SeaKeeper Stabilizer worth it on an older boat?

[Scarlett]

Pascal I know what you mean about the air system on Lazzarras . I just surveyed an 80 cockpit and when I asked to see the stabilizers in action, the owner just said they don’t work. As to boat builders using the Quick, Maritimo in Australia is using them as standard equipment on some of their boats. John

 

[rustybucket]

Rusty, what kind of warranty is offered with the Quick unit?

QuickUSA warranty:
2 year/2000 hours warranty. A third year/1000 hour extended warranty is available.

Seakeeper warranty. This warranty is for the following period, whichever occurs first:

• 36 months (3 years) from the date of shipment from SEAKEEPER, INC., factory
• Or, 24 months (2 years) from date the product put into service, which shall conclusively be presumed to be the date of sale of a vessel, on which a SEAKEEPER, INC., product is installed, to a retail customer or date put into service on an existing vessel (refit).
• Or, 2000 (two thousand) operating SEA hours, subject to verification and confirmation by SEAKEEPER, INC.,
• Or, for OEM demonstration or stock boats, the warranty will begin one (1) year after date of commissioning or after 200 recorded (operating) SEA hours, if this use is prior to delivery to a retail customer.

So really the warranties are pretty much the exact same.

 

[ageless]

QuickUSA warranty:
2 year/2000 hours warranty. A third year/1000 hour extended warranty is available.

Seakeeper warranty. This warranty is for the following period, whichever occurs first:

• 36 months (3 years) from the date of shipment from SEAKEEPER, INC., factory
• Or, 24 months (2 years) from date the product put into service, which shall conclusively be presumed to be the date of sale of a vessel, on which a SEAKEEPER, INC., product is installed, to a retail customer or date put into service on an existing vessel (refit).
• Or, 2000 (two thousand) operating SEA hours, subject to verification and confirmation by SEAKEEPER, INC.,
• Or, for OEM demonstration or stock boats, the warranty will begin one (1) year after date of commissioning or after 200 recorded (operating) SEA hours, if this use is prior to delivery to a retail customer.

So really the warranties are pretty much the exact same.

wow!! thank you

 

[Photolomy]

rusty, hurry up and do the quick, so I know if it is something in my future.

 

[Wiredup62]

Anybody have new info on these GYROS? Has the Quick units gained popularity? I am thinking about adding a unit to my boat. SK is very popular in the mid atlantic.

 

[GCSI]

I recently installed a gyro stabilization system on a 75’ MY. While doing due dilligance, I compared the two available Gyro only based systems from every conceivable perspective. The final conclusion? The price Delta between existing Gyro based systems was not sufficient to overcome;
1). Differences in support network.
2). History: one manufacturer has thousands of installs and booming buisiness, other is struggling to gain traction.

The price to remove legacy Fins and install Zero Speed Fins was very close to price of Gyro System. I chose to go with a belt and suspenders approach: legacy fin system for high speed cruise with Gyro for slow and at rest.

VERY happy with results, will never own another boat without a Zero Speed System of some sort. However, price did sting a little...

 

[piripucha]

These gyro stabilization system look very interesting - on paper - The concept is quite simple but the implementation its my belief is getting to complicated. If I would consider installing one, I would choose the simpler one ( KISS). Sofisticated systems have the bad habit of screwing up on a salt water enviroment. As a broker friend of mine told me: do not sell the boat, change the wife.! She was not amused.

 

[rustybucket]

I recently installed a gyro stabilization system on a 75’ MY. While doing due dilligance, I compared the two available Gyro only based systems from every conceivable perspective. The final conclusion? The price Delta between existing Gyro based systems was not sufficient to overcome;
1). Differences in support network.
2). History: one manufacturer has thousands of installs and booming buisiness, other is struggling to gain traction.

The price to remove legacy Fins and install Zero Speed Fins was very close to price of Gyro System. I chose to go with a belt and suspenders approach: legacy fin system for high speed cruise with Gyro for slow and at rest.

VERY happy with results, will never own another boat without a Zero Speed System of some sort. However, price did sting a little...

So which brand gyro did you decide on going with?

 

[GCSI]

SeaKeeper

 

[nautibake]

These gyro stabilization system look very interesting - on paper - The concept is quite simple but the implementation its my belief is getting to complicated. If I would consider installing one, I would choose the simpler one ( KISS). Sofisticated systems have the bad habit of screwing up on a salt water enviroment. As a broker friend of mine told me: do not sell the boat, change the wife.! She was not amused.

FWIW, we have 700 hours logged (and not "on paper") with 2 Seakeepers with absolutely no issues other than with the March raw water cooling pumps (they are not self-priming, and they require sea water for cooling). I finally added some in-line sensors so I know immediately if they've lost prime. We had one Seakeeper service (required at 2000 hours or 5 years) and it was under $2000 for both units. We are fans of Seakeeper, and yes, although technically "sofisticated" they perform flawlessly. When we have good raw water flow we have a green indication, when they are red we need to check the raw water pumps. These units are extremely well-built and the support from the company is phenomenal.

 

[Wiredup62]

FWIW, we have 700 hours logged (and not "on paper") with 2 Seakeepers with absolutely no issues other than with the March raw water cooling pumps (they are not self-priming, and they require sea water for cooling). I finally added some in-line sensors so I know immediately if they've lost prime. We had one Seakeeper service (required at 2000 hours or 5 years) and it was under $2000 for both units. We are fans of Seakeeper, and yes, although technically "sofisticated" they perform flawlessly. When we have good raw water flow we have a green indication, when they are red we need to check the raw water pumps. These units are extremely well-built and the support from the company is phenomenal.

Great info, what in line sensors did you use?

 

[ageless]

2). History: one manufacturer has thousands of installs and booming buisiness, other is struggling to gain traction.

I think it's only fair to mention that struggling traction is in the U.S, the Quick units have been in the Italian market for awhile. They've only been available in the U.S for two years

Personally, I find being able to maintain the unit without pulling it from the vessel and not having to put another thru hull in seems attractive

My research revealed the pumps have been an issue from the origination, how come they haven't figured that out yet? The fact they have an extensive line of refurbish units is concerning

 

[nautibake]

Great info, what in line sensors did you use?

Maretron SIM100 module ($400 on Amazon, plugs into an existing N2K network) and these are the sensors:

1.5" FPT Cooling Water Flow Switch
MSRP $99
Part Number: 10271

https://www.maretron.com/products/sim100.php

click on the "Accessories" tab and scroll down to see the flow sensors. They come in 1", 1 and 1/2" and 2". Fairly simple install and config. They've really been a huge improvement. BTW, the Seakeeper will run about 4 hours without raw water cooling (ask me how I know). When they reach a certain internal temp they go into automatic shut-down mode before any damage can be done. Also, the Seakeeper manual says you can shut them down on your way into your destination and they can wind down for several hours without cooling flow. Just some more context...

 

[Wiredup62]

Maretron SIM100 module ($400 on Amazon, plugs into an existing N2K network) and these are the sensors:

1.5" FPT Cooling Water Flow Switch
MSRP $99
Part Number: 10271

https://www.maretron.com/products/sim100.php

click on the "Accessories" tab and scroll down to see the flow sensors. They come in 1", 1 and 1/2" and 2". Fairly simple install and config. They've really been a huge improvement. BTW, the Seakeeper will run about 4 hours without raw water cooling (ask me how I know). When they reach a certain internal temp they go into automatic shut-down mode before any damage can be done. Also, the Seakeeper manual says you can shut them down on your way into your destination and they can wind down for several hours without cooling flow. Just some more context...

Thanks!!

 

[rsmith]

From what I remember considering the cost of the gyros you got the boat for free.

Maretron SIM100 module ($400 on Amazon, plugs into an existing N2K network) and these are the sensors:

1.5" FPT Cooling Water Flow Switch
MSRP $99
Part Number: 10271

https://www.maretron.com/products/sim100.php

click on the "Accessories" tab and scroll down to see the flow sensors. They come in 1", 1 and 1/2" and 2". Fairly simple install and config. They've really been a huge improvement. BTW, the Seakeeper will run about 4 hours without raw water cooling (ask me how I know). When they reach a certain internal temp they go into automatic shut-down mode before any damage can be done. Also, the Seakeeper manual says you can shut them down on your way into your destination and they can wind down for several hours without cooling flow. Just some more context...

 

[rsmith]

I’ve often wondered about how much stress these put on the stringers. Fin type stabs are mounted where the arm from the cg is significantly more. If you understand weight arm and moment it’s a lot of stress on a very short arm. The mainstay of my charter business when I kept the boat up north was overnight swordfish trips so we did a lot of drift fishing in some nasty conditions in the North Atlantic. You could tell when things were picking up when the chine came out of the water and you’d hear a kaboom when the boat rolled to the down sea side. I just have to wonder how effective the gyro is fighting the natural roll of the boat. It would seem you could be taking waves in the cockpit rather than rolling with them.

 

[Cricket]

Once you have drifted, especially overnight, with a gyro running you're not going to want to go on a boat without one. Boat sort of just bobs up and down in the swell with out the violent rocking. Makes a huge difference kite fishing and trolling when it's shitty.

 

[Photolomy]

What % does your generator run during the night to keep the gyros running?

 

[SKYCHENEY]

But do the gyros attract fish or scare them off?

 

[nautibake]

From what I remember considering the cost of the gyros you got the boat for free.

Yes Sir, but then, we’ve managed to spend (invest?) another 1.5 times the purchase price.