[shiraroberts112]

If you do run on one engine, don’t forget about fuel management. You don’t want to run one tank down and forget that. Rare is the modern sea rocket that has an equalizer system. No, not rare – unheard of. Fortunately, it is not difficult or particularly expensive to install one. An equalizer simply maintains both tanks at equal levels, which is a much better situation when using fuel at low rates. For one thing, you do not want to keep fuel in the tanks for too long because of bacteria build up, among other problems. You must have water separating filters with sight bowl so that you can monitor water and debris accumulation before fuel system failure occurs due to clogged filters. [links]

[annedubois]

Yet another problem with slow cruising are the tiny rudders found on most high speed boats. In most cases small rudders won’t provide adequate control at slow speed. While it seemed okay in calm water, in seaway the boat either becomes uncontrollable or it works you to death keeping it on course. Or, using the autopilot, the pilot becomes overworked and suffers breakdowns. The typical modern (and very cheap) autopilot is a lightweight and unlikely to hold up to low speed cruising. While I haven’t investigated this, the cost of changing to larger rudders where control problems are acute may not be excessive. here

[diven]

The main problem here is that the three stabilizer manufacturers all make them sized for larger yachts and the fin sizes are huge and so are the mechanical parts. They simply won't fit on a smaller boat. Once they perceive a need for them on smaller boats, this may change. Wesmar offers the smallest stabilizer system which has a fin length of 25” which is probably too large for anything under 40’. more

[drwhite]

The modern power boat is designed for going fast, not slow. Some will do okay at 9 knots while for others the ride will be uncomfortable at best. Much of the reason why has to do with aspect ratios, bean-to-length, height and centers of gravity. These were all optimized for planing speeds over 20 knots in the typical “family cruiser.” A thirty-five foot boat with a 13 foot beam has the characteristics of a beach ball on water; that is, it lacks directional stability and will be like trying to steer a balloon in anything but flat water. It relies primarily on speed for stability and control.

[Artefact2]

I’m no expert on stabilizers but I do have some experience with them. When Joe Six Pack asks whether he should put stabilizers on his 40’ Carver motor yacht, my answer is probably not. The smallest boat I’ve ever seen stabilizers on was a 42’ Grand Banks, a deep draft, moderate speed trawler-style hull with a fairly deep draft and a keel. Bear in mind that hydraulic fin stabilizers are essentially rudders and they do steer the boat. The trick is to try to control roll without steering the boat too much. Either way, you would not be happy running your stabilizers while manually steering the boat because they will work you breathless. Autopilots and stabilizers go together like salt and pepper.

[yrrryyoderj]

Because SS was built in 1974 as a motor yacht, she had no fins underneath the hull or paravanes extending from the pilot house. If there is anything I detest on a boat, it is rocking back and forth with everything crashing. There had to be a solution.

[vsheldonguzmanw]

Professor Don Bass, at the Marine Institute in St. John, Newfoundland, had designed a tank for our friend Bob Phillips on Another Asylum. Bob is very pleased with the roll reduction he has achieved. Dave contacted Dr. Bass, who required a lot of specific data about Swan Song.

[WatchIn]

We looked at several composite materials that could be made into the size that was required and shipped to the BVI. Nida-Core in Stuart, Florida, won the bid. They manufactured 25mm sheets of Nida-Core bonded with 38 ounce fiberglass on both sides in 4’x12’ panels. These were used to fabricate the tank which measured 4’x12’x16” high with five T-shaped baffles 18” on either end of the tank. The empty weight of the tank is about 250 lbs. here

[jonathan01]

The other main technique for stabilizing boats is, of course, to use fins. And perhaps nobody does fins better than Naiad. Naiad is a company that makes a whole range of motion-control devices, for military, commercial, and pleasure boats alike. However for monohull yachts, it recommends its well known and well respected fin stabilization system. Which is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Fins on either side of the boat stick out into the hull envelope, which is the area of water that would be contained if lines from a boat’s keel and gunwale met to form a right angle below the water. more

[riX]

The other system Quantum builds is MagLift. Though it can be put on smaller boats, it’s more common on true megayachts, betweem 180 and 500 feet. (Perhaps because the cost extends into the millions.) As Quantum’s sales manager Mark Armstrong explains, “Quantum’s MagLift Zero Speed and Underway stabilizer is essentially a spinning cylinder. It works like a curveball and is based on a theory put forward by Gustav Magnus and sir isaac newton. The cylinder protrudes at 90 degrees to the hull and spins from 300 to 1500 rpm (depending on system size), and as water flows over the cylinder, you get what’s known as the Magnus Effect. Essentially the pressure difference created produces a very powerful lifting force. It’s very much like an airplane wing in a sense.” You get all that?  

[saullysaul78]

Kent Lundgren, president of Humphree USA explains, “The way the interceptor works is we mount one on the back of the transom—the size depends on the size and shape of the transom. We do a fair amount of custom-fit jobs that will fit any shape you want. It’s a flat surface and the blades move up and down on some glide surfaces inside the Interceptor. When you push it down hydraulically it creates pressure ahead of the plate which provides lift. We do the same thing as a conventional trim system, we just do it more efficiently, because we create less drag than some other systems.” [links]

[qbgtrfv]

For some guys, simple is just never enough. And when it comes to mechanical wizardry, its hard to beat Quantum in the marine stabilizers racket. The company has two main products it sells on the leisure market. The first is its XT system, which is a retractable fin that works both at speed and while the boat is stationary. At speed the fin resides in the hull envelope, helping to reduce the relatively minimal roll most boats feel while propelling forward. Yet when the boat stops, or is moving slowly—and is therefore more susceptible to roll—the fins extend out, allowing themselves more leverage in the battle against the waves.

[byronbb]

Compared to gybing booms, rig and hardware failures, and sloping decks adorned with tracks, lines, gear and fittings, trawlers seem much safer for the crew, who are often just a couple and their dog. They don't have the potential issues that result from running at high speed, either. Debris or deadheads can be seen well in advance of hitting them at speed, and owners have plenty of time to make reasoned decisions whether avoiding objects or navigating tricky waters. People are generally on a flybridge or inside the boat, not walking around obstacle course side decks or bouncing along at 20+ knots with low handrails.

[gebler]

When I think of the handful of accidents (and fatalities) within our trawler community, the boat usually is not the problem. And this appears to support my point that this kind of boat is a pretty safe way to go cruising. I asked around and came up with the following examples of accidents involving trawlers. It's not a very long list, and I know it isn't complete, and I left out Zopilote. Let's take a look.

[hritzen]

Which got me thinking once again that perhaps a trawler is the safest vessel to cruise on. I am not talking monster rogue waves, perfect storms, sea monster attacks, or hurricanes offshore, but rather the kind of boating most of us enjoy. We call it pleasure boating for a reason.

[bitcoinboy]

The DeFever 49 is a popular cruising boat and liveaboard. Nice side decks, high stanchions and comfortable flybridge for running the boat.