It has been two months since I installed Seakeeper Ride on my Jeanneau Merry Fisher 895 Sport, powered by twin Honda 250 hp outboards. I have now logged about 22 hours underway with the system.
The original trim tabs were removed and replaced with Seakeeper Ride.
I now have a much clearer sense of how the system behaves, so I want to summarize the main benefits and the things I have noticed so far.
I have continued using the system since then, and my impressions after 16 months are covered in the Japanese-language article Sōchaku kara 16-kagetsu | “Kiite iru koto o wasureru” shizuka na gijutsu.
This article is based on my own experience after using a boat equipped with Seakeeper Ride for two months, together with the conclusions I have drawn from that experience. Some of my explanations for the system’s behavior are my own interpretations.
Benefits of Seakeeper Ride
After two months, the biggest difference I have noticed is the significant improvement in the boat’s stability.
- Pitch and roll are reduced, and the boat feels as if it is glued to the water
- Impacts when crossing waves are softened, improving ride comfort
- I can comfortably maintain a higher cruising speed
- Travel time to a destination becomes shorter
- Driving the boat is simply more enjoyable
The most striking difference is how much softer the impact feels when the hull comes down onto the water.
In similar sea conditions, I can maintain speed more easily than before, and I also feel that fatigue during longer passages has been reduced.
The change goes beyond simply reducing movement.
My own sense of how fast I can comfortably travel in a given sea state has changed.
A Few Things I’ve Noticed
The benefits are substantial, but a few other points have also stood out during these first two months.
1. A Slight Reduction in Top Speed
Before installing Seakeeper Ride, the boat could reach 38 knots at full throttle and 5,600 rpm.
Since installation, the top speed has been around 36.8 knots.
My working theory is that Seakeeper Ride’s rotary blades create lift by interacting with the water flow, and that this interaction may add a little drag at the very top end.
I think of it as somewhat similar to adding aerodynamic devices to a sports car: greater stability may come with some effect on maximum speed.
That is my interpretation at this stage.
Top speed is also influenced by factors such as engine trim, Ride settings, sea conditions, hull condition, and onboard load.
I plan to keep experimenting with different conditions.
2. Slight Wandering When Using the Autopilot
When I use the autopilot with Seakeeper Ride ON, I sometimes notice a very slight wandering in the boat’s heading while running straight.
Ride controls the boat’s attitude, while the autopilot uses steering input to maintain course.
My impression is that because both systems are influencing the boat’s movement at the same time, their corrective actions may sometimes interact with each other.
The effect is very small and has little practical impact during normal cruising.
What About Fuel Consumption?
My comparative fuel data from these first two months is still limited.
Based on how I have actually been using the boat, however, fuel consumption per hour may have increased.
The reason is simple: Seakeeper Ride has increased the speed at which I feel comfortable cruising, so I now tend to cruise faster than I did before.
In my case, that also means running the engines at higher rpm during normal cruising.
Fuel consumption per hour is only one part of the picture when traveling to a destination.
A higher cruising speed also means covering the same distance in less time.
So:
Even if I am burning more fuel per hour, the total fuel required to reach a destination may not increase by the same proportion.
The change in hull attitude produced by Ride is also likely to affect hydrodynamic resistance.
A meaningful comparison will require data collected under similar conditions, including speed, engine rpm, distance traveled, and fuel consumption.
I Go Boating More Often
This was something I had not expected before installing the system.
I simply use the boat more often.
The boat feels more stable, impacts are softer, and I can maintain speed more comfortably than before.
As a result, driving the boat has become more enjoyable, and I find myself thinking, “I’ll take the boat out today,” more often.
It is difficult to express this benefit as a performance figure, but from an owner’s perspective, it is a significant one.
How Much Marine Growth Will It Pick Up?
My boat is kept in the water, so the underwater parts of the Seakeeper Ride system remain submerged while the boat is moored.
These first two months also happened to include extremely hot summer weather.
I am curious to see how much barnacle and other marine growth has accumulated.
I plan to inspect the system and record what I find.
Conclusion | After Two Months, the Benefits Clearly Outweigh the Drawbacks
After two months of use, the biggest change for me is that greater stability has changed the way I enjoy the boat itself.
I have noticed a slight reduction in top speed and a small amount of wandering when using the autopilot, but Seakeeper Ride has made the boat more comfortable to use and has led me to take it out more often.
“I wish I had installed it sooner.”
If I had to summarize my impression after two months in one sentence, that would be it.
I will continue using the system and documenting what becomes apparent over time.
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