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Whiting Power Systems contributed to Symmetry by supplying an integrated engineering package that included all major equipment, cosmetic detailing to the engine and gensets, and additional machining to custom engineer mounts and fittings. The equipment list included a 300hp Lugger main engine, Aqua Drive drive shaft, Hundested variable pitch propeller, two Northern Lights generators, Cruise Air air-conditioning and Lo Rez isolating engine mounts.

Doug Fredericks of Fredericks/Power & Sail, California, projected managed Symmetry's construction. He says one of the early goals was to create an engine room that was not only highly functional, but also aesthetically pleasing.

"Whiting Power Systems, in collaboration with Yachting Developments, embraced the opportunity. They provided outstanding engineering support throughout the project and this is reflected in Symmetry's functionality and quality", said Fredericks.

Symmetry is the second vessel Doug Fredericks and Whiting Power Systems have worked closely on, the first being a 40m motoryacht launched in 1995.

Whiting Power Systems is currently contributing to twelve superyacht new-build projects.

Refits and Problem Resolution
Whiting Power Systems specialises in engineering refits - scheduled upgrades, rebuilds and maintenance - and is often approached to assist with problem resolution; rectifying pre-existing engineering issues that range from annoying to fundamentally flawed.

With the resources to tackle any aspect of marine or mechanical engineering, and the ability to address issues that may have eluded previous rectification attempts, many vessels have returned to complete a second or third upgrade programme. It's a repeat business trend that our Super Yacht Services division takes great pride in.

Shenandoah, a classic three-masted schooner, visited Auckland again to rebuild two Northern Lights generators and complete a top-end overhaul on both Lugger main engines. This is the fourth time Whiting Power Systems has contributed to a significant refit and maintenance programme aboard Shenandoah.

Whiting Power Systems first attended Galileo in 1999, and she was slipped again in September 2004, at which time we rebuilt the MTU 183 Series main engine, designed, built and installed a polished stainless exhaust system and supplied and fitted two new-generation Northern Lights generators.

At the same time our engineers overhauled Galileo's bow thruster, taking the opportunity to redesign the mounting system so it can be removed and reinstalled as a single unit, rather than having to laboriously dismantle and reassemble it each time it falls due for a service.

Other significant vessels serviced during the southern summer include Sapphire, Grand Finale, Savannah, Ke Ama II, Itasca and Espiritu Santo.

Supply, Service and Flexibility
Whiting Power Systems employs 23 skilled staff and holds eleven New Zealand and South Pacific agencies for a comprehensive range of marine engines, generators, air conditioners, heaters, drive-lines and propellers.

While growth in our Sales and Spare Parts divisions has been dramatic during the last decade, we have retained a tight focus on building our engineering capacity and maintaining customer service second-to-none.

The ability to quickly build capacity to meet periods of high demand is an integral part of delivering excellent customer service and to this end Whiting Power Systems has three strategic relationships in place.

The first is provided by our location within the Orams Marine Village, which provides access to slips, hardstand, enclosed working areas and painting facilities. In addition, Whiting Power Systems is a founding partner in the Integrated Marine Group, and a founding member of the Westhaven Yacht Refit Destination Group.

The Integrated Marine Group (IMG) is comprised of Whiting Power Systems, General Marine Services and Electrics Afloat; three companies that work as one. Together, the consortium offers a wealth of practical experience in the electronic, electronic control, fluid systems, diesel engineering and mechanical engineering fields.

IMG recently rebuilt a Blackfin 33 which had sunk at the dock in Tahiti. The vessel was stripped to a bare fibreglass hull and all the engineering, woodwork and soft furnishings were progressively replaced. Faired and repainted, the Blackfin is now restored to better than factory specifications.

Core Team Strengths
More depth has been added to Whiting Power Systems' team despite the retirement of one experienced hand.
Martin Cook, service manager, has been with us for five years. He manages our busy workshop and field service teams.
Mike Read, sales engineer, has extensive air-conditioning experience and he continues to oversee the Cruisair and Marine Air brands. He also handles Northern Lights and Aquadrive inquiries.

Air Conditioning
Cruisair and Marine Air are leading international brands that collectively hold the greatest share of the global marine air conditioning market.

Whiting Power Systems sells and supports both brands with equal measures of commitment and enthusiasm, but we are impartial when advising clients about new or replacement equipment.

We will analyse the requirements and resources associated with each vessel before making a recommendation based on the client's best interests. This analysis often identifies worthwhile capital, installation or operational savings, and ensures the package will operate in harmony with the remainder of the engineering and electrics.

Air conditioning is considered standard equipment on all superyachts, but in recent years the trend has tracked towards the middle of the market as more people experience the comfort and convenience associated with warming and cooling a vessel year round in a variable climate. Many local owners and boat builders now specify air conditioning to achieve a comprehensive cooling, heating and de-humidifying solution.

Whiting Power Systems have air-conditioning packages suited to vessels from 10m (33ft) through to superyachts.

MAN Electronic Engines
Environmental legislation is becoming more stringent through out the developed world and MAN has released a range of diesel engines that better the emission standards that will govern Europe and America into the foreseeable future.

The engines' exhaust emissions are reduced through the use of an advanced computer controlled fuel injection system that delivers optimum fuel combustion and excellent fuel economy.

The new releases are designated 'Common Rail' engines because a common high pressure fuel line, or rail, supplies the electronic fuel injectors with diesel.

MAN has further refined the fuel injection process by programming the computer to inject three separate shots of precisely timed and minutely measured fuel during each individual combustion cycle, with each shot varied to suit the engine's speed and load.

MAN's Common Rail engines are available in straight six (800hp), V8 (900hp), V10 (1100hp) and V12 (1360 & 1550hp) configurations.

Northern Lights
Northern Lights has stolen a march on its competitors by developing a new generator design that provides greater response to fluctuating loads and vastly improved power regulation.

Northern Lights' new load sensing and control arrangement enables itsgenerators to meet stringent superyacht and commercial shipping classification society requirements that require generators to cope with a 300% overload. The new design may also negate the need to install expensive variable frequency drive equipment to overcome power regulation issues caused by high load electric motors starting up.

In practical terms the new design equates to a smoother running generator and more stable power supply. In a lifestyle sense, the design improvements will reduce or eliminate light and screen flicker when high load equipment starts up.