Independent Service Guide. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or certified by Seakeeper, Inc. Relocation requires structural engineering and proper installation.

Seakeeper Relocation

Moving Your Gyro Stabilizer to a New Vessel — Engineering, Power & Sea-Trial

Relocation Is Not a Simple Transfer

A gyro stabilizer is integrated into the vessel's structure, power system, and weight distribution. Moving it to a new hull requires:

Critical: A gyro that worked perfectly on Vessel A may be unsuitable for Vessel B due to displacement, hull form, or power topology differences. Always validate before committing.

Relocation Process

1

Feasibility Study

Before removal from the donor vessel, we assess:

  • New vessel displacement vs. gyro specification range
  • Hull form compatibility (planing vs. semi-displacement vs. displacement)
  • Available machinery space dimensions and access
  • Power system architecture (12V/24V/AC availability)
  • Structural attachment points vs. gyro foundation requirements
Reality Check: An SK6 from a 32' center console cannot relocate to a 45' yacht. The displacement mismatch creates underperformance or structural overload.
2

Structural Engineering

New foundation design based on recipient vessel construction:

  • Fiberglass hulls: Core replacement, laminate schedule, and tabbing to longitudinal stringers
  • Aluminum hulls: Welded doubler plate, web frame reinforcement, fatigue analysis
  • Composite hulls: FEA analysis for load distribution; special consideration for carbon fiber galvanic isolation
  • Steel hulls: Welded foundation with alignment tolerance ±0.5mm for bearing life
3

Power System Redesign

The recipient vessel's electrical topology must support gyro requirements:

  • Voltage compatibility (12V vs 24V vs AC)
  • Alternator output at idle (must exceed gyro draw + house loads + 20% margin)
  • Battery bank sizing for spin-up transient (3–5x continuous draw for 30–60 seconds)
  • Genset integration for AC-powered units (soft-start or VFD recommended)
4

Removal, Transport & Installation

Physical transfer with minimum rotor exposure:

  • Controlled spin-down and lockout on donor vessel
  • Climate-controlled transport (bearing corrosion risk in humid storage)
  • Foundation installation on recipient vessel
  • Alignment verification with dial indicator (<0.1mm runout)
  • Electrical and cooling connections
5

Sea-Trial Certification

Validation under real-world conditions:

  • Spin-up time and power draw measurement
  • Stabilization effectiveness in beam seas (target: 50–70% roll reduction)
  • Thermal stability over 4+ hour run
  • Vibration transmission to accommodation spaces
  • Emergency shutdown sequence verification
Documentation: We provide a written sea-trial report with performance data, power logs, and structural photos. This document is valuable for insurance, warranty, and resale.

Cost Considerations

Relocation is often 40–60% of new unit cost when you include:

For units >5 years old or >3,000 hours, consider whether bearing refresh + electronics update makes economic sense vs. new unit with warranty.

Planning a Gyro Relocation?

We provide independent feasibility study, structural engineering, and sea-trial certification.

Request Relocation Assessment

Related: Gyro Removal Guide | Relocation Case Study | Vessel Stability Assessment