Seakeeper gyro-stabilization on Selene 42 Voyager Sedan
The owner of Selene 42 Voyager Sedan, hull #42 under construction has specified gyro-stabilization instead of hydraulic fins. Selene will install a Seakeeper 5 designed to eliminate up to 95% of boat roll on 40’ to 49’ boats, up to 20 tons.
This Selene 42 is the second yacht of the Voyager series to be equipped with a Seakeeper gyro-stabilization unit. How does it work? Let’s listen to what Seakeeper says: « Inside a vacuum encapsulation, a flywheel spins at speeds of up to 9,700 rpm. When the boat rolls, the gyro tilts fore and aft (precesses), producing a powerful gyroscopic torque to port and starboard that counteracts the boat roll. »
UP TO 95% OF BOAT ROLL ELIMINATED
The owner is a very experienced skipper who has several ocean passages on his log-book. He owned several power boats equipped with hydraulic fins and had the opportunity to sea-trial the system already installed by Seakeeper in the United States on a sister-ship. His wife was very impressed by the efficiency of the gyro-stabilization!
The self-contained unit will be located on the port side on custom-made FRP and stainless-steel foundations as specified by the manufacturer. The control panel will be located at the helm. The unit will be energized by a Northern Light generator during the spooling phase.
The Selene engineers will also size the electrical AC/DC systems to allow for operations underway via the inverter.
TROUBLE-FREE GYRO-STABILIZATION
The main advantages of the a Seakeeper unit are the zero-speed stabilization at the anchor and no outside appendages. Furthermore, the system is designed to require as little maintenance as possible. However, since the system is comprised of mechanical and electrical components that operate in a marine environment, some periodic inspections and maintenance are recommended. As a result, we recommend an annual inspection and a 2,000 hr service interval to keep the gyro running trouble-free.