gyro stabilizer for sailboat

SEAKEEPER PRICE LIST AND INSTALLATION COST GUIDE

Welcome to Tri Sea Stabilizers, here you can view our Seakeeper price list as well as Seakeeper installation cost. If you have any questions, please call us on (833) 874-4976 for more information.

Seakeeper Price List

How much is a Seakeeper from Tri Sea Stabilizers? Depending on which model you need for your vessel, the 2023 Seakeeper unit price can retail for anywhere from $16,500 to $309,300. Below is the most current Seakeeper stabilizer price list. Please note that Seakeeper prices are independent of the cost of Seakeeper installation. You can either click on a specific unit to find the cost of both the unit and installation together, or scroll down for more information.

Seakeeper installation cost guide

* Prices are averages only and do not include taxes, shipping, or any other vessel-specific work or yard fees. The final price will be determined after a site visit and can differ by location.

How much is a Seakeeper with installation?

The cost of installing a Seakeeper stabilizer in your boat or yacht, is relative to the individual Seakeeper unit that is sized with an individual vessel for optimal stability. The attached prices include not only the msrp but the average installation price for each individual Seakeeper unit.

These prices are calculated from our years of installations and experience of over 600 installations as of 2022. Please remember that these averages will not include applicable taxes, shipping, travel or yard costs, which will differ from State to state/location to location.

how much does a seakeeper cost for my specific boat?

See the table on this page to match the Seakeeper cost of installation for specific boat types to the table above.

Questions on our Seakeeper cost estimates?

If you have questions on a specific Seakeeper gyro stabilizers price of installation, information for your vessel or Seakeeper service questions, please reach out to your nearest Tri Sea Seakeeper dealer by calling (833) TRI- GYRO or shooting us an email at [email protected] and someone will reach out to you directly! There is also a handy PDF for you to download below which will help to answer any of your questions.

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Fins vs. Gyro Stabilizers: 13 Questions Answered

Author: Conrad Taylor / Wednesday, March 18, 2020 / Categories: Stabilizers

Imtra product expert Prentice Weathers answers common questions that highlight the differences between fin and gyroscopic stabilization for boats.

Most owners want to reduce the motion that makes people seasick on their boat, and many have heard about stabilization systems provided by fin stabilizers and gyros . But which is better? And specifically, how do advanced curved-fin systems like Sleipner Vector Fins  match up with the most popular gyro systems? Let’s start with the basics and go from there.

What are the six degrees of freedom of a boat?

There are six motions a boat can make and some are more likely than others to make people seasick. Imagine drawing a line down the middle of the boat from bow to stern and another line from side to side, and finally a third line straight up from the center of the boat. The boat can move up and down, side to side, and forward and aft in the direction of each axis. It can also swing or rotate on each axis. Two motions per axis equals six motions total: surge, roll, pitch, sway, heave, and yaw.

Which boat motions most commonly make people seasick?

While all of the above boat motions can cause seasickness, the roll is the most significant factor, which probably won’t surprise anyone who’s spent much time in a boat. Another big factor is sway, the side-to-side motion. You don’t notice sway so much; it can be subtle, but it can really affect people. It’s not so much the degree of motion—how many degrees the boat rolls or how many feet (or meters) it moves in sway— that affects seasickness, but the combination of angle, frequency and acceleration of that movement. If you can reduce the degree and acceleration of the roll, you can go a long way towards reducing the incidence of seasickness.

What other factors affect how quick or sudden the motion of the boat is?

The hull design – combined with the wave’s size, shape and time between waves (frequency) – makes a big difference in how a boat feels and behaves. For example, a narrow, round-bottom boat (e.g. a sailboat) and a wide, flat-bottom boat (e.g. a powerboat) behave quite differently. You might think the flat-bottom boat would be more stable, and in smooth water, it is, but that also means it will hug the surface of the wave more readily in longer waves and that makes it harder to stabilize.

By comparison, the narrower, rounder shape typically will be easier to stabilize. Note these are general rules, and the bottom line is that the boat will roll the most when the natural roll period of the boat is equal to the roll period of the wave. In this scenario, the momentum of the rolling boat causes it to continue to roll even as the wave passes, thus creating the greatest degree of roll. Eventually, the boat will stabilize somewhat until the cycle starts anew.

Which boat motions can gyros and fin stabilizers counteract?

No stabilizer system will counteract some of these motions, particularly heave and to an extent, pitch. But Vector Fins in particular can make a big difference in yaw, roll and sway, which is good, since those last two are the two motions most likely to cause seasickness. Because gyros do not have an appendage in the water, they do not influence sway and yaw.

What is a boat gyro stabilizer and how does it work?

The gyro stabilizer is essentially a large, heavy spinning disc, turning at very high RPMs, sort of like a throwing wheel used to make a clay pot. As the boat rolls, the spinning wheel will naturally angles forward or aft, imparting a force on the hull in opposition to the roll. As a series of waves try to roll the boat, the gyro constantly tilts forward or aft, within the limits of the hydraulic cylinders controlling it. This “precession” of the gyro is governed by software that senses the motion of the hull and controls the rate of precession to avoid jerky, unnatural, and uncomfortable motion.

What are fin stabilizers and how do they work?

Think of an airplane, which you can bank by changing the air flow over the ailerons (trailing-edge flaps) on the plane’s wings and tail. Fin stabilizers use water flow in a similar way, causing a boat to “bank.” If the boat rolls in one direction, we angle the fins to generate an opposing force. If you have ever stuck your arm out of the car window on the highway, you know that angling your flat hand will cause your arm to go up or down depending on which direction you rotate your hand. The fins moving through the water basically create the same effect. When the boat is not moving, there’s no water flow across the fins, so motion is created by moving the fins rapidly side-to-side like a hovering fish. By creating a force in opposition to the boat’s roll, the boat will stabilize.

What motions impact the effectiveness of boat stabilization systems?

The frequency of the wave makes the most difference—that’s the time from the top of one wave to the top of the next. There is also something called the “roll period” of the boat. This is the time it takes for a boat to roll to one side, then the other, and then back to the center. A 3.5- to 4-second roll period is what people are most sensitive to in terms of motion sickness. It also happens to be the natural roll period of most motor yachts in the range of about 55 to 90 feet, so stabilizers become particularly useful on these yachts. Of course, stabilizers will control unwanted boat roll on any size boat.

Do gyro and fin stabilizers work better when a boat is at-anchor or underway?   

When a boat is at-anchor or underway, both systems will improve stability in both situations if sized properly. Fin stabilizers work best when the boat is moving, but bigger fins are needed for optimum at-rest performance than for underway performance. That’s a trade-off that may lead to different decisions, depending on how a boat will be used. Gyros, on the other hand, work best when the boat is stationary, or moving at slow speeds; larger gyros are needed to provide good stabilization when the boat is underway. This also requires analysis of how the boat will be used and when the best performance is most important.

The fundamental difference between the two systems is that fins generate greater and greater force as the rate of water flow increases (i.e., the faster the boat is going). This force increases exponentially with speed, which is a massive advantage compared to gyros. A gyro system generates the same amount of force, no matter what speed the boat is moving, so it is less effective the faster you go.

When a boat is planing, it is hardest to stabilize; the boat becomes more rigid on a plane, so it wants to assume the angle of the wave. That is, it wants to roll with the wave. Due to the tremendous force generated by the foils at speed, here’s where you can take the greatest advantage of the fins’ underway capabilities—and in particular the advanced shape of  Sleipner Vector fin stabilizers . The fins have more power to stabilize the boat exactly when the boat is hardest to stabilize, and as an added benefit, will counteract list from cross winds or weight distribution. Conversely, as mentioned above, a gyro’s force remains constant, restricted by the size and speed of the gyro flywheel, and it can’t correct for list.

In what special applications do gyros or fin stabilizers excel?

Gyros are often chosen for sportfish boats, especially on the East Coast where captains often back down really hard when a fish is on the line, and may also use thrusters to keep their position relative to the fish. The fin stabilizers need to center and be parallel to the keel when backing down. Reversing also generates a lot of cavitation and may damage the back of a fin after prolonged exposure. When backing down normally for docking or maneuvering, fins center quickly and there’s no issue.

On the West Coast, captains tend to fish differently and don’t seem to have this problem. On a workboat with nets, an appendage also may be less desirable.

What data is available on the effectiveness of Vector Fin and gyro stabilizer systems?

Before you buy Vector Fins or a gyro system , product manufacturers can take detailed boat-model data and simulate how the boat will respond in different sea conditions. You can model the roll of the boat and how different size fins or gyros will reduce the motion on a percentage basis, which enables decisions to be made about the best size to put on a given boat. It’s important to remember that not all waves are the same and over a period of time, there will not only be different sizes but different periods, which will amplify and reduce roll naturally. Stabilizer manufacturers can graph the effect of a series of variable-sized waves over time, with and without their system running, and then superimpose the two graphs to show the improvement. As an example, if you graph the motion over 10 minutes, there will be times when a stabilizing system may reduce the motion by, say, 92 percent and other times by less, say, 80 percent. It’s important to ask for the full graph, not a small segment of it, so you can see the true effectiveness over time. Below is an example from Side-Power simulating a Princess 72 with and without Vector Fins.

What are the pros and cons of gyro stabilizer systems?

Gyros have no appendage, they are relatively small and compact, and they are well-engineered to minimize the intense heat generated on the bearings by the spinning mass. Gyros come in an attractive package and work well in many circumstances.

Disadvantages of the gyro systems are that they are less effective underway, are heavy, and in some cases servicing requires removing the unit from the boat. For a 30-knot boat, a gyro has to be much bigger–perhaps bigger than space allows–to equal Vector Fins’ performance, so sometimes two or three gyros will be installed. The systems can take up to an hour to “spin up” before they provide full stabilization, also generate noise, may require structural reinforcement, and with few exceptions are wholly dependent on AC power off a generator. In certain sea conditions, their effectiveness is also limited by stroke or precession distance, and when it’s time to replace the main bearings, most gyros must be removed from the boat and returned to the factory for service.

What are the pros and cons of Side-Power Vector Fin stabilizers?

The advantages of Vector Fin stabilizers include the fact that their power increases with speed exponentially and that they generate lift as well as stability, which negates the effect of drag (unlike straight fins). Vector Fins also provide both at-rest and underway stabilization, allow you to bank into turns, and reduce unwanted motions of sway and yaw by up to 30 to 50 percent compared to straight fins. They counteract crosswinds and list, are lighter than gyros by thousands of pounds (depending on size), and allow maintenance of bearings and cylinders to be done in place.

Those stabilizers using hydraulic power can typically use a PTO (power take-off) hydraulic pump on the boat’s engine to get free power underway (it uses AC from a genset or shorepower at rest). An accumulator in the system means less noise and instant response. In fact, the system is virtually silent. The stabilizing force of Vector Fins is directed more vertically than straight fins, increasing efficiency and lift; you can therefore use smaller fins for the same power or larger fins to gain 30 to 50 percent more power than straight fins.

Disadvantages of all fins include the fact that they are appendages and can therefore cause entanglement or be damaged. They create drag, which may be offset by gains in fuel efficiency and speed in the case of Vector Fins. They can also cause sway and yaw, and at anchor they are limited by the length of the fin’s stroke. Also, they need to be positioned roughly in the middle of the boat so when retrofitting an older boat this may sometimes pose a challenge. Their location also requires ample structure and support for the loads generated.

Broadly speaking, what is the price difference between fin vs. gyro boat stabilizers?

A detailed analysis of expectations, requirements, and each boat’s suitability should be undertaken by the yard doing the work, but all else being equal, Vector Fins may be equal to or possibly a little less than a gyro installation. There are many factors that will dictate higher and lower costs—for example structural refits needed to add a gyro sometimes make a big difference. Another question is whether there is space to install either system, and/or what existing equipment will need to be moved in order to create the space for an installation.

The biggest variable in our experience is the owner’s expectations. What’s most important? Stabilization at any speed, or optimizing for at-rest performance? If at-rest stabilization is the priority, a smaller gyro will cost less than one that is two or three times the size, which may be what is required for any-speed stabilization. For any-speed stabilization, the equipment cost of a  Sleipner Vector Fin system  would be significantly less than a gyro system.

To learn more, check out the full Sleipner Vector Fin offering by downloading the catalog ! And for more information on the boat stabilizers we have to offer here at Imtra, be sure to contact us today to speak with a member of our team.

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Explaining the key differences between curved-fin and straight-fin stabilizers for yachts.

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Seakeeper 3

The Seakeeper 3 (SK3) is specifically designed to eliminate roll on boats 36-39 feet. Refits have never been easier than with the SK3’s leaning post installation option.

Is the Seakeeper 3 for you?

Look inside exceptional..

• Max Rated Speed 8,450 RPM
• Angular Momentum at Max Rated RPM 3,000 N-M-S
• Max Anti-rolling Torque at Max Rated RPM 7,853 N-M
• Spool-up Time to Max Rated RPM 50 minutes (8,450 RPM)
• Spool-up Time to Stabilization 29 minutes (6,337 RPM)
• Spool-Up Power 900 Watts Max @ 12 VDC
• Spool-Up Power Input 85 Amps Max
• Operating Power 400 - 900 Watts (Sea State Dependent)
• DC Power Input 12 VDC @ 30-85 Amps
• Control Power 125 Watts
• Control Power Input 12 VDC @ 15 Amps Max
• Seawater Pump Power Input 12 VDC @ 15 Amps Max
• Weight 550 lbs (249 kg)
• Envelope Dimensions 26.8 L x 27.0 W x 23.1 H (inches) 0.680 L x 0.688 W x 0.587 H (meters)
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• Seawater Supply to Heat Exchanger 2 GPM (7.6 LPM) minimum 6 GPM (22.7 LPM) maximum
• Ambient Air Temperature 32° - 140° F (0° - 60° C)

Active Control

Seakeeper gyro stabilizers use smart technology to actively sense the sea state and instantaneously react for optimal performance at all speeds and sea conditions.

Vacuum Sealed

Seakeeper’s vacuum encapsulation not only protects its critical components from the harsh marine environment, but also cuts flywheel weight by two-thirds and halves power draw.

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Seakeeper’s new user-friendly dash display makes stabilization simple. Now, you can integrate your existing dash units, and control your Seakeeper with ease.

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We are not your average Seakeeper dealer. Starboard Yacht Group is a leading Seakeeper service provider in Fort Lauderdale, FL. No matter the size or model of your boat, Starboard Yacht has the expertise to transform your experience with every Seakeeper in the recreational line.

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Seakeeper gyro stabilizers have been successfully installed in over 15,000 vessels to date. We have the hard predictive and performance data to determine which Seakeeper installation is best for you based upon your vessel’s length and beam size.

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Less Motion. More Ocean.

gyro stabilizer

Gyro stabilizers that significantly reduces the possibility of sea sickness

Vessels from 50 – 3000 tonnes.

The World’s Most Powerful Gyroscopic Stabilizers

Wave motion is one of the few external forces which has the capacity to negatively impact your time on board a superyacht, reduce the operating envelope and profits for offshore vessels and decrease crew performance regardless of the size of the vessel. The VEEM Marine Gyro stabilizer offer up to 95% roll reduction in rough sea conditions for vessels up to 3000 tonnes. They are designed and manufactured to absolute perfection and guarantee you less motion, and more ocean onboard.

View the VEEM Marine Gyro stabilizer Range > 

Up to 95% roll reduction

Torque value, extremely quiet.

Find the right VEEM Marine Gyrostabilizer for your Vessel.

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Suitable for vessels 65' - 90' Angular momentum: 52 [kN.m.s] Rated Stabilizing Torque: 120 [kN.m] 1.7m x 1.6m x 1.2m

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Suitable for vessels 90' - 120' Angular momentum: 70 [kN.m.s] Rated Stabilizing Torque: 145 [kN.m] 1.7m x 1.6m x 1.2m

Suitable for vessels 110' - 135' Angular momentum: 100 [kN.m.s] Rated Stabilizing Torque: 260 [kN.m] 2.1m  x 2.1m x 1.6m

Suitable for vessels 130' - 165' Angular momentum: 140 [kN.m.s] Rated Stabilizing Torque: 260 [kN.m] 2.1m x 2.1m x 1.6m

Suitable for vessels 130' - 250'+ Angular momentum: 520 [kN.m.s] Rated Stabilizing Torque: 1000 [kN.m] 3.4m x 3.1m x 2.5m

Suitable for vessels 165' - 300'+ Angular momentum: 750 [kN.m.s] Rated Stabilizing Torque: 1000 [kN.m] 3.4m x 3.1m x 2.5m

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Gyro Stabilizer for Boats

• By Karl Anderson
• Updated: November 13, 2019

Perhaps three of the biggest features in the history of the sport-fishing boat — besides hull design — are the flying bridge, tuna tower and mezzanine. But now, a fourth is changing the game: gyro stabilization. If builders want to sell a new boat these days, they’d better darn sure plan on installing a gyro. Different-sized boats can handle gyros, including stabilizers for small boats.

History of Gyro Stabilizers

The first experimental gyros were developed in the late 1860s and into the early 1900s, with less than desirable results. Several large ships used the technology, including USS Henderson, a military transport ship, in 1917, which had two 25-ton units, and an Italian cruise liner utilized three large units in 1930. The cost and weight of the systems were prohibitive, and other forms of stabilization became more readily available. External fin stabilization, which used the speed of the vessel to help create anti-roll stabilization, became more popular, but by no means more practical — ­especially in sport-fishers.

How Does a Gyro Stabilizer Work?

The gyro stabilizes the boat through the energy it creates spinning a flywheel at high revolutions per minute. The subsequent angular momentum, or stabilizing power, is determined by the weight, diameter and RPM of the flywheel and measured in Newton meters — a unit of torque. The output rating in Newton meters is the amount of power the unit is capable of generating to stabilize the boat. The more output, the more anti-rolling torque generated by the gyro to stabilize the boat.

Seakeeper Continues to Expand Its Product Line

Several companies make gyros for sport-fishing boats, and they have units to fit almost any application in the sport-fishing industry. Seakeeper, the fastest-growing brand, offers units for practically every size sport-fishing boat made today. In a 10-year period, it not only created demand in the new-boat market but retrofit all kinds of boats.

An aggressive new period of product development advanced technological qualities as well as reduced the overall size of each unit and reduced costs. The company’s latest offerings include the Seakeeper 2 for boats 27 to 32, Seakeeper 3 for the boats 30 to 39 feet, Seakeeper 5 for boats 40 to 45 feet and up to 20 tons, the Seakeeper 6 for boats 46 to 52 feet and up to 24 tons, the Seakeeper 9 for 50- to 59-footers up to 30 tons, the Seakeeper 16 for 65- to 69-foot boats up to 50 tons, the Seakeeper 18 for boats 65 to 75 feet and up to 56 tons, the Seakeeper 26 for boats from 70 to 84 feet and up to 75 tons, and the Seakeeper 35 for vessels over 85 feet and 100 tons. The additional compact designs allow for multiple-unit installation to meet tonnage requirements and space limitations of most boats, and they can also be mounted off the centerline to fit a variety of applications.

Perhaps the most exciting is Seakeeper’s Heavy Duty Line, engineered for rigorous use of more than 1,000 hours per year. The Heavy Duty Line includes the Seakeeper 7HD for boat 45 to 54 feet, Seakeeper 12HD for boats 55 to 64 feet, Seakeeper 20HD for boats 65 to 74 feet, and Seakeeper 30 HD for boats over 75 feet.

Seakeeper does require a raw-water cooling system for its units, as well as DC power and AC power through an inverter to power the controls.

Mitsubishi Gyro Stabilizer

Mitsubishi also designed anti-roll gyros for the sport-fishing market. Now called the Tohmei Anti Rolling Gyro stabilizer, manufactured by Mohmei, its unit only require bolting to the boat and plugging in. Its unit is completely self-contained, with no external moving parts and no need for raw-water cooling. Tohmei Anti Rolling Gyros come in four models: the ARG50T/65T, the ARG175T, the ARG250T/250T-1, and the ARG375T.

Each company’s recommended installation procedure must be adhered to for the units to work properly. The torque generated by the flywheel requires the units to become an integral part of the boat and be tied into the main stringers and strengthened areas of the boat. This makes retrofits difficult. Only the original builder or an experienced boatyard should do this kind of work because they have the capability to integrate the mounting system into the structure of the boat. However, a large portion of Seakeeper business is retrofits, so the opportunity is readily available.

Gyro Stabilizers Have a Major Positive Impact on Your Day’s Fishing

I have ridden several boats with gyros and most recently spent time on a 66-foot Viking. The boat reacted as expected in a beam sea, with some roll and snap, while sitting with the unit on standby. Once the Seakeeper unit switch was flipped, she tightened up and bobbed like a cork, with little roll or yaw. As I said before, it will be hard to sell a boat without an anti-roll gyro from here on out. If you’re ordering a new boat, bite the bullet and install a unit. It’ll make days on the water more enjoyable and help your resale.

• More: Sport Fishing Boats

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The new vessel, called the Steelhead II, will replace a boat used by the state since the ’60s to survey fish populations, track water data and more.

The Michigan DNR recently awarded a construction contract for the building of a new research vessel to replace the aging survey vessel Steelhead, which has been operating on the Great Lakes since 1968.

A state-of-the-art research vessel will soon hit the water for the state Department of Natural Resources. It’s being built by a Michigan company and will replace the state’s oldest working boat.

“The Steelhead” has been used by the Department of Natural Resources to survey fish populations since the 1960s – but the boat wears many hats. It’s also been used to stock game fish, track water data, provide search and rescue and much more.

“Data collected aboard the S/V Steelhead over the last 56 years have been instrumental in providing fisheries managers with the information needed to effectively and appropriately manage Lake Michigan’s fish populations,” said Patrick Hanchin, manager of the DNR’s Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station.

Hanchin said the new vessel, called the Steelhead II, will be better suited to study the Great Lakes in the 21st century.

Over the years, the Steelhead has required more repairs but parts for the nearly six-decade-old boat have been harder to find.

Hanchin said the Steelhead II will allow the crew to continue its work on Lake Michigan with improvements in safety, flexibility and dependability over the vessel’s projected 50-plus-year life span.

Solar power will supply some of the vessel’s lab technology and engine batteries. The crew’s quarters will also be more comfortable with individual rooms faring better on choppy water.

“Crew safety is greatly improved with state-of-the-art navigational systems, watertight compartment hull design and a gyro stabilizer designed to minimize the vessel roll in rough seas,” said Steelhead Captain Pat O’Neill in a press release.

The Onaway company Moran Iron Works will construct the vessel which Hanchin says will be wrapped up by the end of 2025. The DNR decided on Moran after a competitive bid process.

The award to a Michigan vessel manufacturer also aligned with the interest of the state Legislature, according to the DNR. Lawmakers appropriated the funding for the new boat as part of the 2023 state budget bill.

“This contract is a compliment to our entire team here at Moran Iron Works, and the pinnacle of success for me personally,” said Tom Moran, the company’s CEO. “Only because of that do we get the honor to build one of the most meaningful vessels on the Great Lakes. We will exceed the expectations of the DNR and make them proud they chose a Michigan company.”

Following delivery of the new vessel, the Steelhead likely will be sold at auction to recover funds for the DNR Fisheries Division.

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