Quick gyro

[curiouskb]

Few months ago I posted here about the Quick MC2 gyro stabiliser.
I installed one for my P43 couple of months ago. Here is my personal impression.
The roll reduction esp while moored is very good. I have no instruments to document the roll reduction but the on board feeling is excellent, my wife who is prone to seasick can now stay on board with a smile. I can now anchor comfortably at spots more exposed but much quieter and away from the crowd. While going on plane one can also definitely feel, though not so obvious, the reduction in roll.
Installation very simple. The dealer just strengthened the long stringers with 4 heavy wooden blocks put into holes carved out on the stringers and then embedded them with epoxy and glassfibre. These are the mounting blocks, then simply bolted the gyro stainless steel base plate on top.
No thru hull holes as no water circulation needed. Takes 25 mins to max rpm and spin down took about 20 minutes.
Only issue is the gyro compartment is now rather hot after 5 to 6 hours running and the dealer has to install an extractor fan under the cockpit.
Cost wise reckon at least 30% less than the Seakeeper. Probably less "powerful" and sophisticated but perfectly sufficient for me. It is about 150 to 200 lbs heavier than Seakeeper and my cruise speed dropped by about one and a half knots. WOT rpm also dropped nearly 160 to 180, may have to think about reducing the propeller diameter?

 

[Whitelighter]

Can you say what the cost was to install on the P43 please

 

[curiouskb]

Can you say what the cost was to install on the P43 please

To answer your question, converted from local currency to Sterling, Quick 20 installation and machine around 23,800 Pounds. Mind you this could be a promotion discounted price of around 5% as Quick gyro is new to market compared to Seakeeper.
Seakeeper quote was around 37,500 Pounds, also installation and machine.

 

[Whitelighter]

That's very interesting. Thanks
I would like to stabilize my Ferretti but SK is about £50k which is about 50% of the value of the boat

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Thanks for the report. What about the noise of the Quick gyro given the fact that the flywheel is not encapsulated like the Seakeeper? I've just had a Seakeeper gyro fitted in my boat and I'm very pleased with it too. I did look at the Quick unit and one of the reasons I chose the Seakeeper was that like for like the Seakeeper is significantly lighter than the Quick as you have confirmed and I dont seem to have lost much if any speed

Its good to see that Seakeeper has some competition. Hopefully this will force prices down in the long run

 

[kashurst]

Few months ago I posted here about the Quick MC2 gyro stabiliser.
I installed one for my P43 couple of months ago. Here is my personal impression.
The roll reduction esp while moored is very good. I have no instruments to document the roll reduction but the on board feeling is excellent, my wife who is prone to seasick can now stay on board with a smile. I can now anchor comfortably at spots more exposed but much quieter and away from the crowd. While going on plane one can also definitely feel, though not so obvious, the reduction in roll.
Installation very simple. The dealer just strengthened the long stringers with 4 heavy wooden blocks put into holes carved out on the stringers and then embedded them with epoxy and glassfibre. These are the mounting blocks, then simply bolted the gyro stainless steel base plate on top.
No thru hull holes as no water circulation needed. Takes 25 mins to max rpm and spin down took about 20 minutes.
Only issue is the gyro compartment is now rather hot after 5 to 6 hours running and the dealer has to install an extractor fan under the cockpit.
Cost wise reckon at least 30% less than the Seakeeper. Probably less "powerful" and sophisticated but perfectly sufficient for me. It is about 150 to 200 lbs heavier than Seakeeper and my cruise speed dropped by about one and a half knots. WOT rpm also dropped nearly 160 to 180, may have to think about reducing the propeller diameter?

do you have any pictures of the installation you could post?

 

[curiouskb]

Thanks for the report. What about the noise of the Quick gyro given the fact that the flywheel is not encapsulated like the Seakeeper? I've just had a Seakeeper gyro fitted in my boat and I'm very pleased with it too. I did look at the Quick unit and one of the reasons I chose the Seakeeper was that like for like the Seakeeper is significantly lighter than the Quick as you have confirmed and I dont seem to have lost much if any speed

Its good to see that Seakeeper has some competition. Hopefully this will force prices down in the long run

Hardly perceptible low whim, have to listen very carefully for it to notice anything, does not bother me and wife at all. The wheel spins at much lower rpm and the plastic cover may act as some sort of sound shield.
I chose it mainly for its much lower cost and its minimal maintenance.
Mind you my P43 with D6 435 is underpowered to start with (when I bought it this was the only engine option) and thus added weight could be the last straw.

 

[curiouskb]

do you have any pictures of the installation you could post?

Being an old chap has to ask my son to help me post pictures here from the cell phone, if he has the time that is.

 

[petem]

Thanks for the report. What about the noise of the Quick gyro given the fact that the flywheel is not encapsulated like the Seakeeper? I've just had a Seakeeper gyro fitted in my boat and I'm very pleased with it too. I did look at the Quick unit and one of the reasons I chose the Seakeeper was that like for like the Seakeeper is significantly lighter than the Quick as you have confirmed and I dont seem to have lost much if any speed

Its good to see that Seakeeper has some competition. Hopefully this will force prices down in the long run

Mike, any chance of a fuller write up?

 

[MapisM]

Mike, any chance of a fuller write up?

+1.
Interesting to hear that the MC2 does work, though.

@curiouskb: if your engines were already struggling a bit with the boat size, and now even more with the additional weight, you should NOT reduce the props diameter, but rather their pitch.
Depending on how short you are from the max rated rpm you are supposed to reach (you did say how much rpm you lost along the way, but not if you reached the rated one before - which is what really matters), a good prop shop might be able to modify your existing props.
But if not, you should definitely consider replacing the props with a pair of shorter (=lower pitch) ones.
By not doing that, you might overload your engines and potentially damage them.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Mike, any chance of a fuller write up?

Yup will do

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Hardly perceptible low whim, have to listen very carefully for it to notice anything, does not bother me and wife at all. The wheel spins at much lower rpm and the plastic cover may act as some sort of sound shield.
I chose it mainly for its much lower cost and its minimal maintenance.
Mind you my P43 with D6 435 is underpowered to start with (when I bought it this was the only engine option) and thus added weight could be the last straw.

Interesting about the noise. Seems like its no noisier than the Seakeeper which is surprising to me. I think with a big company like Quick behind the product and a lower price, the MC gyro is going to eat into the Seakeeper market. If they could find a way of making it lighter without impairing the performance, then it could be a real winner

 

[rubberduck]

Smaller though which works for me.
Would it be viable to have a 10ton at stern & 5ton at bow on a 13ton boat, apart from cost of course ?

 

[Whitelighter]

Which model do you have? The MC2 20 or did you go for a 10?

 

[Whitelighter]

Smaller though which works for me.
Would it be viable to have a 10ton at stern & 5ton at bow on a 13ton boat, apart from cost of course ?

MC say you can go for modular installation, so you could go with 3xMC2 5 for example

 

[rubberduck]

MC say you can go for modular installation, so you could go with 3xMC2 5 for example

Interesting, thanks.

 

[Anders_P42]

Interesting about the noise. Seems like its no noisier than the Seakeeper which is surprising to me. I think with a big company like Quick behind the product and a lower price, the MC gyro is going to eat into the Seakeeper market. If they could find a way of making it lighter without impairing the performance, then it could be a real winner

I expect they can spin it slower because the flywheel is heavier and that less precision is required in the bearings which helps reduce cost, plus lack of heat exchanger etc.

My next boat will have a gyro, I'll watch with interest the Seakeeper / Quick price war. Great news there's another player.

 

[curiouskb]

My D6 435 did reach the rated 3500 rpm at WOT before with clean bottom, now only slightly more than 3300, a good 200 rpm drop, worst if there are a few more friends on board.
My idea of reducing diameter is that it appears to be a simpler procedure even for the average propeller shop. How can a propeller pitch be reduced ?
One interesting thing I noticed with the Quick gyro.
It is very quiet while boat is "at rest", but there is a noticeable whinning noise when there is a significant beam sea rolling associated with a slight tremor felt through cockpit deck.

 

[curiouskb]

Mine is MC2 20

 

[Portofino]

Excess wieght is a marine diesel engine killer .
Drag increases enough even with just a few cm lower in the water ,
Prop demand curve and engine hp graphs get out of kilter due to the extra drag tending towards overloading and raised EGT ,
What speeds are you now getting @ say 3300 rpm and a sensible cruise of say 3100-3200 ,which by VP,s empirical 10% less WOT reccomendation should be 3000 if WOT is reduced to 3300 ?
How fast is 3000 now ?

Agree you need to look at alternative propping or keep it 2900-3000 ish cruise .