VOLVO PENTAVolvo Penta's 8.1L 420 hp gas sterndriveIf you're a sterndrive owner, you have, almost certainly, either a Mercury or Volvo sterndrive.  Last year, Mercury introduced its Axius system to allow joystick control of its twin sterndrive installations.  Today, Volvo Penta announced a similar capability for its own brand of sterndrives.

The sterndrive joystick solution from Volvo Penta uses the "fly-by-wire" software and electronic controls of the IPS system, which the company introduced several years ago for larger, diesel-powered boats.

Like most joystick systems, the helmsman merely moves the joystick in the desired direction of travel, or twists it to spin the boat -- and the boat responds in a predictable and typically impressive fashion.

The company says the new system is only available on new twin installations and is not retro-fittable.  It is being offered on nearly all of the company's gas-powered sterndrive units, including the top-of-the line 8.1L Duoprop unit in the photo above.