent steerage that delivers full rotational,
sideways and multi-directional control. On a sterndrive boat that means, in
theory, you reach boathandling utopia while doing away with the need and
the cost of a bow thruster. And let’s face it, fewer holes – especially big ones
below the water line – is always a good thing on a boat.
So, all the sterndrive joystick system has to do is work as well as the IPS
version and it’s goodbye berthing blues, hello mooring masterclass. Only it
doesn’t, not really. It makes a lot more fuss about manoeuvring, with fairly
harsh gear changes and lots of thrust for little motion.
The boat does not turn as intuitively as IPS either. The beauty of a pod
drive system is that a boat seems to turn right under your feet with very
little deviation. The sterndrive version turns from further aft with a typical
sterndrive swing, while the boat can wander off its station, possibly due to
all the thrust being kicked up.
To be clear though, the Aquamatic joystick does do a job. It will move the
boat sideways, it’s easy to operate
and the conventional steering and
throttle feedback feels and responds
just like a standard system, but it’s just
not as intuitive or smooth as IPS.
Ordinarily you would forgive it this
slight drop in performance but seeing
as it costs the same amount as IPS I
don’t think I can. It’s the cost issue that
perhaps disappoints most. Volvo
Penta had a chance to really deliver
Aquamatic joystick looks the same
something ground-breaking here,
as IPS but it doesn’t feel the same
something new and exciting for the
masses who populate the sterndrive
market, but by making it so expensive,
surely it has missed a trick?
If the price can be lowered – it
currently stands at around £20,000 to
add the joystick technology – its
popularity will go up. If it stays the
same I would recommend you invest
in some one-to-one sterndrive tuition
and enjoy the fact that you can
No retro-fit option but joystick happily spin your boat around using
installation is clean and simple helm and alone.
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