Seakeeper Gyro Stabilization

[smoothmove]

It seems like someone brought this up a while back, but I couldn't find the thread. There is a product called Seakeeper Gyro Stabilizer

http://www.seakeeper.com/index.php

It seems like it might have some real advantages for a slow moving or anchored boat. The 220v requirement is a bit of a problem, but not a showstopper.

Has anyone had any experience with this?

Eric

 

[scottwvyc]

I can't remember the exact price, but they really expensive.

 

[Beckytek]

There is a good article in Passagemaker magazine describing it's workings and virtues. You can order back issues if you don't have it. It's in the March 2008 issue. Ron

 

[Walter P]

Price and space are two drawbacks. For boats in most of our size range, active fin stabilization (Niaads etc) is the most practical.

Walt

 

[Brian Degulis]

That's a pretty impressive video.

Brian

 

[Maynard Rupp]

I have seen them in a new Bertram...Really expensive, bulky, heavy, and they don't work at speed, only when still. BAH!!

 

[Pascal]

they were exclusively installed on Mutts for 2 years I think, now they are available to other manufacturers.

do they really not work at speed? not sure i understand why they woudnt' although i guess lift could overcome the gyro effect and reduce the effectiveness.

otherwise, if they are similarly priced to active fins, why not? no external appendages, it's all contained in one unit... finding room can be a challenge obviously but it's an interesting system.

some locations have rolly anchorages (bahamas) where this woudl be very useful.

 

[Brian Degulis]

They may not work as well under way? The forces are going to be harder to counter and un like fins your not going to get more effective with speed.

Brian

 

[Maynard Rupp]

The Bertram guy that showed me the gyro stabalizers told me that you must shut them off when underway. The use Niad stabalizers when underway. They also need 220VAC and quite a bit of current to operate. Your gen set needs to be running to power them. BAH!!

 

[Pascal]

i dont see anything that indicates you must shut it down underway... i can understand why it woudl be less effective but on plane you dont' need stabilization as much as at low speed anyway.

the site states that they can't be installed too far forward to avoid high G forces, that tells me if properly installed they're fine underway.

as to power, 3kw while spinning up and 1.5 kw in steady state isnt' that much. it's certainly not enough to cause concern about genny load. Most large boats run their genny 24/7 any way... i guess you guys take ventilation for granted and forget most modern boats do not have any ventilation requiring air con 24/7!!

 

[krush]

I can make one--I'd just need a little help with the electronics/sensor part. But, I got plenty of nerd friends.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I think a big part of the expense is reinforcing the hull to allow the gyro to right the boat as it tries to roll. The amount of force the gyro exerts is considerable. I also think it does work while underway. The gyro is more expensive than Naiads or Wesmars, but they don't work at anchor.

 

[Pascal]

oh come on Jim... you woudln't have to reinforce any thing on a hatt... just like I doubt you'd ever see one on a sea ray

 

[MicroKap]

There was a Ship Shape episode which included information on the Mitsubishi units that were installed in a 54 Bertram. They showed two 54 Bertrams side by side, one with and the other without. The Bertram setup is different than the Seakeeper as there are two units installed. Mitsu has an exclusive with Ferretti. They demonstrate the benefit of decreasing roll while standing still as well as "trolling". They said it was effective up to about 15 knots, I believe.

Seakeeper is a single unit designed to be retrofitted into a hull while the Mitsu units are designed as part of the hull structure.

It may be necessary on a Bertram because as the saying goes, fish a Hatteras, cruise a Bertram. The Bertram's deep V hull shape does a lot of rocking on it's own. Our flatter aft sections make slow trolling a lot more acceptable than the deep V on the Bertram.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I agree...actually sometimes when they install much bigger engines and go a lot faster they WILL reinforce the chines even on a Hatteras. They glass in ribs from the outside engine bed all the way to the chine in the bilge to reinforce the chine; I have heard of it being done a few times. With lighter and more powerful engines, it might be more common but for the fact that I think the number of people repowering these older boats has dropped quite a bit in the last few months. Along with the number of people doing just about anything that requires money.

 

[nautibake]

Reviving this old thread on gyro stabilization because I just found out there is a new player in the market:

http://www.quicknauticalequipment.com/resources/downloads_qne-oth/Dep_MC2_Rev2_HighRes.pdf

I have been running dual Seakeeper M8000’s for 2 years and we are big fans. The units themselves have operated flawlessly, but the raw water cooling has been problematic. The units will overheat and go into auto shut down after 3 to 4 hours if a pump fails. The original install had the March pumps installed incorrectly, and we went through 2 replacement pumps before that was identified. Then went through 2 more pumps because they lost prime, it requires a certain sequence for them to prime, and I think I finally have that down. Of course one of the auto shutdowns happened halfway from Key West to Marco with 4 to 6 following seas and we completely had the salon rearranged with no human intervention.

The point of all of this is that the new gyros on the market apparently do not require raw water cooling. I am intrigued, and plan to learn more about this and pricing, etc. at FLIBS in a few weeks.

Also, can’t resist correcting a few misconceptions in the previous posts. The Seakeepers are meant to be run at all times while underway, or if needed in a rolly anchorage or slip. We turned them on during a violent thunderstorm when my son and future daughter in law were on board and we only had a side tie on a T head. They reduce roll by about 80% in most conditions. Each gyro draws 3000 watts during spool up and 1500 Watts at target speed of 8000 RPMs. The are bonded directly to the stringers beneath the MSR berth.

 

[MVCaprice]

I have heard 70-100k. Anyone else have pricing info?

 

[Fish Tales]

Are they loud?

Tim

 

[nautibake]

Are they loud?

Tim

The Seakeepers are not loud, you do hear a faint humm but it is less than the GenSet (which has to be running any way unless you are in the slip). If you are watching TV or listening to music at normal volume you don’t hear the gyros at all.

 

[Cricket]

Fished on a Viking that had a Seakeeper, couldn't hear or feel any vibration, couldn't believe how effective the gyro was until fishing on a boat with one. Hoping Quick changes the pricing game with the gyros as Seakeeper pretty much has the market. Btw, the only thing I've every heard complaints is with the water pumps for the cooling, guess no different than AC pump issues.