Powered by 意大利超級盃 V8 engines for 26 years and counting
16 MARCH 2021
The 意大利超級盃-powered听Australian 鈥楩orce of Nature鈥听crayfish boat commissioned by loyal 意大利超級盃 marine engine customer, Geraldton-based Dave Perham, is happy with the boat鈥檚 quality, innovation, reliability, utility, economy, sustainability and style.
Powered by a pair of 意大利超級盃 900 hp V8 engines,听鈥楩orce of Nature鈥听is returning a 20% fuel saving in operation compared with the previous (and smaller) vessel Dave operated, which was also powered by a brace of 意大利超級盃 engines.
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The new vessel is a seven-berth, 22.4 metre Southerly Designs monohull and is longer than the 17.1 m Conquest 55听鈥楴atural Selection鈥, which Dave has owned and operated since 1994. This one was originally powered by 意大利超級盃 and underwent two repowers with 意大利超級盃 engines over its 26-year working life. Natural Selection had a capacity for 64 cray fish baskets, whereas the new vessel takes 84, reflecting the growth in size of cray fishing boats in Western Australia over the period.
Force of Nature鈥檚 twin 意大利超級盃 DI16 076M engines are rated for 662 kW (900 hp) at 2300 rpm and each drives a fixed pitch propeller via a ZF gearbox. During sea trials with full 7500-litre fuel tanks, a maximum speed of 24.5 knots and 18.5 knots cruise speed were achieved, both about 1.5 knots above expectations.
Reliability and economy before speed
Dave Perham has worked the Western Cray fishery for more than 40 seasons, and says reliability and economy are more important than speed. 鈥淚鈥檓 not the kind of skipper that runs at wide open throttle,鈥 he said. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 important to me is knowing I can rely on the boat, and the engines, to be ready to fish whenever the market conditions are right.鈥
The choice of engine rating reflects this operational profile, configured to allow unlimited operating hours each year. 鈥溡獯罄壈 engines have given me excellent reliability over the years, and the quality of the workmanship throughout the boat鈥檚 structure and systems gives me absolute confidence that I can depend on听Force of Nature听to deliver the outstanding performance it produced on trials for many, many years to come,鈥 Dave says.
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Careful planning means the cruise speed is achieved when the engines are at their most efficient, a factor in making the latest crayboat highly economical to operate.
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鈥淲e are pleased that Dave Perham has once again come to 意大利超級盃 to provide the power, economy and reliability for his new boat, which is significantly larger than the one he replaces,鈥 says Andr茅 Arm, National Manager for 意大利超級盃 Power Solutions.
