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A Look Inside the Seakeeper: How They Work, What They’re Made Of

May 6, 2020 By InTheBite Editor

seakeeper picture

Photo courtesy Seakeeper

By Gary Caputi

Seakeeper gyrostabilizers have revolutionized the boating industry. The story of how beneficial Seakeepers can be for those who use them has been widely told. How they are made and exactly how they work, however, is as fascinating as the results they produce.

At its most basic level, a Seakeeper works by creating torque through rapidly spinning a flywheel inside of its housing. The force of the torque is then transferred to the hull of the boat. The force of this application keeps the boat steady, even as it would otherwise roll with wave action.

Here is the expert breakdown: How Seakeepers Work Andrew Semprevivo, Seakeeper’s President and CEO, provides some context as to how Seakeeper units reduce the roll of the boat on the ocean.

“A gyroscopic stabilizer is the most unintuitive technology you could imagine, but that is the magic of it. Something so small, quiet, and completely internal of the hull is creating such a great impact,” he said as we got into the operational dynamics of the system.

Seakeeper in a center console boat

The flywheel spins up to 9,750 RPM inside the sphere. Photo courtesy Seakeeper

He explained that the concept was not new and showed me pictures of a ship with two massive ball-shaped gyros from way back in 1905. The systems fell in and out of favor in the shipping industry because they were so large and heavy, but the basic principles were the same.

A Seakeeper is composed of a heavy flywheel that spins horizontally at a high rate of speed inside of a ball-shaped housing. To achieve its desired result, a Seakeeper applies torque created by the rapid spin of the flywheel using the angular momentum. Angular momentum represents to gyroscopes the equivalent of what horsepower is for an engine.

Angular momentum is the product of the flywheel mass, flywheel diameter, and how fast the flywheel is spinning (angular velocity, technically speaking). It is the angular momentum of the unit that will determine the amount of torque available over time.

The faster the gyro tilts (precesses), the higher the peak torque that is available. Instantaneous peak torque, however, would not be the most effective use of the gyro’s angular momentum. To understand why requires a bit of a physics lesson. Ocean waves are not single bursts of energy. Rather, waves apply force to the boat sinusoidally (in a wave-like manner) over a period of three to seven seconds.

Seakeeper uses its active control system to apply the force of the gyro to the boat in the most effective way possible. Seakeepers precisely apply torque to counter the sinusoidal application
of the wave force over the course of this three to seven-second period. Simply stated, as waves try to force the boat to roll, Seakeepers apply torque precisely when it best impedes the movement.

The torque created by the flywheel tilting (precessing) fore and aft is then applied to the transverse axis of the boat to dampen movement caused by wave action. The effect of the torque applied precisely in line with the transverse axis of the boat results in the elimination of roll.

Seakeeper flywheel

A Seakeeper’s flywheel is forged of a single piece of stainless steel. Spinning at high rates of speed within the housing, the flywheel creates the unit’s torque. Photo courtesy Gary Caputi

If you’ve ever played with one of those toy gyroscopes, you’ve experienced precession. When you hold the spinning toy still you don’t feel any pressure being applied to your hand, but as soon as you begin turning it you can feel it apply force dampening against the movement.

Seakeeper has developed a sophisticated, active control system that combines motion sensors with a computer module that gauges the roll rate of the hull. The Seakeeper then uses its hydraulic braking system to dampen the precession rate and inertia generated by the spinning gyro. The effect of this system is to match the precession (tilt) of the unit to the roll rate of the boat on the waves.

The active control of precession is why you can stop the effects of the unit by locking it in a standby position, even as the flywheel is still spinning at thousands of revolutions per minute. This active control system is also why the Seakeeper can be used in any sea state, at any speed, without the need for manual adjustments. The computer automatically senses any change in conditions and instantaneously adjusts the gyro’s precession with the hydraulic brakes to optimize the torque output with every roll cycle.

How a Seakeeper is Made

The technology that goes into manufacturing a Seakeeper is nothing short of remarkable. The equipment housed in their facility and the expertise of the machinists and technicians that operate the dozens of high-tech milling, balancing and testing machines is on a level commensurate with companies in the aerospace industry building components for fighter jets and the space shuttle.

The heart of the unit is the flywheel. To spin it at such high speeds, 9,750 RPM in some models, requires machining a single massive steel forging. The gyro’s components are ground to tolerances of 1/10,000th of an inch. To put this into perspective, that is roughly 1/3 the diameter of a strand of hair. This level of minute tolerances can only be achieved in a temperature-controlled environment.

SeaKeeper Hydraulic cylinder

The hydraulic brake cylinders are essential to the active control feature. Photo courtesy Seakeeper

Even a few degrees variance can cause expansion or contraction which could alter vital component fit. There are very few “off the shelf” parts available for such an intricate build. The ceramic bearings the flywheel spins on are purpose-built for Seakeeper. Even the lubricants require special properties, so they won’t disperse while operating in a vacuum. The balancing of the flywheel is critical, so the units run smoothly and do not impart vibrations to the boat.

The precision involved became evident when I placed my hand on the flywheel housing of a Seakeeper 26 spinning at 5,000 RPM on a test platform. The movement was almost imperceptible and it was so quiet I had to be told it was actually running. Now that’s precision!

When Seakeeper first went into production almost every component was machined in house. As unit production increased, the company has contracted specialty manufacturers to cast and perform initial machining of certain parts and subassemblies. Today, all of the finishing and assembly is carried out in house to maintain the critical tolerances required and assure overall quality control.

Once the flywheel and housing are complete, the assembly process begins with the installation of the ceramic bearings and the proprietary glycol cooling system components. The housing, consisting of two halves, is reassembled with the flywheel in place. The unit then moves to a test platform where the flywheel is spooled up for an initial run-in period. This ramp up period is critical to evenly dispersing the special bearing grease.

The entire assembly undergoes a second balancing process that uses laser measuring devices to detect even minute vibrations. The housing is then fully sealed and the air is removed, creating a vacuum. The unit is pumped down to zero torr, then backfilled to 10 torr of helium (a Torr is a unit of measure that describes pressure).

Seakeeper units are filled with helium because of its thermal conductivity properties. Together these processes—run-in, creating the vacuum, and baking out the excess grease—take upwards of ten
hours to complete on each unit. That doesn’t even include machining, assembly, or testing.

two men looking at Seakeeper being tested

Seakeepers undergo extensive testing prior to shipment. Photo courtesy Gary Caputi

Upon assembly and testing, the flywheel enclosure is mated to the unit frame and the final assembly process is underway. This stage includes the assembly and integration of the hydraulic brake, motor drive, computer control box, cooling system and wiring harnesses.

The finished Seakeeper then undergoes a series of grueling quality control tests. These tests, designed to measure the unit’s response and effectiveness, include a five-hour stint on a hydraulic tilt table that simulates real world, on board operation. Only after satisfying all of these requirements is a finished Seakeeper crated and prepped for shipping.

The Line Up

With the introduction of the diminutive Seakeeper 1, Seakeeper now offers 10 models that cover the recreational boat market from 23-feet to greater than 85-feet with displacements up to 100 tons. Larger vessels, and those without space for one unit, can be accommodated with multi-unit installations.

Each unit is designed to provide the ideal amount of angular momentum at the rated RPM to impart the necessary torque required to arrest roll for the prescribed vessel size range. All Seakeeper units are designed to reduce vessel roll by up to 95 percent.

The Seakeeper 1, launched in February of 2020, is designed for boats from 20 to 23 feet in length with displacements of up to 5.5 tons. tons. At just 365 lbs., the new Seakeeper 1 features a flush
mount design for easier installation, runs exclusively on 12V DC power, and can be installed virtually anywhere on board.

Do you have any comments or questions for us? We’d love to hear from you.

Filed Under: Auxiliary, Equipment, Featured Stories, General News, News Tagged With: How it works, Seakeeper, seakeeper 3, Seakeeper Gyro

A Guide to the Seakeeper 1

February 19, 2020 By InTheBite Editor

We head out on the water to test the new Seakeeper 1 at the Miami International Boat Show. The new Seakeeper 1, designed to eliminate boat roll, features a flush-mount design and runs exclusively on 12V DC power. The price point of the unit  is $14,900 plus installation and it weighs 365 pounds.

The Seakeeper tested was outfitted to a Sea Hunt 27.

Filed Under: Auxiliary, Dock Talk, Equipment, Featured Stories, News Tagged With: boat roll, boat stabilization, Miami Boat Show, Seakeeper, seakeeper 1

The Seakeeper 2 Wins 2019 Edison Award in Transportation Technology Category

April 8, 2019 By InTheBite Editor

Seakeeper 2 Earns Gold Designation in Transportation Technology Category

CALIFORNIA, Md. (April 5, 2019) – Seakeeper, Inc., the leader in marine stabilization, received an Edison Award at last night’s Awards Gala for the Seakeeper 2.

The Edison Awards honor excellence in new product and service development, marketing, human-centered design and innovation. The Seakeeper 2 was chosen as a finalist in the Transportation Technology category earlier in the year and last night received a gold award, the highest available. Products were judged on their concept, value, delivery and impact and finalists were chosen by a steering committee and small group of industry experts where necessary. The finalists were then submitted to a panel of more than 3,000 judges comprised of senior business executives and academics who then cast ballots for gold, silver and bronze winners.

“We’ve been relentless at working to change a fundamental human experience by making boating more accessible and enjoyable for everyone, and the introduction of our smallest product, the Seakeeper 2, is a huge step in realizing that mission,” said Seakeeper President & CEO Andrew Semprevivo. “We’ve been pushing ourselves every day for 11 years to bring our best innovations to market, and we’re honored to be recognized as a leader and proud to stand next to the other incredible Edison Awards winners this year.”

The award was presented at the Edison Awards’ annual black-tie event at the New York Academy of Sciences in New York, NY. Events earlier in the day included a Meet the Innovators Forum and an Innovators’ Showcase where participating companies had the opportunity to connect with other finalists and innovators and share their product.

Filed Under: Featured Stories, General News, News, Press Releases Tagged With: boat electronics, boating, category, ceremony, edison award, fishing, Florida, gala, innovation, InTheBite, magazine, marine, new york, products, Seakeeper, seakeeper 2, sportfish, sportfishing, stabilization, technology, transportation

Latest Launch: Winter Custom Yachts Hull 25

February 5, 2019 By InTheBite Editor

The latest launch for Winter Custom Yachts is a 46-foot walkaround. Hull no. 25 features a contoured deck that matches the sheer line offering 25 inches of freeboard from stem to stern. In the cockpit this boat features teak covering boards, decking, furniture and toe rail. The typical transom kill box has been plumbed for baitwell and insulated fish box. An in-deck fish box offers fish storage when using the transom bait well. The large helm station offers room for two 19” displays and accompanying equipment. The teak helm pod houses the palm beach controls with integrated bow thruster controls. The interior has a large galley, Subzero refrigeration, and abundant storage throughout. Twin bunks forward offer sleeping arrangements for overnight trips. The boat’s twin Caterpillar C12.9 1,000 horse power engines will push the boat to a cruise speed of 34 knots and a top end of 42 knots. Power generation is supplied from a single 17kW Northern Lights generator to the vessel’s systems including water maker, ice machine, refrigeration, and Seakeeper Gyro.

SPECIFICATIONS:

LOA: 46’1”

Beam: 14’11”

Draft: 38”

Fuel: 850 gal.

Water: 150 gal.

Weight fully loaded: 35,000 lb

Filed Under: Featured Stories, General News, News, Splash Reports Tagged With: billfishing, custom boat, furnish, hull 25, InTheBite, magazine, New, Northern Lights, Seakeeper, specifications, Splash report, sportfish, sportfishing, subzero fridge, Teak, walkaround, winter custom yachts

Bayliss Gameboat 62′ – “Gypsea” In Development

January 24, 2019 By InTheBite Editor

Bayliss Boatworks is building another 62’ GameBoat, Gypsea. Begun in October of 2018, this project is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2020. She is designed for extended travel and exploration of remote billfish hotspots.

Gypsea is constructed with a custom layout consisting of three staterooms, two heads and a tackle room. The salon level will feature two sofas with easily accessible storage underneath, while the forward galley holds opposing bar tops located aft of the forward galley. Three Sub Zero drawer refrigerators, a four-burner Wolf induction cooktop with down-draft, and a Viking microwave round out the galley appliances.

The lower accommodations are drawn to include a day head and shower located at the base of the companionway steps. A full tackle room with a heavy-duty freezer, rod storage and a stacked washer/dryer will sit across from the day head. Gypsea features a forward master stateroom, with two extra-large bunks on each side, an en-suite head, and storage lockers. Two additional staterooms with upper/lower bunks will be located just aft of the master.

The cockpit is built to be clean and efficient, crafted around Benjamin Franklin’s quote, “a place for everything and everything in its place.” Custom Bayliss Boatworks stainless steel refrigerator boxes will be an integral part of the mezzanine layout. Gaff storage will be hidden, yet easily accessed. All of the essentials will be housed in the custom tackle lockers, located at port and starboard. Grain and color matched teak planking, as well as teak coverboards and coaming, will detail the fishing workspace.

Gypsea will be delivered with a Palm Beach Towers hardtop, extra-large center console on the bridge, white forward cabin windshield and faux teak accents.

Since all Bayliss builds are designed to travel, Gypsea’s mechanical and electrical systems are engineered to be bulletproof and faultless. The engine room and all machinery locations are incredibly accessible and designed for easy maintenance. Each vessel’s air conditioning is provided by a Dometic chilled water A/C system to reduce maintenance intervals and efficiently deliver cool air.

Specifications

Length: 62’9”

Beam: 18’2”

Draft: 5’3”

Fuel: 1,850 gallons

Water: 250 gallons

Power: (2) MAN 12V’s @ 1550 hp each

Genset: (2) Northern Lights 25kw

Stabilization: Seakeeper 9

Bayliss Boatworks has been building custom sportfishing yachts in Wanchese since 2002. Four builds are in progress at the company’s facility in Wanchese, including a Bayliss 75’, a 78-footer named Blue View, and two 62’ GameBoats – Gypsea and Tarheel.

For more information on Gypsea and all other builds, past and present, visit our website.
www.baylissboatworks.com

Filed Under: Featured Stories, General News, News, Splash Reports Tagged With: bayliss boat works, blue view, engines, gameboat 62, gypsea, InTheBite, lifestyle, magazine, MAN, new boats, Northern Lights, Seakeeper, Splash report, sportfish, sportfishing, tarheel, tournamnets

InTheBite Dock Talk: “Shoe” 75 Spencer

September 13, 2018 By InTheBite Editor

Captain Devin Silas hosts a walk through of the new 75 Spencer, Shoe. Equal parts work of art and high performance fishing machine, the Shoe is highly customized for comfort, class and fishability. With a fuel capacity of 5,000 gallons and a top speed of 45 knots, she is a sight to behold.

Filed Under: Dock Talk, Featured Stories, General News, News, Splash Reports Tagged With: 75 spencer, cabo, custom boats, Dock Talk, Florida, garmine, InTheBite, MTU Engines, Seakeeper, shoe, Spencer Yachts, sportfishing

Bayliss GameBoat 62’ “Tarheel” In Production

July 5, 2018 By InTheBite Editor

Bayliss Boatworks is building a new GameBoat, sized at 62’ and named Tarheel. This build began in March of 2018.

Tarheel features the V.2 GameBoat layout – a healthy synergy of the first two GameBoats built by Bayliss; she combines the practicality of Mama C with the custom lower level layout of GameChanger. Bayliss Boatworks’ first demo boat, she will be fished heavily on the east coast tournament circuit and will eventually wind up in Costa Rica.

Exterior features include a variety of faux teak components, including a faux teak toe rail transom and drip molding. She will have a sleek profile, hard top, and white windshield. It’s all about symmetry on Tarheel: the flybridge will have the classic center console arrangement. A center door will orient the salon, and two peninsula cabinets will be featured in the galley for refrigeration and storage.

The lower level will be comprised of a simple three stateroom/two-head layout, along with an easily accessible dayhead and tackle room, each situated just off the main companionway. Systems will include two 20 kw Northern Lights generators, an FCI 1,800 gallon per day watermaker, and a Dometic Chilled Water A/C system (now standard on all Bayliss builds).

Specifications

Length: 62’

Beam: 18’ 2”

Draft: 4’ 8”

Fuel: 1,850 gallons

Water: 300 gallons

Power: Twin MTU M96L 10V @ 1600 hp each

Stabilization: Seakeeper 9

Tarheel will deliver in summer of 2019. Bayliss Boatworks has been building custom sportfishing yachts in Wanchese since 2002. Four builds are in progress at the company’s facility in Wanchese, including a Bayliss 75’, a 78-footer named Blue View, and two 62’ GameBoats – GameChanger and Tarheel.

For more information on Tarheel and all other builds, past and present, visit www.baylissboatworks.com

Filed Under: Featured Stories, General News, News, Press Releases, Splash Reports Tagged With: 62, Bayliss Boatworks, Costa Rica, gameboat, InTheBite, MTU, new boats, Seakeeper, Splash report, sportfish, sportfishing, tarheel

New Bayliss 62′ GameChanger – In Production

March 1, 2018 By InTheBite Editor

GameChanger – Bayliss GameBoat 62’ In Production


Bayliss Boatworks is building a second GameBoat, sized at 62’ and named GameChanger. This new project began in the spring of 2017.

Exterior features include a variety of faux teak components, including a faux teak toe rail, transom and drip molding. GameChanger will be fished far and wide, a welcome addition to an already-robust fishing program. The interior is a simple three stateroom/two-head layout; the lower level lends itself well to a focused fishing program with an easily accessible dayhead and extremely spacious tackle room, each situated just off the main companionway.

Systems will include one 20 kw Northern Lights generator, a Seakeeper 16, two 1,000 pound-per-day icemakers, a 1,200 gallon-per-day water maker, and plenty more.

GameBoat 62’ will deliver in late 2018.

LOA: 62’
Beam: 18’ 2”
Draft: 5’ 1”
Displacement:
Fuel: 1,500 gal.
Water: 250 gal.
Power: Twin MTU M96L V12 @ 1920 hp each

Filed Under: Featured Stories, General News, News, Press Releases, Splash Reports Tagged With: Bayliss Boatworks, boat peformance, InTheBite, new boats, Northern Lights generator, Seakeeper, sportfishing

Opinion– Perspectives on the Seakeeper

October 26, 2016 By InTheBite Editor

seakeeper-title-graphic

Elliott Stark
Editor-in-Chief, InTheBite Magazine

Seakeeper Gyrostabilizers are revolutionary. There are many products that [Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured Stories, General News, News Tagged With: Captain Joey Belton, Gyrostabilizers, Inthebite magazine, Seakeeper

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