Seakeeper

Go to the SEARCH feature and put in Seakeeper. There's several threads that may help.

I put one in my Ocean Yacht 46. Happy to answer any questions.

The biggest challenge beside the cost is finding the place. Very difficult on some boats.

My Seakeeper went in the engine room between the two engines. It sits pretty low, easy to get over to reach everything. Two extensions were built on the sides of the main stringers to support the Seakeeper. I will try to find a picture.

Installed cost was ~$60k.

When planning the install Seakeeper would only provide me with informal guidance. My understanding is they review refit installs with the dealer in more detail. Seakeeper’s guidance to me for more a more detailed formal analysis was to hire a naval architect.

I was able to connect with Dave Martin the architect for Ocean Yachts, who was retired but graciously gave me some advice. He concurred that placing the SK between the engines would not negatively impact running attitude, CG etc.

He was a very nice old school guy and suggested toughening up or Dramamine as more cost effective alternatives to a SK. Sadly I believe he passed away last year.

Amen to that.
There are enough maintenance headaches on boats, without adding a major one like a SK...

Here is a picture where you can see the extensions to the stringers to support the Seakeeper. There is a metal plate glassed into the extensions to accept the bolts holding down the Seakeeper.

Nice clean installation. Looks like it was born to be there.

So far... Maintenance has been minimal, change zinc anode, grease and clean the strainer. Only ~300 hours in 2-years.

From photo it looks like you could have mounted it lower. Is there a reason you did not?

Are you happy with the performance? Big difference? I'm considering one in my 54'

Keeping CG low is generally good in marine applications, but a gyro should be mounted as close as possible to the axis of rotation, near the waterline and/or center of mass.

It could have been mounted 1/2 inch to an 1” lower. The globe with the flywheel hangs below the mounting points and there is a clearance spec below it for maintenance. The installer left a little extra room there. If I did it again I would try to save the inch. Climb over it often.

The difference for people who get seasick easily it is transforming. My daughter can get seasick at the dock. Now she likes to go fishing.

I took a group of experienced captains, two of them lobster men, who roll all day, out fishing at the canyons. After a day they were spoiled. No rocking, bracing etc. it makes for a more comfortable and safe fishing platform.

When cruising, especially non boater guests, drinks don’t spill and getting around the boat is easy.

It works great drifting or hull speed up to about 6’ seas. Bigger waves or large ship wakes will sometimes push it to the limit of its range and the boat will rock.

When running in beam or following seas it eliminates the diagonal wallow motion. I turn it off when following seas get larger as the boat seems to track better with it off. And I turn it off when entering inlets.

I was able to roll the cost into the purchase loan. The bank considered it would increase the value of the boat. Idk if that’s really true.