Case Study: Yanmar Repower for an Amel 50

A major repower, handled a long way from home.

When Italian owners Fabio and Laura Vacirca set off from their home in Italy on a global voyage, they probably didn’t expect New Zealand to become the place where their yacht would need a major engine repower.

Their French-built Amel 50 was only two years old, but after arriving in New Zealand, a belt failure caused water to flood the engine. The damage was too serious to repair, so the only real option was a full engine replacement.

To make things more technical, Amel had since stopped installing the original engine model and was now specifying the Yanmar 4LV150 as standard across its Amel yachts. This was not a straightforward like-for-like replacement. It required a carefully planned retrofit, with input from the yacht builder, the owners, the insurer, suppliers, and the team at Ovlov Marine Gulf Harbour.

As certified Yanmar dealers, Ovlov Marine Gulf Harbour took on the project and worked closely with Amel headquarters in France to make sure every detail was right.

“When we scoped the project, we were really impressed with the Amel team back in France,” says Matt Jackson, Ovlov Marine Group Engine and Technical Sales Manager.

“They provided an extremely detailed roadmap, covering everything from custom engine mounts and re-running wiring to structural changes, including resizing the hatch between the galley and engine room. At one stage, they asked us to move a cockpit drainage pipe by 10 mm. That gives you an idea of the level of detail involved.”

Once the plan was confirmed, Amel shipped the required parts and components from France to New Zealand.

For Fabio and Laura, the repower was definitely not part of the original plan. But they took it in their stride. While the project was underway, they turned the wait into a grand tour of New Zealand and made the most of their unexpected time here.

Throughout the process, Fabio says the support from Ovlov Marine went well beyond a typical client-supplier relationship.

“Everyone at Ovlov was kind and available to help,” says Fabio. “Matt and I worked closely for about three months and I felt his commitment and desire to help went far beyond a normal client-supplier relationship.”

Like any major repower, the job came with plenty of challenges. The team had to co-ordinate multiple suppliers, solve exhaust line issues, work through electrical challenges, and ensure the new dashboard looked right within the existing Amel design.

Fabio says this is where Ovlov Marine’s technical knowledge and problem-solving really stood out.

“They were very professional and creative in finding solutions to the multiple problems you encounter in such big projects,” he says. “Laurent is really an expert mechanic, and Matt solved everything else around him.”

From insurance approval through to the arrival of parts, installation, commissioning, and final testing, the project took the better part of three months. But the finished result was worth the wait.

“Our goal with any repower is to make it look like it was always meant to be there,” says Matt. “And that’s exactly what happened here. It honestly looked like the Yanmar had been fitted from new, right down to the new dashboard supplied by Amel.”

The performance of the new Yanmar 4LV150 spoke for itself. After running the engine through its first hours in the Hauraki Gulf, Fabio and Laura continued their voyage to Fiji.

“I am very happy with the outcome,” said Fabio. “We sailed from New Zealand to Fiji, we now have about 70 hours on the engine and everything looks good.”