FF
Guru
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- Oct 12, 2007
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Probably the simplest way to get a sea kindly offshore vessel is to purchase a big motor sailor.
Probably the simplest way to get a sea kindly offshore vessel is to purchase a big motor sailor.
Not quite as simple to operate as active fins or gyros, but certainly the cheapest option. Backup propulsion included at no extra charge.
Hydraulic fin stabilizers get their power from a pump mounted to one of the main engines.
DC power is used to activate the solenoids. All in all I found my Naiads pretty simple to maintain, though unlike a few other owners I know who could easily DIY the whole system , I left maintenance of the seals to professionals.
I have to admit if I was spec'ing out a new, money-not-much-of-an-object boat. I'd go with Seakeepers powered by a small 2nd "night generator", due to their really superior low/no speed performance.
The gyro systems are very intriguing since you could use it at anchor. A couple of weeks ago we were in a harbor for 4 nights that would have benefited using a gyro tied up to the dock. How hard was it to modify the boat to install the Seakeeper? Which one went in your Defever? Do you mind telling us what it cost installed?
Hydraulic fin stabilizers get their power from a pump mounted to one of the main engines.
I have to admit if I was spec'ing out a new, money-not-much-of-an-object boat. I'd go with Seakeepers powered by a small 2nd "night generator", due to their really superior low/no speed performance.
On larger yachts it's the norm these days to install "zero speed" fin stabilizers. And they are operated by electric motor driven hydraulic pump.
In the hundreds of anchorages available in the PNW from Tacoma to Glacier Bay the need for zero speed stabilizers is virtually nil. In SoCal and Mexico it is a different story. I have found the East Coast a similar mixed bag with the various islands getting pretty roley.
So here is the question, why zero speed stabilizers for NA waters?
There is another trend growing too and that is installing both fin stabilizers and gyro stabilizers on larger boats, the best of both worlds available.
As to generators, there are two thoughts. One is to have the second generator about half the kw of the first one. The second is to have two equal interchangeable generators.
Growing trend? Our 1983 DeFever 44 came with two factory-installed generators, a Perkins-powered (4.108) 12.5kw Kohler and a 7.7kw Westerbeke. We use the smaller, more quiet generator for lighter loads. I like the versatility of two differently sized units, and the redundancy.
I didn't claim the generators was a growing trend, just the gyro and fin combination.
We always have had two generators and use one or both. When we did the loop, we only used one and it seemed silly to have two. However, by alternating use, at least we were able to keep hours within reason.
Ah, sorry, the written word is often misinterpreted, at least by me.
In the hundreds of anchorages available in the PNW from Tacoma to Glacier Bay the need for zero speed stabilizers is virtually nil. In SoCal and Mexico it is a different story. I have found the East Coast a similar mixed bag with the various islands getting pretty roley.
So here is the question, why zero speed stabilizers for NA waters?
Ferries going by regularly might be enough reason for zero speed from Tacoma to Glacier Bay.
Ferries going by regularly might be enough reason for zero speed from Tacoma to Glacier Bay.
Can't say ferry wakes have ever bothered us. North of Nanaimo ferries are few and far between. The worst rolly anchorage was Tribune Bay on Hornby Is when a gale 50 miles southeast blew up the Straits, creating swells like we've encountered in Hawaii.
Ferry wakes are not much of a nuisance. The bigger problem is wakes thrown by SD boats.
I'm not sure I understand your point or your question. The reason ferries are not much concern is that for the most part due to their routes they don't impact anchorages. Of course there are some exceptions. If you anchor out in Friday Harbor you will get waked by the ferries. But in my experience it is the SD boat at high speed throwing big wakes as they pass close by anchorages that are the issue.And what about the wakes when we followed in an SD in the wake of the Ferry?
I'm not sure I understand your point or your question. The reason ferries are not much concern is that for the most part due to their routes they don't impact anchorages. Of course there are some exceptions. If you anchor out in Friday Harbor you will get waked by the ferries. But in my experience it is the SD boat at high speed throwing big wakes as they pass close by anchorages that are the issue.