Ever try to fish from a boat rolling on choppy seas? It’s like trying to stand on a bucking broncho. It’s uncomfortable, tires you out and for the unlucky few, makes you seasick. That’s no way to enjoy a day on the water with your mates. Seakeeper was the first to change all of that. Its active gyroscopic technology offers incredible stability in an all in one package. It has revolutionised the leisure yacht and commercial marine industry and the small offshore boating scene.

But Seakeeper is only available for large, expensive fishing boats. Right?
Not anymore. Today, Seakeeper offers affordable stabilisation for smaller boats too. Here are the details.

Smaller, Lighter, More Efficient

Before last year, Seakeeper boat sizes had been limited to vessels over 30′. The new, compact Seakeeper 1 works for boats just 23–30 feet and it starts stabilising in less than 15 minutes.

You can control the Seakeeper 1 using the ConnectBox keypad on the unit itself. Or, like its larger siblings, you can control it from the helm. 

It uses a modest amount of electrical power, has no outside appendages, and you can install it virtually anywhere on your boat.

How the Seakeeper Works

The Seakeeper uses patented technology to do the job that used to require larger, bulkier mechanisms. It’s a Control Moment Gyroscope (CMG), the same type of device used for spacecraft attitude control.

CMGs were developed for large satellites like Skylab. Since then, nearly every vessel sent to space has a CMG, including the International Space Station, which uses four. 

On Seakeepers, the flywheel spins a vacuum which eliminates air friction, allowing it to spin extremely fast—5,000 to 10,700 rpm. That creates more torque in a significantly smaller package.

The torque created by the Seakeeper pushes and pulls to counteract the force of the waves. That reduces boat roll by as much as 95%.

What Makes Seakeeper Special?

Seakeeper is the first truly practical, modern, anti-roll gyroscopic stabilizer. Seakeeper reviews continually showcase how well these stabilizers work. Its startlingly good performance and easy installation truly set the Seakeeper Gyros apart. 

These don’t need to be on the centerline of the boat to work. And you can get a Seakeeper as an option on a new boat or retrofit your current vessel.

Active Control System

One popular feature is the help control that put the Seakeeper at your fingertips. The computer-controlled active control system constantly adjusts the attitude, or tilt, of the gyro. That allows it to provide full torque in a wide range of sea conditions.

Fitting Seakeeper to Smaller Boats

One question that went into the design of the newest model was how to install a Seakeeper on a smaller boat. The larger units can generally be contained in a leaning post or below deck. But smaller boats don’t always have the space to spare for the earlier models.

The newest Seakeeper 1 has a lower profile and a flush-mount design. That means it can be installed under a seat or a storage hatch. The flush-mount design and viewing window makes it sleek enough to also mount on the deck.  

Newest Seakeeper Specs

The Seakeeper 1 can eliminate up to 95% of the roll on boats with 23–30′ LOA (7-9m) or up to ~ 5.5 tons. This small-boat CMG includes some unique features, including:

• Completely contained flush mount design means no part of the sphere hangs below the point of installation, allowing for easy deck installation
• Viewing window makes Seakeeper 1 attractive and fun to show off
• Relies solely on 12 V DC power and consumes only 55 Amps
• Unique flywheel design and smaller envelope enable the Seakeeper 1 to start stabilizing in less than 15 minutes (the fastest ever)
• Completely hoseless, self-contained single-cylinder active control provides enhanced performance and reliability
• Envelope dimensions: 90” L x 23.56” W x 15.68” H (0.582m x 0.598m x 0.398m)
• Weight: 365 lbs. (165 kg)
• Rated Speed: 9,750 RPM
• Angular Momentum at Rated Speed: 1,000 N-M-S

Stability for Boats Large and Small

The Seakeeper has virtually eliminated boat roll for ocean-going fishing boats. Its innovative design makes it easy to install—even if you’re retrofitting. And now it’s available for smaller boats too.

Seakeeper cost is based on unit size: the bigger your boat, the bigger your stabilizer. Seakeeper’s largest gyroscopic stabilizer, the 35, fits boats up to 85′ plus for around $240,000. 

Outfitting a 23′ fishing boat with the smaller Seakeeper 1 costs significantly less. At under $16,000, it’s the most affordable Seakeeper yet.

An incredible invention we can’t wait to try ourselves! To learn about more exciting fishing boat innovations, check out our latest tech section here!

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