Team-work at top speed

Genesis Marine is one of the country's most progressive - and enduring - production launch builders. The first Genesis was built in Auckland in 1974 and the brand is now well established throughout New Zealand and the eastern and western seaboards of Australia.

Genesis Marine's sport-cruisers have won many boatshow awards and achieved numerous milestones - the Around New Zealand Speed Record in 1994 and the Boating World magazine Diesel Speed Record in 1995 - and now a Genesis 400 Targa powered by Volvo Penta's new IPS drives has produced a new flush of firsts.

It was the first vessel in the Southern Hemisphere to be fitted with IPS drives and Wayne Patten, managing director of Volpower, the New Zealand distributor of Volvo Penta products, says it remains the fastest of all the IPS powered cruisers in the southern half of the globe, and possibly the world.

Genesis Marine and Volvo Penta have had a long association and many Genesis craft in the market place are powered by Volvo Penta inboard diesels driving through shafts and propellers, or Volvo Penta Aquamatic duo-prop stern drives.

However, the IPS drive provides performance advantages over and above shafts and stern drives because it has forward-facing twin counter-rotating propellers that bite into undisturbed water, and a rear venting underwater exhaust.

The underwater unit pivots to redirect thrust and the electronic steering control is integral with the mounting system and gearbox, thus there is no need for a separate rudder or an after market cable or hydraulic steering system.

To put the performance gains in perspective, a Genesis 400 Targa powered by twin 370hp engines driving through conventional shaft drives has a top speed of 32.5 knots.

Fitted with a pair of Aquamatic D6/310hp stern drives a 400 Targa will achieve 36 knots, but fitted with twin IPS/500s (370hp) it reaches an impressive 41.5 knots. And it gets there in double quick time without lag, fumes, smoke or vibration.

The fuel economy is also respectable. At trolling speed (1160 rpm at 8.5 knots) the twin IPS engines use 1.44 litres per nautical mile. Based on the standard 1000 litre fuel tank and a 10 per cent safety margin, this rate of consumption delivers a range of 625nm.

At a sedate cruising speed (32.5 knots at 3000 rpm) they consume 2.87 litres per nautical mile (313.5nm range), and at a fast cruise (39.6 knots at 3500 rpm) the collective fuel burn is 3.48 lpnm (258.5 nm range). Full throttle produces a top speed of 41.5 knots (GPS reading) at 3600 rpm, with consumption averaging 3.83 lpnm (235nm range).

 

Chris Pollock, managing director, Genesis Marine, says the IPS drive system provides many on the water benefits, plus significant advantages in the factory.

"We have an engine bearer mould specifically for the IPS drive and once the bearers are in place we can fit twin IPS drives and engines in one day.

"That's a huge time saving and a major production advantage," he says.

Genesis Marine has orders for three IPS powered boats and Pollock believes Genesis 400 and 450 buyers will continue to favour the IPS system.

The cost differential compared to an equivalent horsepower, shaft-driven Genesis 400 Targa is around $20,000. It's not a significant amount when the total package costs around $650,000, and the extra spend buys so many performance, handling and operational advantages.

The 400 Targa was released in late 2001. It's a contemporary 12.5m sports cruiser that caters to alfresco dining and socialising while optimising sea keeping, practicality and comfort. It has an upstairs living area under the hardtop that is open to the social and sporting oriented cockpit. Both areas are well defined but without barriers and the dinette delivers good views over the cockpit and beyond.

Downstairs the open plan interior carries a capable galley, comfortable lower saloon, bathroom facilities and two double cabins that can be isolated for privacy. The master double berth is situated forward and a second double cabin, ideal for children or guests, is positioned aft.

While the new IPS powered 400 Targa retains the same layout, Genesis Marine has introduced new interior design co-ordinates by Martin Hughes.

Buyers can choose from four standard colour-ways that co-ordinate fabrics and wood types, from light American oak to darker American cherry, English walnut and African winghi.

The Genesis 400 Targa has a reputation for riding well in rough sea conditions and it has always been regarded as having sporty performance. However, equipped with Volvo Penta's new IPS drive it now goes further and faster.

Further information can be obtained from the Genesis Marine Cruisers website (link below).