Hello - my wife and I took delivery of a 38E in Charleston in late June and part of the build included the yard's installation of the DMS foundation, which allowed us to install DMS during commissioning efficiently.
Since last summer we have cruised to (and throughout) our home waters on the Long Island Sound (from NY - Rhode Island) and currently all the way down to the Florida Keys. I share this since we have nearly 500 hours underway since delivery.. with our return home scheduled for this April we'll surely be near 750 hours under one year of ownership.
A few insights on DMS from travels on Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay and throughout the ICW:
1. The hull design on the 38E is great, but there are conditions where my crew desire that next level of dampening effect on pesky beam seas and DMS tackles that expertly. I recall a day near Norfolk entering the Chesapeake where a boat we've been bouncing into for days (a 31' Ranger Tug) was getting hammered in the washing machine that was the Bay.. I felt awful for them.. we had DMS deployed and continued north during our 8 hr cruise.
2. The immediacy of the dampening is superb.. something like 10-13 seconds and you're stabilized. We actually have the control panel (simple, small touch screen) in the pilothouse and flybridge since we operate the 38E at both locations. To me this feels obvious..
3. We do not operate the DMS all the time as part of the pre-departure checklist, rather we use it when/as needed since it deploys so rapidly. An example, along the ICW you see a fast moving, large sport fish coming your way I simply activate (and de-activate) accordingly. I would say that is 50% of the usage for me so far. Another example, making the 100 nautical mile run up the Jersey shore from Cape May to NYC I'll have it deployed during those safe, but uncomfortable days.
4. Installation was at a partner yard out East (Zimmerman in North Carolina) and the process was orderly and took about one week. (Note: I believe I was the first out here with the system so I'd expect installation time may have been reduced).
5. Installation support was provided by DMS with on-site project manager - it really felt well connected across Helmsman, Zimmerman and DMS.
6. I typically cruise around 1800 RPM (7-8 knots) and have noticed when the single rotor (38E only requires one rotor) is deployed I lose about 0.2 knots of speed. I've examined this many many times and feel this is very accurate.
I'm sure there is much more to share, but I believe I've hit all the major insights. Honestly, it makes me and Alison feel much more confident when we are going out - everyone has those days where storms/seas kick up, but having DMS makes those days materially better in our view.
Best..
Greg
