| Testimonials
Maritimo 50
Australian builder Maritimo Yachts has a worldwide repu-tation of building great sport-fishing boats for big water.When Newport Beach, CA dealer Compass Point Yachts had a potential client for Maritimo's latest 50, they knew specifying it with a factory installed gyro stabilizer would satisfy their client's desire for stability at rest and at sea. "The Seakeeper gyro is revolutionary. It is going to change offshore fishing in the Pacific forever" said Chris Elliott salesman for Compass Point Yachts. "Sport fishermen want stability without having to sacrifice efficiency, performance or the limitations and maintenance of traditional external fin stabilizers."
According to Dave Northrup, of Maritimo USA, "The factory is especially thrilled in the high degree of roll reduction performance. We can't wait to install these in more boats."
| Sea trial date: | 25th March 2009 11am-12pm |
| Location: | Out Front of Gold Coast Seaway |
| Conditions: | Outward tide current running through Seaway 15 knot SE Winds Approx 27 degrees C 5-6' High Easterly Waves |
At just after 10am Maritimo 500/018 slide away from the factory jetty with Nick Barry-Cotter at the wheel with Kendall Barry-Cotter alongside. Also aboard were Twin Disc (Pacific) staff, the regional Seakeeper distributor to sea trial the first ever Australian built boat fitted with the revolutionary Seakeeper Gyro Stabiliser System.
The Seakeeper unit was started at 10:15am as the boat idled away from its berth out into the Broadwater of the Gold Coast and before the vessel reached the approach to the Gold Coast Seaway the Seakeeper Gyro was up to full speed of 9,700rpm after only 36 minutes. The tide was running and creating a strong outward current through the seaway and combined with the 5-6' Easterly swell and 15 knot SE wind conditions were set to produce the proverbial "washing machine" sea surface outside the seaway opening. Still with the gyro locked the vessel was maneuvered to head slowly southward across the seaway opening. As vessel and passengers were being shunted around by the sea conditions the the Seakeeper Gyro Stabiliser was activated. After one, possibly two waves the vessel roll rate was drastically reduced. All aboard immediately noticed a much smoother ride as the gyro cushioned the vessel against the prevailing wave action. This test was repeated several times to confirm the affect of the stabilisation system and each time the results were the same. Next the stabiliser was tested at zero speed and again the roll rate was reduced and passenger comfort levels increased dramatically.
Nick Barry Cotter commented that once the stabilizer had been activated, "there was a considerable level of roll reduction, more than expected!" When asked to comment on improved passenger comfort Nick went on to say the gyro system "made a very large difference and in my opinion worth the money. If customers wanted to fit a stabilizer to their Maritimo we would recommend a Seakeeper Gyro Stabiliser based on this initial experience, the ease of installation, virtually no vessel speed loss and an operating noise level lower than the genset required to run the unit. Overall I am very happy with the installation, operation and performance of the system".
