Volvo Penta’s Forward Drive celebrates 10 years of success

After debuting at the Miami Boat Show that year, where it won an NMMA Innovation Award, boat lovers and builders alike began to appreciate its impact on the industry.

“Back when we announced it, I was telling people that wakesurfing was the best thing to happen to family boating since water skiing, and I still believe that because it’s just so much fun,” said Ron Huibers, who served as the company’s president of the Americas during the time of the launch. When reflecting on the early days of the innovation, he shared that “What Forward Drive did was to help make our customers successful and make families happy.”

In 2025, Forward Drive celebrates 10 years of success created by combining a sterndrive with DuoProp propellers relocated to the front of the drive rather than the rear. This allowed Volvo Penta’s partners to offer their customers a practical wakesurfing alternative to traditional V-drive boat models that, in many cases, proved to be an even better option for the typical recreational boater.

Over the past 10 years, more than 50 Forward Drive boat models have been sold from more than 15 boat builders, including more than 9,400 drive units.

“We grew the business by making an array of watersport activities available to more people,” said Huibers. “I am so proud of the effort the entire team put into bringing Forward Drive to market back then and inspiring multi-purpose boats optimized for the growing sport of wakesurfing, but also suitable for cruising, swimming, fishing, skiing and more.”

A Decade of Performance

Beyond versatility, another huge appeal for Forward Drive throughout the past decade has been performance. Engineered by pairing DuoProp’s forward-facing, dual counter-rotating props with an adjustable trim drive, the system pulls the boat through the water rather than pushing it. This creates an undisturbed water flow to the propellers and delivers an efficient propulsion system with impressive responsiveness, acceleration, fuel economy and versatility. 

Often, Forward Drive boats reach higher top speeds and faster acceleration than comparable inboard shaft single prop systems. In a series of recent performance tests, a Volvo Penta Forward Drive boat reached an average of 52 miles per hour top speed at 6100 RPM and achieved up to 25% greater efficiency at cruise when compared to a traditional V-drive model.

Forward Drive fans and families have a history of touting another favorite feature—less fumes and noise. The placement of the system underneath the stern of a boat is designed to reduce vibrations and provide fresher air compared to a V-drive surf boat, with exhaust being expelled underneath the water. When at rest with the drive trimmed down, the forward-facing propellers are inboard of the boat, making activities like fishing and swimming more practical astern of the boat and together creating the easy boating experience customers have enjoyed for the past 10 years and will continue to appreciate.

"At Volvo Penta, we have a long-standing tradition of redefining what’s possible in easy boating,” said current Volvo Penta North America President Fredrik Högberg. “By integrating cutting-edge innovations with sophisticated, user-friendly boat designs, as we have done with Forward Drive, we create solutions that enhance performance and elevate the overall boating experience, and that has been a key driver in the success of this product.”

The Evolution of Forward Drive Technology

Today, Forward Drive technology continues to evolve, satisfying its solid customer base as well as reaching new audiences. In 2023, Volvo Penta introduced the Twin Forward Drive and V8-400 gasoline engine, an extension of Forward Drive available for use on boats up to 38 feet. This latest iteration was awarded as a Top Product in Boating Industry Magazine and received an Innovation Award from the Waters Sports Industry Association (WSIA).

In line with Volvo Penta’s commitment to helm-to-prop solutions, Electronic Vessel Control (EVC) features for Forward Drive boats have also continued to advance since 2015, most notably with the introduction of Watersport Control customizable display system in 2018 and Joystick Surfing in 2024.

2024 also marked the introduction of the Forward is the Only Way project, which helped drive awareness of Forward Drive to expanded audiences. Working with several professional athletes, including an Olympic surfer, demonstrated the system’s capabilities to a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts with a natural connection to the water.

“As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Volvo Penta’s Forward Drive, we reflect on a decade of innovation that has transformed the watersports industry,” says Högberg. “Forward Drive has redefined the boating experience, making wakesurfing more accessible, enjoyable, and versatile for countless enthusiasts. This milestone is a testament to our commitment to pushing the boundaries of marine technology, but we’re just getting started. Volvo Penta will continue to make waves and enhance life on the water because for us, forward is the only way.”

10 Forward Drive Facts and Figures

The following milestones and statistics showcase the significance of Forward Drive throughout the past 10 years.

50+: Boat models sold with Forward Drive propulsion

360: Degrees of Fun, a campaign launched in 2020, highlighted that by turning a traditional drive design around 180 degrees, Volvo Penta created an opening for 360 degrees of fun on the water, an all-in-one experience for boaters

9,490: Forward Drive units sold since 2015

2024: The year Volvo Penta introduced an Olympic surfer to wake surfing behind Forward Drive boats as part of the Forward is the Only Way campaign

15: Boat builders that have created a Forward Drive model

52: Miles per hour reached on recent Forward Drive boat speed performance tests at 6100 RPM

25%: Greater efficiency at cruise achieved for Forward Drive boats when compared to traditional V-drive models

27: Inches that Forward Drive propellers are located ahead of traditional sterndrive placement, optimizing them for watersport activities

119: The number of pounds Volvo Penta shaved off when introducing a new V8-300 gasoline engine for Forward Drive in 2016, which resulted in a 15% improvement in power-to-weight ratio

38 feet: The new boat length Forward Drive could accommodate due to the introduction of the Twin Forward Drive and V8-400 engine in 2023