Jim Miller, an avid sports fisherman who trolls the challenging ocean and bay waters of the Pacific Northwest, was in the market for a bigger boat. Instead of spending a bundle on a new vessel, he opted to rebuild and repower his existing 33-foot sportfishing boat Epic. He’s glad he did. The sleek sportfishing boat is now eight feet longer and packs a lot more power, thanks to the new twin engine Volvo Penta D6-370 DPH sterndrive.
The decision to upgrade with Volvo Penta was easy for Miller, who lives in Roy, Washington.
“I’m loyal. I’ve always been a Volvo Penta customer, and I love the product,” said Miller, who uses his boat to fish with his buddies in nearby La Push and Ilwaco on Washington’s coast. His first boat, a 26-foot Anacapri, was repowered with a Volvo Penta gasoline engine in the early 1990s. When he purchased the Epic, built by Bounty Boats, it had 200 horsepower KAD-41 Volvo Penta diesel engines.
In upgrading the Epic, Miller decided on the twin Volvo Penta D6-370 DPH package for its high performance, low emissions and quiet ride.
“Volvo Penta diesels are rapidly becoming the first choice when it comes to repowering sport fishing vessels,” said Jens Bering, vice president, marine sales, Volvo Penta of the Americas. “Our modern clean-burning diesel engines are true workhorses that deliver the speed, torque and performance for the most demanding of owners.”
Three businesses took part in the project. Little Hoquiam Shipyard, in Hoquiam, Washington, extended the Epic from 33 feet to 41 feet. Pacific Power Group, a Volvo Penta Power Center covering the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, supplied the engines and parts. The Pacific Power team collaborated with Jeff Dyke, owner of the Portland-based Cook Engine, Inc., who oversaw the engine replacement and configured the vessel with joysticks, glass cockpits and two helm stations.
Since the project was completed this spring, Miller says the Epic cruises at an easy 26 knots burning just nine gallons per hour and can also achieve a top speed of 42 knots. That’s good news for Miller and his fishing pals, who like to get where they’re going quickly for catches of tuna, lingcod, halibut and salmon.
“This was a seamless repower project, from start to finish,” said Dave Bibby, Volvo Penta Parts Regional Manager, Pacific Power Marine Group. “You couldn’t have asked for a better team, a better product – or a happier customer.”
For a high-resolution image, visit: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/prgkqmew8l9xstm/AADq_WnC1F8OzsBVEMhlGeaPa?dl=0.
About Volvo Penta
Volvo Penta, with approximately 3,500 dealers in over 130 countries, is a world-leading and global manufacturer of engines and complete power systems for leisure boats, commercial vessels and industrial applications. Product offerings encompass diesel and gasoline engines with power outputs of between 10 and 1,000 hp. Volvo Penta is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of heavy trucks, buses and construction equipment.
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For further information, please contact:
Christine Carlson
Volvo Penta of the Americas
Phone: +1 (757) 382 4084
E-mail: christine.carlson@volvo.com
Jim Rhodes
Rhodes Communications, Inc.
Phone: +1 (757) 451 0602
E-mail: jrhodes@rhodescomm.com
