G&S Marine Inc., Aransas Pass, Texas, has repowered the Launch Runner, a 110' quad-screw crew boat, replacing four 600-hp Scania DI13 Tier 2 engines installed in 2015 with four Scania DI13 Tier 3 engines rated at 650 hp at 2,100 rpm.
The repower was completed at G&S Marine's facility in Aransas Pass, Texas, by Bay Area Diesel, Rockport, Texas, a dealer for Laborde Products, Covington, La., the North American distributor for Scania marine engines.
The new engines provide the vessel with more than 2,600 hp total.
"For us, the decision was simple. Scania engines already proved themselves on the Launch Runner, and Bay Area Diesel proved they had our back," said Garry McCrae, owner of G&S Marine. "The Tier 3 DI13s give us the performance we need with less downtime, and when we need support, we get it."
McCrae told WorkBoat that the refit required modifications to the exhaust system because of differences in the turbochargers between the old and new engines. Bay Area Diesel managed the exhaust adjustments as well as cooler updates and control integrations during the installation.
"A quad-screw repower is always a big lift, but the DI13s fit well, and our team managed the changeover with limited yard time," said Joey Steckler, owner of Bay Area Diesel. "We built the install around the vessel's schedule so Launch Runner could get back to work quickly, with a clear plan for ongoing support."
"Our role is to make sure the dealers we hand-pick can stand shoulder to shoulder with operators," said Jacob Yoder, dealer development representative at Laborde Products. "That means giving them the parts pipeline, training, and backing to deliver real solutions without delays."
The Launch Runner was built by Breaux's Bay Craft Inc., Loreauville, La., in 1986.
