Seakeeper: A new technology that doesn't let the boat capsize
Seakeeper is a computer-controlled gyroscope that eliminates up to 95 percent of boat roll (the side-to-side motion) and can help reduce seasickness, fatigue, and anxiety some people experience while on board.
Startups
Highlights
- Seakeeper weighs 2-4 percent of the boat’s weight and comes with simple installation
- It can be installed anywhere, even off-centerline and below the deck
Have you ever been at sea, stuck in the middle of a ravaging storm with buffeting winds and you start feeling that your boat would capsize? What if we told you there is a technology that can stop the ship from rolling over?
Seakeeper is a computer-controlled gyroscope that eliminates up to 95 percent of boat roll (the side-to-side motion) and can help reduce seasickness, fatigue, and anxiety some people experience while on board. It is lightweight, usually 2-4 percent of the weight of the boat.
In particular sea conditions, the Seakeeper 9 eliminated 83% of the roll at the vessel's natural roll period. Watch the trial at: https://t.co/PN12qITySa
— Seakeeper UAE (@SeakeeperUAE) May 25, 2022
.#boat #boating #yachtinglife #luxuryyacht #yacht #yachtlife #boatlife #marinelife #landscape #beach pic.twitter.com/Mv6CCs7J1e
According to the creators, the product works by using a steel flywheel that spins inside a vacuum-enclosed sphere at up to 9,750 revolutions per minute. If your boat rolls, Seakeeper detects the tilt backwards and forwards. The device counteracts any boat roll by producing a torque port and starboard to keep the boat stable.
A little about Seakeeper
In 2001 Shep McKenney and John Adams, marine industry veterans agreed to begin the development of a practical and modern gyro stabiliser. In 2006 they installed their first-ever prototype on a 43’ Viking. Later in 2008 ‘Seakeeper’ was officially formed and launched its first gyroscopic stabiliser – The M7000.
Seakeeper acquired its first manufacturing partner ‘Joma Machine Company and Mohnton’, a Pennsylvania facility which remained home to Seakeeper’s assembly and development teams until 2022. In 2018 Seakeepers was acquired by Madison Industries.
How does it work?
This gyroscope is simple to install and is meticulously designed as every part of the Seakeeper is engineered with precision to provide an extremely powerful and magical experience. Let us now understand some of the engineering marvels coming together to form this gyroscope and provide a magical and powerful experience.
The Flywheel
The Flywheel is a mechanical device that uses conservation of angular momentum to store rotational energy. The Flywheel spins up to 9,700 RPM generating enough force to stop a boat from rolling.
Vacuum sealed
Seakeeper’s vacuum encapsulation enables the flywheel to spin roughly three times faster, cuts flywheel weight by two-thirds, and halves power requirements. Because the critical components(flywheel, bearing, and motors) are sealed in a vacuum, they are isolated from the marine environment.
Cooling system
Seakeeper’s patented cooling system removes heat from within the vacuum enclosure and dissipates it through a glycol/seawater combination. This enables the flywheel to spin at an extremely high rate of speed, providing ultimate performance in the smallest and lightest package possible.
Active control
Seakeeper’s active control works as smart technology, automatically gauging the sea state and reacting instantaneously. This allows for optimal performance at all speeds and sea conditions.
Simple Install
Can be installed anywhere, even off centerline and below deck.
Seakeeper is revolutionalising boating, but it will cost you
If you want a Seakeeper for your boat, whether it's for fun or business, you'll have to pay a lot. The company makes different models for different sizes of boats. The smallest one costs at least $14,000 and the biggest one goes up to almost $250,000 for boats over 85 feet long.
Adding a Seakeeper to your vessel ups its resale value as well. The device comes with a standard two-year warranty and also can be extended. Notably the best extended warranty covers five years and 6000 hours, but it’ll cost you nearly $11,000.
There are ten Seakeepers products listed on their website where ‘Seakeeper 1’(165kg) being the cheapest pricing at $16,500 without installation while ‘Seakeeper 35’(1,778kg) is the most expensive, costing $309,300 not including installation in their product line.
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