GLEN JUSTICE

Volvo Penta's Ocean X sterndrive has a number of innovations.

For starters, the drive has built in sensors that alert the captain to water contamination in the oil, or water intrusion into the bellows. Both are nice safety features that can flag problems early — in time to do something about them.

The Ocean X also has a ceramic-based coating that Volvo Penta says will resist corrosion far better than previous finishes.

There are many sterndrives on the market, but the monitoring capabilities of the Ocean X set it apart. The drive won an IBEX Innovation Award in the Inboard Engines category.

GLEN JUSTICE