MikeM
Senior Member
They can flop around and cause drag and steering issues. If you loose the Genset or hydraulic power you would need to manually lock/pin them in the center position.
Got it. Thanks.
They can flop around and cause drag and steering issues. If you loose the Genset or hydraulic power you would need to manually lock/pin them in the center position.
First of all what brand/type/model of stabilizers are these? Various makes and designs work different ways. Lots of wild jumping to conclusions here with scant information. For instance if they are standard Naiads, then yes, you should have them on all the time, centering is for docking. Naiad is very helpful and could advise on the conversion. In theory (again lacking good info) having the thruster on the generator and the stabilizers on the genset makes the most sense.
Our Naiads have pins to lock the stab's in a centered position when off. I hate to think what would happen if we engaged the stab's with the pins in place so I usually leave the pins out.
Then you should be talking to Wesmar about the issues, then have them refer you to someone in the area who can come take a look at the exact set up. Everything you've got here from us has been pure speculation, almost none of it very useful.
They are Wesmar stabilizers and a Wesmar twin prop bow thruster.
We never pin our Wesmars, except when hauling out. We do not run our stabilizers all the time. They always re-center when switched off (to pin position) and do not flop around as some intimate. If a hydraulic ram is leaking yes, movement when off could occur, but a hydraulic leak or ram problem would be noted and fixed presumably.
Since new (10 years) there have not been any stabilizer issues and this includes heavy weather operation. The lip seals have been replaced and serviced twice since new. Wesmar is located in the PNW. But I've heard bad things about all stabilizer mfrs., so it depends on issue and knowledge of owner/mechanic to insure happy times.
We never pin our Wesmars, except when hauling out. We do not run our stabilizers all the time. They always re-center when switched off (to pin position) and do not flop around as some intimate. If a hydraulic ram is leaking yes, movement when off could occur, but a hydraulic leak or ram problem would be noted and fixed presumably.
Since new (10 years) there have not been any stabilizer issues and this includes heavy weather operation. The lip seals have been replaced and serviced twice since new.
We never pin our Wesmars, except when hauling out. We do not run our stabilizers all the time. They always re-center when switched off (to pin position) and do not flop around as some intimate. If a hydraulic ram is leaking yes, movement when off could occur, but a hydraulic leak or ram problem would be noted and fixed presumably.
Since new (10 years) there have not been any stabilizer issues and this includes heavy weather operation. The lip seals have been replaced and serviced twice since new. Wesmar is located in the PNW. But I've heard bad things about all stabilizer mfrs., so it depends on issue and knowledge of owner/mechanic to insure happy times.
Cruising the AICW it is doubtful to ever need stabilizers , but if you venture out adding a pump to the main would be my choice.
So I take it the Wesmars mentioned in the above post are not movable when the boat is out of the water?
Of course they are. Otherwise they destroy themselves in reverse.The Wesmars I've dealt with behaved just like NAIADs. They were not self pinning.
So I take it the Wesmars mentioned in the above post are not movable when the boat is out of the water?
Of course they are. Otherwise they destroy themselves in reverse.
From the Naiad website: The Auto Lock option hydraulically locks the fins in center automatically whenever the engine is not in forward gear, and when the system is turned off. The Center Lock option (standard on models 302 and larger, and included in Auto Lock) hydraulically locks the fins at center whenever the Center command is pressed. This is the same system I have on my ABT Tracs, is also standard on Wesmar, and I don't recall it being an option on my system - just a common sense engineering requirement to prevent damage.
I suppose one could buy stabilizers without auto locking, but I would wonder how many people would?
And two, they work very well to moderate the rather violent roll you can get when a boat doesn't slow down to pass you in a narrow channel.
We simply drive into the wake , bounce once and return to our heading , saves $50K and a bunch of maint , and the danger of a huge hole if we run aground.
Works for me.
They are movable if you disconnect the hydraulic ram. But, to paint around them no need to disconnect ram. You might tell the OP about your stabilizer system as he is looking for feedback from users.
My point was that they have to be manually pinned if the hydralic system is off or if it fails.
With our hydraulic pump off the fins do move in a seaway nor do we pin them. I assume this is the case as liquids are incompressible. That said I will mark them accurately next time to be sure my statement is accurate to the nearest millimeter.
As far as what keeps the cylinder rams from moving when the system is off, I have never torn mine down, but I can only assume the system's valving or internal glands require pressure differential to allow piston travel which is the case in my industrial experience. A leaky or failed hydraulic cylinder requires a rebuild. Air actuated cylinders are a different story as pressure bleeds off under rest.
The TRAC units on the N57 I spend time on will roll back and forth if left unpinned and in a anchorage with side swell component.
HOLLYWOOD
Post 46 should apply unless system older design or malfunction present. To be clear, travel on my stabilizer rams is very little when operating, maybe two inches or so.
How many here pin a hydraulic davit each and every time?