Variable Surface Drive (VSD) is the most advanced propulsion system available for marine craft. VSD is considerably ahead of all next-generation propulsion systems offering exceptional manoeuvrability, performance, economy and driving satisfaction – with VSD you will enjoy being on the water even more than before.
Performance unmatched by any other drive
- Total drivetrain and propulsive efficiency 80 to 85% (standard in the recreational market 30 to 50%)
- Planing is virtually instantaneous
- High efficiency compared to inboards, light weight, reduced fuel load and optimised trim for the same top speed with half the power
- Acceleration doubled even with a smaller engine
- Up to 50% savings on fuel consumption
- Minimum maintenance - much less environmental pollution into the sea on start-up
- Up to 50% savings on thermal emissions
Manoeuvrability
- No-clutch, continuously variable drive for 100% improvement in manoeuvrability and control
- 'Point and go' capability – joystick-controlled sideways docking using half as much thrust sideways as fore and aft
- Thrust vectoring for automatically optimised craft trim and roll angle
- Beaching
- Advanced ride control, dynamic positioning and automotive braking the equivalent of ABS
Efficiency
Efficiency improvement over sterndrives and the latest drives
Efficiency improvement over sterndrives and the latest drives
| Other new-generation drives | VSD | |
| Total drive train efficiency | 35% | > 45% |
| Engine power reduction for the same speed | 30% | 50% |
| Increase in speed for the same power | 45% | |
| Fuel consumption | 30% | 50% |
| Speed limit | 45 knots | no speed limit |
| Acceleration (with a smaller engine) | 30% | 50% (potentially 75%) |
Environmental
- VSDs are extremely quiet and vibration free, offering an improvement over conventional drives
- Emissions are reduced by 50%
- No fumes on start-up
- Less metal & materials consumption
- Virtually no possibility of hydraulic oil leaks and much less corrosion
Boatbuilders
- Integrated package with no customisation
- Drop-in installation
- Very significant reduction of installation time
- Space savings and improved weight distribution
- Simple integration of a wide variety of navionics and other equipment into the VSD's data bus as options
- Plug and play electrical installation
- Integrated package for greater warranty assurance and after-market control
- Minimum of high-integrity service parts, with high-level swap-out of sealed assemblies
Video!
The Yellowfin Video Player allows you to choose high- or low-bandwidth versions of our demonstration videos. You can also choose to download an MPEG file of each video to enjoy locally.
