Consensus is a well-built example and exemplifies this style and era of vessel and even boasts improvements by way of an extended hull, thus providing more space for fishing and socialising. The extra waterline length also provides some performance advantages compared to the standard design, and with a V8 Detroit diesel to feed, any help with the fuel economy is useful.
Owned by a private syndicate of three, Consensus gets plenty of use, and with maintenance costs starting to escalate and reliability becoming an issue, her owners recently decided to look at repower options. The old Detroit had let them down on more than one occasion and needed a lot of TLC.
Tom Mansell of Auckland (part owner) explains further. “Once the Detroit was apart, we realised the cost for the repairs was significantly greater than anticipated. We had previously investigated repower options across many brands, but we came back to the FPT range of engines for multiple reasons. Adrian Penman from FPT carried out a full analysis for us with a couple of potential options, which was very helpful. The engine we selected puts out significantly more power so our cruise speed has improved greatly while burning less fuel. This is fantastic, as we can now easily get to the outer Gulf on a more regular basis at a much higher speed – and we are saving up to $200 in fuel on a return trip to Great Barrier. Along with the reliability, this is a real game changer for me and the other partners, which has allowed us to get maximum enjoyment and use out of Consensus. The package was very good value compared with the Detroit’s rebuild cost so we are very happy with the outcome.”
The repower package fitted to Consensus consisted of a single FPT N67 550 engine supplying 550hp, along with a new ZF transmission. The gearbox ratio and propeller characteristics were matched to provide optimal efficiency. The engine is a straight six, 6.7-litre common-rail design with excellent torque characteristics providing outstanding throttle response and performance. For those needing even more power, a 570hp model is also available.
For further information contact Adrian Penman at AB Equipment
