Ok - so having never owned a Volvo engine, I decided to read the manual for my new motor and it had a page dedicated to the following - any thoughts on the validity of the "increase in power" statement from you engine guys - and what are they!?

It is a reasonable statement.

we own at 5.0 efi volvo penta and ive never really noticed a difference. but i could be wrong.

Basically the computer can turn the timing up w/ a higher octane w/o causing detonation. Not that familiar w/ the volvo style efi & what sensors it's using to determine its parameters

I doubt you would feel a difference in performance, not enough to offset the cost of higher octane fuel. But if you want a margin of safety in case you get some bad fuel. Its your piece of mind.

Yep....I'm guessing the same thing. It must be ste to retart timing slightly to account for 87 octane and advance for higher octane....power difference wouldn't be more than a couple HP though.