Shadowfax Repower Features Newest Volvo Penta DPI Sterndrives
Gregg Williams’ boating season last year didn’t go quite as planned. Problems with the drives on his 30-foot monohulled Sea Sport named Shadowfax forced him to miss time on the water. It also left him in a bit of a predicament – buy a new boat or repower Shadowfax.
Williams shopped around a bit, but quickly realized anything new wouldn’t come with the wood trim and teak he loved on Shadowfax. A repower became his preferred option.
Luckily, he found somebody in the marine business with the right background to help with the project.
“I worked as a marine technician in the 1990s and as a Volvo Penta rep for eight years and know Sea Sport vessels very well,” said Mark Crandall, Service Manager at La Conner Maritime Service in La Conner, Washington.
Easy Decision
Shadowfax isn’t Williams’ first boat. He previously owned a Sea Sport that was powered by an older model of Volvo Penta’s D4 engine. La Conner was working on a 32-foot Sea Sport catamaran powered by new D4s and Crandall had Williams drop by to check out the propulsion system.
The visit convinced Williams he wanted to swap out the twin Volvo Penta KAD 44P engines and Volvo Penta DPG outdrives in Shadowfax with a pair of the newest D4s. But this wasn’t going to be the only change to his beloved boat.
Upgrades All Around
Since Shadowfax was going to undergo a repower, Williams decided to add a few more improvements. He opted for Volvo Penta’s Glass Cockpit System to both his main station and the aft station.
The Glass Cockpit collects and displays all driver information on a single, multi-function touchscreen display. This will let Williams monitor a variety of key engine functions as well as navigational tools.
The main station features twin 12-inch screen with a 10-inch screen in the aft station.
La Conner has also updated the boat’s electrical system, installed a new slider door and a stainless-steel davit for the dinghy, among other improvements.
Newest DPI
Shadowfax is also the first in the Pacific Northwest to feature Volvo Penta’s upgraded DPI sterndrive. The new system was introduced last year and continues the company’s constant improvements to its Aquamatic sterndrive.
The new DPI features enhanced performance with a new hydraulic clutch that shifts smoother and quieter than previous versions. Maintenance is easier and reliability is improved, meaning Williams will spend more time on the water this boating season.
Time to Enjoy
La Conner finished the work and completed sea trials in March, bring to an end the six-month project. Crandall said Williams will notice dramatic improvements in the performance of Shadowfax, including easier docking with the Volvo Penta joystick, greater fuel economy and more power.
“He’s getting 40 more horsepower per side and with the new DPI he’ll be able to troll when he wants to fish,” Crandall said. “He’s going to fall in love with Shadowfax all over again.”