Rocker stoppers - any good?

[stuartwineberg]

We have a semi displacement motor boat and it rolls at anchor. There have been threads in the past relating to home made flopper stoppers and there is a fancy Magma gadget that seems to be only available in the USA. The only thing that seems to be around in the UK is the "rocker stopper" - basically a string of small traffic cones that you dangle.

Questions - any one tried them and do they work?

The makers diagram shows them dropped off the guardrail - is that Ok or do you need some sort of poling out arrangement?

Thanks

Stuart

 

[highandry]

I have had the chance to use a homemade device that someone gave me. It was a triangular piece of marine ply about 24 inches along the edges with a weight in one corner.
I hung it from the main boom of my old gaff cutter and swung the boom out. Like a lot of steel boats she would roll in dry dock given the chance. Result was an improvement from a quick jerky roll to a more sedate slow roll, didn't cure it totally though.
I think to get the best effect you would ideally need to rig it on a boom or pole. She was a heavy boat and there was a fair strain on anything that tried to slow her natural roll. Your boat may be different of course. Don't pay a lot of money for something, have a search round for "Flopper Stopper" (seriously) good luck.

 

[fergie_mac66]

I have had the chance to use a homemade device that someone gave me. It was a triangular piece of marine ply about 24 inches along the edges with a weight in one corner.
I hung it from the main boom of my old gaff cutter and swung the boom out. Like a lot of steel boats she would roll in dry dock given the chance. Result was an improvement from a quick jerky roll to a more sedate slow roll, didn't cure it totally though.
I think to get the best effect you would ideally need to rig it on a boom or pole. She was a heavy boat and there was a fair strain on anything that tried to slow her natural roll. Your boat may be different of course. Don't pay a lot of money for something, have a search round for "Flopper Stopper" (seriously) good luck.

Bigger the boat bigger the triangle or 2, 1 on each side if your there for any length of time. He didn't mention string to each corner all same length, the weight enough to sink it one corner first.

 

[stuartwineberg]

Thanks - any more ideas forumites?

Bigger the boat bigger the triangle or 2, 1 on each side if your there for any length of time. He didn't mention string to each corner all same length, the weight enough to sink it one corner first.

2 votes for the home made solution - any other thoughts?

Thanks

Stuart

 

[Richard10002]

We met a Belgian guy in Andraitx who suggested a plastic dustbin lid with a weight at one corner of the triangle, poled out on the boom.

I didnt find one, and never got around to it after that.

 

[john_morris_uk]

I remember seeing a design for a home made device of a bread tray (the ones with perforated bottoms) with two bits of ply hinged in them as a 'one way flap valve. The whole things needs weighting with weights on the ply as well, but the mechanics are very simple. Works best when suspended from a boom perpendicular to the boat. (Better leverage from the boom end than from the rubbing strake.)

 

[Neil_Y]

Best solution after trying a flopper stopper type of contraption (home made) was to get the kedge anchor out. Just hold the bow to any swell and there is virtually no roll.