Recommended Horsepower                             70 to 115hp
 

Trailer complete with spare tyre and imported mag rims.
Full upholstery
Step pads and grab rails                                       Two bucket seats and one swivel seat
Front deck and console                                        Two tank trays and battery box
Rear bench seat, with ski pole                             Bilge well
Outboard motor bracket                                       Colour of your choice
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My first comment on the Volvo is that it cannot be classed specifically as a fishing boat, nor purely as aa pleasure boat and should not therefore be judged in either category. The design is intentionally multi purpose to suit application on our rivers and lakes including Kariba for fishing, skiing and pleasure boating. As one will see, the layout is simple but practical incorporating a fore casting deck with swivel seat, pilot and co-pilot seats (also swivel mounted) rear padded bench seats with removable ski pole that could be substituted with e second fishing seat.
We spoke to several Volvo users who are more specifically fishermen, and some have opted to remove the the padded seats at the rear, converting this area into a second casting deck. The only disadvantage to using this boat as a Bass type boat, is the broad side on surface that acts as a sail in a stiff breeze, make it difficult to maintain station. There is ample storage beneath the rear bench seats, a dry hatch positioned in the foredeck and four side cubby holes.

The openness of the Volvo is definitely one of its attributes, and we found fishing and general movement around the boat comfortably easy, with plenty of space to store tackle or cooler boxes etc., without falling over them. The high forward deck gives the angler good all round vision with a commanding platform from which to flog the water with his favourite lure or bait. Additions of livewells, rod holders and the like would be a simple modification enabling one to customise according to use, without seriously affecting the practical layout of the boat.
The Volvo lived up to its reputation as a rough water hull, the deep vee and high sides easily cutting through rough water to give a comfortable ride. Front to back weight distribution had little effect on overall handling enabling one to trim the motor to maximum if required with no hint of bouncing or porpoising. This surprised me a little as I expected some compromise resulting from the extension bracket used to mount the motor, the old scenario of losing a bit in one area to gain in another did not seem to apply here. The 90 horse power Mariner proved ideal for this size boat, and general handling and cornering were good. It is rated for a minimum 70 horse power, a motor I'm sure would push the Volvo quite nicely for the angler who is not in a hurry.

Weight distribution, as with any boat is important. Because of its very deep vee, the Volvo may lean when stationary if loaded incorrectly. This aspect looks and feels exaggerated because of the high sides of the Volvo, but in fact is no more than other boats. This however is not a factor when on the plane. On occasions we had to move the fuel tank and tackle boxes etc., to maintain a comfortable rest attitude. The popularity of the Volvo as a Kariba boat was evident at the 1992 KITFT. There were many predecessors to the Chase Volvo at the mass start, the deep vee cutting through the early morning chop on the lake.
In fact Terry Bardsley, a veteran of the Tiger Fishing tournament used a Volvo for many years on Kariba. As with any boat in this size range, if you take it out on rough water, there's a good chance you are going to get wet. We did not have an opportunity to experience really rough water  during the test, but spoke to other Volvo users who have. Generally speaking the Volvo is reported to be drier than comparative sized boats. This again is attributed to its deep vee and high freeboard. We asked Terry for his comments on the Volvo which appear at the end of this article.
For the all species, all water family angler who enjoys the river and Kariba, the Volvo has many attributes one rarely finds all rolled into one boat. Practical simplicity that is attractive places this boat high on the list of good all rounders for the man in the street.
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Minimum Planing Time         - 4 Seconds
Minimum Planing speed        - 16 mph at 3 000 rpm.
 

	1 Poor	2 Poor	3 Ave	4 Ave	5 Ave	6 Good	7 Good	8 Good	9 Excel	10 Excel
Trailer Construction	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.		.
Launching	.	.	.	.	.	.	.		.	.
Retrieving	.	.	.	.	.	.	.		.	.
Hull moulding	.	.	.	.	.	.		.	.	.
Deck moulding	.	.	.	.	.	.		.	.	.
Hatches and Stowage	.	.	.	.	.		.	.	.	.
Gel coat	.	.	.	.		.	.	.	.	.
Upholstery	.	.	.	.	.		.	.	.	.
Steering , Accessory and wiring installation	.	.	.	.		.	.	.	.	.
Motor Installation	.	.	.	.	.	.		.	.	.
Overall presentation	.	.	.	.	.		.	.	.	.
Fittings installation	.	.	.	.		.	.	.	.	.
Fishability - Kariba	.	.	.	.	.	.	.		.	.
- Inland Dam	.	.	.	.	.	.	.		.	.
Stowage	.	.	.	.	.	.		.	.	.
Stability - Maximum speed	.	.	.	.	.	.		.	.	.
- at rest	.	.	.	.	.		.	.	.	.