Boating - June 2016 USA

I

LMOR MARINE’S NEW ONE DRIVE PAIRS AN ILMOR MV8

gasoline engine with a twin-prop sterndrive.

We ran a pair of 430 hp One Drive powertrains in a Formula

350 FX CBR and came away impressed.

The One Drive is the fi rst produc-

tion sterndrive effort from Ilmor,

which had success with its MV10

engines and Indy drive in offshore

racing a decade ago. Since 2011, it

has been the exclusive inboard-

engine supplier to MasterCraft

Boats. The One Drive will be offered

with the 380 hp and 430 hp Ilmor

MV8 OPS engines. Both are based

on engines that Ilmor supplies to

MasterCraft, with adaptations for

the sterndrive application. The

Ocean Performance Series package

is designed for salt water.

One Drive has been in develop-

ment for about two years. The

sterndrive, a Yanmar ZT370, is

often paired with diesel engines

producing 600 ft.-lb. of torque, so

it’s robust, but it was not orginally

designed to operate at higher gaso-

line engine speeds — 5,800 rpm

compared to 3,800 rpm with diesel

power. Ilmor claims it has tested the

drive extensively to confi rm durabil-

ity. It has also achieved speeds

of 69 mph with no prop blowout.

Either Yanmar or Mercury Bravo

Three propsets can be installed.

The drive requires service every 150

hours, rather than the typical 100

hours. The drive housing boasts an

anodized fi nish that can be applied

in different colors or covered in a

custom vinyl wrap.

The engines are based on the

GM Marine LS “Gen IV” V-8, with an

aluminum block (for the 6.2) and

heads, port fuel injection, closed

cooling, new down-tube exhaust

manifolds, power steering, and a

new intake manifold designed to

deliver stronger midrange power.

Already fi tted with digital controls,

Ilmor will offer twin-engine One

Drive installations with a joystick

based on the Yanmar system.

A key feature of the drive is its

silent shifting, thanks to an electro-

magnetically actuated hydraulic

clutch, similar to the clutch used in

an inboard transmission. It feels so-

phisticated and smooth, especially

when paired with underwater ex-

haust. The 35-foot Formula 350 FX

CBR weighs about 13,500 pounds,

Ilmor One Drive

SMOOTH OPERATOR

PHOTOS: (FROM TOP) COURTESY ILMOR MARINE (2),COURTESY INDMAR MARINE ENGINES

and the One Drive put us smartly on

plane, running out to 56.7 mph at

5,780 rpm. Best cruise was a brisk

32 mph at 4,000 rpm, where we

recorded 1.23 mpg. That top speed

compares to the 55.95 mph of a

Formula 350 CBR we tested in 2013,

with twin 430 hp MerCruiser 8.2

HO/Bravo Three powertrains.

For now, the One Drive is

available only to boatbuilders and

not for repower. Service will be

handled by the selling dealer, so the

boatbuilder and dealer must work

with Ilmor to have service in place.

We think One Drive will appeal to

premium builders with a custom

mindset, building to order in close

consultation with the customer and

dealer — Formula being a prime

example. — Charles Plueddeman

Indmar Raptor Series

Indmar Marine Engines (indmar.com), a longtime leading power

producer for the inboard towboat market, enters the inboard

jet and cruiser markets. Three Raptor Series engines — the

Raptor 400, Raptor 440 and supercharged Raptor 575 — will be

available for jet boat and inboard cruiser installations. — C.P.

ILMOR ONE DRIVE

XHorsepower : 380, 430 XDisplacement (liters/cid): 6.0/362; 6.2/380 XGear Ratios:

1.78/1.97/2.18 XPropeller System: Counter-rotating twin propellers XPitch Range:

22/24/26/28 inches XClutch System: Hydraulic multi-friction plate XShift Control System:

Electromagnetic XDrive Weight (with fluids): 253 lb. XEngine Weight (lb.): 871/813

Ilmor Marine ilmor.com/en/marine/

BOATINGMAG.COM JUNE 2016 69