Expeditionyacht.org

This has been my “stabilizer” week although it feels more like a roller coaster.  I started with a post about the retractable Rolls Royce Aquarius stabilizers.  Great equipment but pricey, heavy and big.

I then got a quote from Mike Perkins at Quantum Hydraulics in Ft. Lauderdale, the folks that market the Dutch made fin stabilizer systems.  This was for a 4-fin system. And while the price was a lot better, well, I just continued to dislike the idea of 4 big blades (2.5 m2 each) sticking out of my hull.   I had also gotten in touch with NAIAD as their site listed both traditional fins and retractable fins but unfortunately, this is one of those sites that is not kept up to date and they don’t sell any retractable systems.  Besides, they seem have some serious design issues at NAIAD.

Quantum hydraulics also offers the “Maglift” stabilizers.  A very interesting solution, using rotary stabilizers that make use of the so-called “Magnus effect”.   These are perfect for my slow moving trawler but, they currently only offered models that would also require 4 stabilizers.  While retractable, that still left me with 4 rotating stabilizers and maintainance was my main concern.  After all, we’re talking about 1-ft diameter “tubes” that spin at up to about 700 rpm. 

However, Mike told me there had been discussions in Holland about a bigger rotor system what would allow us to use a 2-rotor system so I decided to call the big boss himself, Theo Koop and find out if I could expect the development of such a system for my size vessel within the next 12 months.

The answer was yes!  My rotors would probably 33 cm diameter with a length of about 2.5 meters.  The maintainance issues are totally resolved due to a new design and they want to make 2008 the year of the Maglift stabilizers.  I look forward to that. 

More in the near future. Meanwhile, check out the Quantum Hydraulics website and, visit John Caro’s site  to read the story about the Maglift rotary stabs as they are installed on the Inace, a Brazilian-built explorer yacht and his very good explanation of roll issues.

This video below – showing an older model stabilizers – shows the concept actually works very well .   And for an animation of how this system works, check this link.