Dec 10, 2019

John and Chandra Gavin knew just what they wanted when selecting the powertrain for their new custom 45-ft. downeast-style fishing boat Game Changer five years ago. 
 
Chandra Gavin said: “We needed an engine with the utmost reliability and power. Speed was a big factor as well, since it takes a large engine to move Game Changer.”
 
They did their homework and decided on a Volvo Penta D11 625 hp EPA Tier 3 engine. And they haven’t been disappointed. 
 
With over 4,000 hours on the engines they have had no downtime for repairs beyond routine maintenance.  They usually outrun the other boats when speeding out to the fishing grounds, and their fuel bills are lower than the other boats in their area.
 
The Gavins, who have more than 25 years in the commercial fishing business, operate out of Ballantyne’s Cove on the northwestern end of St. George’s Bay. Game Changer runs from May through October, including 30-40 tuna fishing trips per year as well as regular lobster fishing runs.
 
Dana Dorey, technical sales representative at Wajax, Volvo Penta’s Power Center in Nova Scotia, worked closely with the Gavins to specify the powertrain for Game Changer. “The D11 has been a perfect fit for the boat. It is a high-quality engine that is compact, powerful and fuel efficient,” he said. “It has a lot of low-end torque and a very responsive throttle at low RPMs and high cruising speed, regardless of load or sea state.”
 
“We’re enjoying the power this engine provides,” said Gavin. “Getting to the fishing grounds quickly, particularly during tuna season, is essential, and we are usually leading the pack.”
 
“The growing popularity for Volvo Penta in the Nova Scotian fishing fleets is largely due to the superb technical support provided by the Wajax team as well as our authorized dealers in the area, who have full stocks of parts readily available to ensure maximum uptime,” said Jens Bering, vice president of marine sales for Volvo Penta of the Americas.