Click for Northern Lights Click for Mulder Click for Nordhavn Click for Delta Click for Cross

Alternative gyro stabilization systems?

Discussion in 'Stabs, Tabs & Gyros' started by YachtForums, May 9, 2019.

You need to be registered and signed in to view this content.
  1. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    20,353
    Location:
    South Florida
    I want to give a gyro-based stabilization manufacture exposure on YF, but not looking to promote the usual suspect. I think their pricing is unsubstantiated. I'd like to give another manufacture the opportunity. I remember seeing a system that competes, but I can't recall the name.

    Any wisdom?
  2. Yachtguymke

    Yachtguymke Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2004
    Messages:
    231
    Location:
    Naptown

    Mitsubishi and Veem make one. Was it one of those?
  3. gcsi

    gcsi Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2011
    Messages:
    114
    Location:
    tampa
    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...
  4. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    20,353
    Location:
    South Florida
    Great feedback GCSI, thanks!

    Mike, those were the brands I was overlooking. Thanks!

    20 years in the biz, attending several boat shows a year and was unaware Veem had entered the gyro market.
  5. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    1,988
    Location:
    Dana Point, Ca
    Veem seems to be focused on larger yachts, less units are required compared to Seakeeper.

    Can be found here: http://haloironworks.com/
  6. captholli

    captholli Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2010
    Messages:
    1,164
    Location:
    In The Bilge
    Veem has been in as long as the others and has recently introduced a game changer in the gyro stabilization market with their proprietary ultra high speed gyro rotating 75000 RPM plus to overcome the displacement vs planning speed debacle. This new unit will stabilize at 25 knots plus as well as at anchor. I'm sure the other manufacturers will soon be coming out with their own versions. The days of fins or mag lift rotors in conjunction with gyros may come to an end, only time will tell.
  7. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    A friend of mine had another brand of gyro's put into a sportfish, they did all of the calculations all of this stuff, they promised a certain roll reduction and all of this other stuff. Once all of the work was finished, they did tests and the roll reduction wasn't nearly what was promised. Then, the company offered an additional gyro at a reduced cost, but still a pretty hefty cost. So they had to have the additional gyro installed resulting in another month of downtime and an additional unit in the engine room to trip over to get the desire effect of what was promised.

    Seakeepers are reliable and they work. The bugs are worked out and they do what they say they will do. There are usually reasons the other brands haven't gotten a foot hold.
  8. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    1,988
    Location:
    Dana Point, Ca
    Seakeeper has gone through the same process, adding another unit when one or the prescribed number did not hit the mark.
    These details are usually worked out on the first model of a production SF, so you don't get to see the process as it becomes the new standard for hulls #2 and over.

    There are a few owners who also wanted more roll reduction then experienced, so changes do happen.
  9. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    I run a lot of Hull #1's for several manufacturers. So I see it all.

    Yes, I get that, but in this case, it took 3 units to achieve the desired results and the yacht manufacturer gets the desired results in the same boat with 2 sea keepers. Basically the units were rated to do a certain amount and didn't meet their rating.
  10. captholli

    captholli Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2010
    Messages:
    1,164
    Location:
    In The Bilge
    On new builds where pre engineered installations and calculations have been performed taking into consideration performance, location and structural gusset box construction are concerned, missing the mark by 50% or more would be unacceptable and the addition of multiple units would be problematic . N/A and builders usually get these calculations correct out of the box but the larger problem and huge expense comes in when retro fitting or adding a gyro to a fin stabilized hull as the gusset boxes and structure to support the torsional loading produced by these high RPM masses are significant. Major structural upgrades are needed to "cage" these beasts and hold them securely in place. BTW, looking at Veem's literature I didn't see anything remotely close to 75,000 RPM as I stated for their new proprietary high speed applications so either I misread the press blurb 6 months ago or I was having a senior moment memory wise...
  11. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Messages:
    7,132
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    The miss requiring a third unit may not be anything like 50%. It just has to be perhaps 10% to say the installed units are inadequate. Often it's a case of one unit versus two. What I'm seeing is some builders doing a great job of initial installs while others often undersize by one level of product. They probably look at option A and B and the real need is somewhere in between so they choose A to save money when B is needed. Sounds stupid but then how many 50-100' boats are delivered with undersized anchors?

    Now, for a builder to try a new product in a boat is a bold leap of faith. As a conservative consumer, I'm unwilling to make leaps of faith and stick to proven. I was once told by an IBM employee that if everyone was like me, there would be no new products. I laughed and said, "But you always have willing guinea pigs and then here I am after they've helped you eliminate all the bugs."
  12. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    This particular boat is a used boat that had no stabilization. The boat is current production and can be ordered with seakeepers from the factory who uses 2, which reduce the roll 70% at hull speeds and drifting, it's a sportfish. These missed the mark with 2 units by over 25% roll reduction. So now you have 3 units jammed into an engine room on a boat that's under 70'. Compared to a proven set up with Seakeepers.
  13. SeaLion

    SeaLion Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2013
    Messages:
    204
    Location:
    Ft. Lauderdale
  14. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2009
    Messages:
    1,988
    Location:
    Dana Point, Ca
    Running hull #1’s and being involved in the prototype decision making, engineering and trade offs are two different things, Add customer input to a first new model and there are a lot of decisions that happen before a hull #1 comes your way.
  15. Jorge Lang

    Jorge Lang Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2003
    Messages:
    298
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    Someone should try a three ton fidget spinner going 10,000 rpm. That should work :D.
  16. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    As you should know, a lot of tweaks and changes occur between hull #1 and subsequent models based upon how it runs, rides, handles, etc. Many builders (good ones anyways) are constantly changing minor things from one hull to the next until they get it perfect in their minds.