Flopper stoppers/ stabilizers

Hi All

Has anyone added flopper stoppers "birds". On to a aft cabin trawlers. Has it worked well?

I'll be interested to see what everybody says. I was given a single flopper stopper and it's sized for my boat but I have never deployed it. In fact, it isn't even on my boat.

Do you have hard or soft chines? I know that makes a difference on the roll. I have hard chines and the slap is a problem for me, comfort wise. I should take them onboard next anchoring trip.

There's lots of info out there and one must run them deep enough so they can't come fly'in out of the water and through the cabin side. Fifteen feet is what I've heard.
The proper name I believe is "Paravane Stabilizers".
Or Passive Stabilizers.

Have you read "Alaska Blues" by Joe Upton?
Almost every time it got rough they deployed the stabilizers. Before it got too rough to do it. Deploying and retrieving can be dangerous.

Yes. I have a soft chine boat. Ed monk design

Are you talking about paravanes, used while underway or flopper stoppers used at anchor? I assumed you were talking about keeping the roll down at anchor.

manyboats said:

The proper name I believe is "Paravane Stabilizers".

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Eric is right, the "birds" that are deployed to stabilize a vessel underway are called Paravanes. The hinged plates that are deployed to stabilize a vessel at anchor are called Flopper Stoppers.

Sea Eagle has both Forespar Flopper Stoppers and Paravane Fish, which can be deployed from the same booms (if reinforced sufficiently). The fish put a LOT of stress on the mast and booms, but are used by most commercial fishing trawlers.

Yes,
I'm referring to paravanes. Do they work while on the go as well as on anchore?. Where would you install them?. And could they get tangled up with the prop?

IanPereira said:

Yes,
I'm referring to paravanes. Do they work while on the go as well as on anchore?.

Yes.

Where would you install them?

Every boat is different and they need to be designed correctly because of the high loading. The boat manufacturer or a navel architect would be who I would ask.

And could they get tangled up with the prop?

Not if they are properly designed.

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We love ours.

Rocking and Rolling

Larry M said:

We love ours.

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larry,

This is on my top list for this summer or fall. I know you're from the west coast, but where did you have yours done and how much did it cost?

I'm thinking of waiting til I come back down to Chesapeake bay this fall. I've heard the prices for boat work are much more reasonable than the Northeast.

Richard

Wxx3 said:

larry,

This is on my top list for this summer or fall. I know you're from the west coast, but where did you have yours done and how much did it cost?

I'm thinking of waiting til I come back down to Chesapeake bay this fall. I've heard the prices for boat work are much more reasonable than the Northeast.

Richard

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R: This past hurricane season, when we were in Trinidad, a KK39 had paravanes built and installed as per Kadey Krogen engineers. The design was free. The cost estimate was just under $15K. The builder didn't make the schedule and the finish was not to spec so the cost dropped. Seven years ago in the PNW, the cost, after design, was ~$10K. Hobo came with the paravanes, which were installed by a PO.

I am in the process of fitting paravane stabilisers to my boat.
The position is 1/3 the length from the stern.
I am also installing 2 masts as an aux rig. the mizzen mast is to carry the paravane gear.
The fish will work when at rest, probably not as efficiently as flat, flapper type but good enough to not warrant changing over when at rest.
I previously had a set of flopper stoppers , not of the flapper type but more like 2 drogues with an adjustable outlet at the bottom.
These were reasonably efficient but I have wanted to fit the rig and paravanes for a long time.
Will be keeping the forum updated on my refit thread in the down under section and hope to get started this next week or so.
Cheers
Benn

Tidahapah said:

...The fish will work when at rest, probably not as efficiently as flat, flapper type but good enough to not warrant changing over when at rest...

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Ours at rest, work very well. We had roll-stoppers on our last boat but only on one side. With both fish in the water, the effect seems better than the single on one side.

If we anchor in less than 18' or so of water, I do raise the fish so they don't bounce off the bottom.