I’ve completed the installation of the Seakeeper Ride on my beloved Merry Fisher 895 Sport, as introduced on other pages of this site. Now, I’d like to share my first impressions.
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What is Seakeeper Ride?
Typically, the angle of trim tabs attached to the stern of a boat can be adjusted remotely. Experienced operators can adjust them to optimal angles depending on the situation, improving speed and fuel efficiency.
In contrast, the Seakeeper Ride is a system that electronically controls the angle of specialized components equivalent to trim tabs, adjusting them instantaneously and automatically to stabilize the boat’s posture.
The key feature of the Seakeeper Ride is its instantaneous and automatic adjustments, setting it apart from traditional trim tabs.
Performance and Benefits
- Ride Quality: The system significantly reduces pitch amplitude, so the boat’s hull doesn’t hit the water as hard, resulting in a smoother and more comfortable ride for passengers.
- Planing: The time to achieve planing is notably shorter. Even with a sudden increase in engine RPM, the bow lifts slightly before quickly settling down into planing, making navigation more enjoyable.
These expected benefits prompted me to install the Seakeeper Ride, and I finally had the chance to test it yesterday.
My Experience
In one word, the results were as expected. Having operated my boat with traditional trim tabs for a year and a half, the difference with the Seakeeper Ride is evident.
- Reduced Pitch: The boat doesn’t slam into the water.
- Less Roll: The boat sways less.
- Easier Planing: Planing is achieved more smoothly.
Unexpected benefits included a significant reduction in spray hitting the front windshield and almost no spray on the side windows, which greatly improved visibility.
As for turns, my initial impression is that there are no adverse effects. Although unconfirmed, I believe the system might have different controls for straight-line travel versus turning.
Interestingly, even when the automatic control was turned off, the ride quality was noticeably better than with the traditional trim tabs I had been using, suggesting a good compatibility between the Seakeeper Ride’s components and my boat.
However, this made it slightly harder to feel the difference between automatic and manual modes. Yet, during a navigation lasting over 30 minutes, the benefits became clear—less fatigue and more enjoyable steering.
For car enthusiasts, installing the Seakeeper Ride might feel like adding high-quality non-linear coil springs and shock absorbers to a car’s suspension. When the automatic control is on, it feels like the shock absorbers’ damping and spring constants are electronically controlled, enhancing the ride quality.
I might be complicating the analogy, but in short, I highly recommend the Seakeeper Ride for those who love vehicle control. It’s one of the few products that enhance the joy of driving a motorboat.
That’s all for now.