Seakeeper Ride: Not your average trim tab

With the global recreational boating market worth 21.3 billion USD annually, it comes at no surprise that companies like Seakeeper spend millions on R&D to bring gems like the Seakeeper Ride to the consumer market.

Seakeeper has been a leader in the boat stabilisation market since 2008. They recently released their latest game changing product, the Seakeeper Ride targeting the small to medium powerboat market. Below we take a look at the new system and how it can make your day on the water more comfortable.

What Is the Seakeeper Ride?

The Seakeeper Ride is a Vessel Attitude Control System. Seakeeper Ride controllers are mounted to your boat’s transom, below the waterline. Using custom, proprietary inertial sensing hardware and software, the system understands how the boat is behaving in all three axes and commands deployment of the rotary blades to counteract pitch, roll, and yaw. As the blades are deployed, they create lift at the transom, managing the vessel’s motion instantaneously.

Benefits of the Seakeeper Ride

You’ll notice the difference immediately when you turn on Seakeeper Ride. It eliminates up to 70% of pitch and roll underway. Pitch and roll can cause slamming, which can be dangerous and uncomfortable.

Seakeeper Ride makes your boating experience safer and allows the you to have better control over the boat.

The technology gives you several other great benefits. It automatically keeps the vessel level while underway. It adjusts for most variables you will encounter out on the water.

Left Images: Before Seakeeper Ride installation | Right Images: After Seakeeper Ride installation

Seakeeper Ride has a customisable Trim Command Curve. It automatically adjusts the boat to match the optimal running angle for your speed.

Hole Shot Control optimises your acceleration. You can get the boat on plane faster. You’ll notice better fuel economy in the transition to planing.

Finally, Seakeeper Ride actively coordinates turns. It automatically adjusts the heeling angle of the vessel, making you feel like the boats on rails and also reducing any cavitation going into turns.

Features

Rotary Blade

The rotary blade deploys in and out of the water flow to build pressure on the seal plate to controls vessel motions.

Seal Plate

The seal plate supports the actuator and the lifting forces created by the controllers.

Rotary Actuator

The rotary actuator physically drives the rotary blade in and out of the water flow.

Actuator Plate

The actuator plate is the foundation that holds the actuator and seal plate to the transom plate.

Wedge Pack

A wedge pack is a combination of wedges to angle the seal plate relative to the hull bottom.

Transom Plate

The transom plate is adhered to the transom to support the lifting forces created by the controllers.

Rapid Actuation

Rotary blades deploy at a rate of up to 300 mm per second, making 100 adjustments every second; enabled by power-dense rotary design that requires just 7-10 Amps for operation.

Full Underway Control

Controls all motions (pitch, roll, yaw) thanks to deployment speed and proprietary control software and hardware.

Intuitive

Predicts motion and responds instantaneously to eliminate them before they’re felt with no buttons to push nor adjustments to make, providing a boating experience you never imagined.

Reliable

Drivetrain is completely sealed in a dry and greased environment with no mechanical exposure to saltwater.

Simple Installation

Easily installed on most transoms, both in new and aftermarket boats.

Models and Sizes

Seakeeper Ride comes in three models for different sized vessels

Seakeeper Ride 450

For vessels upto 26 ft

Seakeeper Ride 525

For vessels 27 – 30 ft

Seakeeper Ride 600

For vessels 31 – 35 ft

Rotary Blades

The hardware includes two units that attach to the transom below the waterline.

Unlike other systems with tabs or guillotine-style blades, Seakeeper Ride uses a rotary arm with a cupped lip. The blades deploy as fast as 300 mm per second. They can make 100 adjustments per second.

The rotary design is very efficient. It only needs 7 to 10 amps for operation.

The Rotary arm has the technology to adjust unto 100 times per second

Software Innovation

The software for Seakeeper Ride is cutting-edge technology. Ride uses artificial intelligence (AI) so you don’t have to programme the software for your boat. Ride learns and refines its behaviour based on how your vessel behaves in the water.

A three-axis sensor in a separate software module mounts inside the boat. It monitors the vessel’s motion through the water by using GPS.

The sea keeper display can be mounted on a console and also flush mounted

How to Buy

Initially, Seakeeper Ride will be available on select models from Sportsman Boats, Chris-Craft Boats, and Scout Boats from as early as September 2022, with plans to increase OEM offerings in the coming year, as well as retail sales for DIY installation.

You can sign up for updates from the company about new OEM partners and the option to buy Seakeeper Ride directly.

Get the Seakeeper Ride Experience

Seakeeper Ride is a game-changer for your boating experience. It will significantly reduce pitch and roll underway for a more comfortable and safer ride. You’ll have more control and get better performance.

For more info check out Center Consoles Only on the Seakeeper Ride

If the Seakeeper Ride sparks your interest check out or latest on Seakeepers Gyro that revolutionised the boating industry.  

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