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Seakeeper/ gyro following seas

Discussion in 'Post Yacht' started by Drew1217, Jan 7, 2025.

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  1. Drew1217

    Drew1217 New Member

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    Anyone put a seakeeper or any brand gyro stabilizer in a 42 46 or 47 yet?
    Curious about if it helped in following seas?
    Our 2000 42 has the bigger rudders from the factory. No spray rails (yet). And has a tendency in a steep following sea to lean over left or right and then bow steer that direction.
    Really looking for a fix here and not just a smart remark "learn to drive it." It comes out of nowhere when it happens and while manual steering. Definitely happens more often when light on fuel, but being in NJ with long runs its hard to keep the tank always above half. Thanks for any insight here.
  2. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    The pivoting action of a gyro stabilizer is just going to help reduce the snap in a beam roll. I fear no help in your bow push.
    Fins may help some.

    I remember a delivery on a Fleming with fin stabilizers.
    They did help in a following sea some but the design of the Fleming's tail, the swells just picked her asp up, the fins max swung and the bow dug in from side to side.
    I learned to hate that boat, that night.
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  3. Drew1217

    Drew1217 New Member

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    I 100% understand that. And it makes sense as to why no gyro company wants to say whether it would help or not. I was just contemplating in theory the boat rolls hard to one side first well before the bow steer starts. So would a gyro keep the boat from rolling so hard allowing the boat to track straighter.
  4. mapism

    mapism Senior Member

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    I can't imagine any better proof that the very simple answer to your question is no.
    BTW, I'd be awfully skeptic even if gyro producers would have said it does help!
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  5. Greg Page

    Greg Page Senior Member

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    Our 43 had prior owner installed 'spray rails' that would "catch" angled waves on one side and roll the boat well before it turned-off. I had them removed ($$) and it behaves much better. In following sea (short period Chesapeake Bay waves) I run a little faster than the swell so the boat crosses the next wave slowly and stay close to perpendicular to the swell, 30 degs off usually is fine, sometimes can run 45 degs off. Otherwise match the swell speed. I'm toying with the idea of re-rigging the tabs to come up further and create some rocker to get a bit more bow up. Currently bow is higher at 24 kts, lower as slow, but that can be faster than I care to run.

    I always try to keep an extra 100 gallons of fuel in the aft tank (we have a fwd tank between the engines and an aft tank under cockpit floor).
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  6. rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    The fins do a pretty good job of compensating to shorten that bow steer recovery.
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  7. jhall767

    jhall767 Senior Member

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    My wesmar system (DSP5000) has two modes. One for beam and one for following seas. The following seas setting does make a big difference.
    Ride is much better. Bow steer and wandering is much less annoying.
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2025
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  8. Drew1217

    Drew1217 New Member

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    I could definitely see the fins being beneficial in following seas. But what boats do you have them on ? I've never seen them on a sporty I'd imagine a big decrease in speed and efficiency no ?
  9. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    You want it locked in following seas, when the boat heels over, the seakeeper will keep it there for a long period of time and boat will make a sharp turn and scare the @@@@ out of you. Also be advised that on plane a Seakeeper isn't much more effective than none at all.
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  10. rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    Ive seen planing vessels with fins. Often those boats are traveling distance at hull speed for efficiency or slower for trolling. Yes, you add some drag on place, but you'd center them more often than not while running faster than the sea. Even if you don't center, they won't activate much while running because the planing is taking away much of the roll.
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  11. Drew1217

    Drew1217 New Member

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    Thanks everyone for the replies.
    I've been back and forth with seakeeper. They say the new tab system they have out "seakeeper ride" will do what I am looking for.
    May give it a shot and will report back in the spring. Really hoping this helps a lot.
  12. Greg Page

    Greg Page Senior Member

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    Would be interested to hear if you do.
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  13. Drew1217

    Drew1217 New Member

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    I for sure will let you know
  14. jhall767

    jhall767 Senior Member

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    Might want to look at other similar systems such as zipwake, Humphree or volvo. The Seakeeper isn't really as revolutionary as they make out. Similar systems have been around for close to 30 years.
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  15. Drew1217

    Drew1217 New Member

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    I definitely will check then out thanks. I was unaware they made them big enough. Always thought they were just for smaller boats.
  16. rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    I use a hamster on a habitrail in the aft salon. He spins real fast.