Boating USA — January 2018

52 | BOATINGMAG.COM | JANUARY 2018

MH

MOTORHEAD

By Kevin Falvey

MH

MOTORHEAD

ByKevinFalvey

SCAN ME

So, what’s the scoop on this mega engine?

To fi nd out, we interviewed engineer Jens

Bering, vice president of marine sales for

Volvo Penta of the Americas.

The D13 is off ered in two confi gura-

tions. The inboard version is labeled the

D13 1000. It’s known as the D13-IPS 1350

when coupled to Volvo Penta’s

IPS drive because the boat into

which the IPS system is installed

will experience the performance

equivalent of a 1,350 hp diesel

inboard. Boating’s tests corrob-

orate this relationship.

Inboard or IPS, the D13 is a

12.8-liter (781 cubic inches for

you old-school motorheads)

inline-six that produces 1,000

hp at the crankshaft. It boasts

a 131 mm (5.1-inch) bore and a

158 mm (6.2-inch) stroke. The

maximum-rated engine speed

is 2,400 rpm. It weighs 3,605

pounds as a bobtail (no gear).

Historically, a key charac-

teristic of Volvo Penta diesel

engines has been torque, and according to

Bering, the D13 continues that tradition.

The D13 produces near-peak

torque at just 1,100 rpm, peaks

at 1,900 rpm, and falls off at a

very shallow angle from that

engine speed to wide-open

throttle. That shallow decline

is what Bering described as

a  torque rise, stating that it is  a

design mandate that “every

Volvo Penta diesel exhibit a

torque rise in the cruising band

of rpm.” What this means is

that as horsepower decreases,

torque increases.

Consider driving into the

back of a wave. Power drops,

but since torque increases, the

boat climbs the backside with

authority. At the helm, you

might not need to advance the throttle.

Torque rise delivers a feeling of con-

fi dence and authority to the skipper,

especially, Bering adds, when coupled to

the dual-propeller IPS drives.

“It’s one of the best ways to get the

torque from the engine actually into the

water,” he says.

Bering also maintains that reliability

and durability are built-in, evidenced by

features. He points out the ladder frame

installed between the oil pan and the

bottom of the engine that provides super

rigidity while helping keep weight down.

Volvo Penta’s D13 is a must-see for

boaters seeking new diesel power.

PHOTOS: (FROM TOP) COURTESY VOLVO PENTA, COURTESY HONDA MARINE

VOLVO

PENTA

D13

The 1,000-plus hp diesel is the

engine-maker’s largest yet.

HONDA BF75, BF90 AND BF100 OUTBOARDS:

POPULAR MIDPOWER MODELS REVAMPED

There’s more to these new Honda outboards than sleek new styling. Features include a new,
optional multifunction tiller handle with larger shift lever, a power trim and tilt switch, a revers-
ible shift lever, handle height adjustment and a variable trolling control switch. There’s also a new
multifunction digital display for boaters using remote versions of these engines. Features such
as easy sacrificial anode access — through a new cover plate incorporated into the water jacket
— as well as better thermostat access will make DIY boaters happy, while upgrades to corrosion
control enhance long-term durability. These outboards are all NMEA 2000-compatible. For more
information, visit marine.honda.com.

Learn about

Miller timing

and other fea-

tures of Volvo

Penta’s D13.

Scan this tag or

visit boating

mag.com/volvo-

penta-d13.