They’re the modern-day essentials to have fitted on any yacht, old or new. Stabilisers - from fins to trim tabs to gyros - can remove as much as 95 per cent of the rolling motion of a yacht, improving guest and crew experience and even saving fuel. BOAT looks at stabilisation expert Quick Group and its innovative 360-degree solution redefining yacht comfort.
As a leading name in the stabilisation market, Quick Group has cornered the market for groundbreaking solutions via its MC² brand, enhancing the performance, comfort and safety of vessels. Its offering is based on a portfolio of three key products - Viator fins, Intercepta X and the IN series trim tabs, not forgetting the Quick Gyro stabiliser. This revolutionary system has become synonymous with next-level comfort and stability.
BOAT takes a closer look at these three products and explores why Quick Gyro has become an indispensable part of modern marine kit.
Quick Gyro stabiliser: 'The crown jewel of stability'
The Quick Gyro stabiliser is the ultimate solution for reducing unwanted roll, whether en route or at anchor. It operates by harnessing the power of a high-speed spinning flywheel to counteract roll. Unlike other gyroscopes in the market that work on a vertical axis, the MC² Quick Gyro rotates around a horizontal axis. The result is that the weight is better distributed and it does not require water pumps or seawater intakes, unlike water-cooled systems.
"What we have done is that we work with what we call 'natural dissipation', which means we use an air-cooled unit instead of having a seawater cooling system," explains Andreas Karlsen, Quick Group's CCO. "It means we have fewer components, which means it is easier to install and cheaper to maintain; no contaminated water coming into the sea pump, for instance.
"The horizontal flywheel spins slower compared to other solutions on the market, which means it doesn't get as hot so you don't have to wait for the unit to cool down before you leave the boat, plus this design also allows the unit to go up to 100 per cent stabilisation, much quicker."
Quick Gyro's self-contained design also means it fits seamlessly into a variety of vessels and makes it ideal for vessels at anchor in environments where shallow waters or floating debris might pose a hazard to external stabilisers. It also creates minimal noise and vibration, a significant advantage for owners who prioritise tranquillity on board and it is also optimised for low power consumption, making it a more sustainable choice without compromising performance.
"Last but not least, another benefit is that you get a better driving experience," adds Karlsen. "While other gyros tend to give you a little 'kick' in the steering, Quick Gyro works on a horizontal axis and is so smooth you don't feel it when you drive."
Karlsen believes that a gyro stabiliser is one of the best investments you can make as a yacht owner. "The minute you feel the first wave coming in, to sense the boat correcting itself... it feels like floating over water. I am always amazed at how much a square box can keep a massive boat completely still, no matter how big the boat actually is. It's a game changer in all the aspects."
Viator fins: The 'anti-roll' solution for yachts
The second product in the MC² range is the Viator dynamic stabiliser fins. These are capable of reducing vessel roll by up to 95 per cent, both underway and at anchor, providing unparalleled stability even in rough seas.
What sets these fins apart is their cutting-edge design. Optimised through advanced fluid dynamics simulations, they minimise drag while maximising stabilisation force. Viator consists of a fin, an electric motor and a control unit that analyses and predicts the boat’s dynamics, adjusting the stabilisation algorithms to better adapt to evolving conditions. The fins are powered by highly efficient, extremely compact and silent electric motors.
Viator fins come in various sizes and can be easily integrated into a variety of hull designs, making them a popular choice for superyachts and smaller vessels alike. You can set them in six different modes - from anchor to cruising - and adapt to changing sea conditions and cruising speeds.
Intercepta range: For 'ease and comfort'
The final MC² stabiliser product is the Intercepta Trim Tabs range, divided into the IN and X Series. Trim tabs are horizontal flaps fitted onto the boat that can reduce both its roll and pitch by up to 50 per cent. Both series are equipped with an advanced Full Automatic Trim And List Control and are powered by the oscillometer that continuously adjusts the vessel’s balance for optimal comfort and stability.
Intercepta IN Series Trim Tabs
For boaters looking for performance, the IN Series Trim Tabs are a game-changer. They have an integrated electric actuator designed to provide 'plug-in-and-play comfort' with easy installation. A central unit reads and predicts the dynamics of the boat and coordinates the movement of the trim tab accordingly. Its user-friendly interface allows captains to create a seamless ride, tailoring it to suit individual passenger preferences as well as varying sea conditions.
Intercepta X Series Trim Tabs
Intercepta X Series helps stabilise roll and improve handling; reducing drag, optimising fuel consumption and using advanced technology to deliver precise adjustments in real-time. Offered as a tailor-made solution, the total length of the product can be customised to the centimetre, meaning it can adapt to any hull and any size of yacht.
Seacentric system: Using all three products for optimum stabilisation
Each of the MC² stabiliser products stands alone as separate products, or together as a best-in-market 360-degree solution called the 'Seacentric system'. This can be integrated into the steering and control panels thanks to Xenta systems.
"The Seacentric software is everything stabilisation," explains Andreas Karlsen. "If you're on a larger vessel, you tend to fit both fins and gyro stabilisers with interceptors, because you want both the best of both worlds - you want good stabilisation during navigation but also at zero speed at anchor - and pitch control. What often happens is that when you fit these systems, they can work against each other rather than working together. So our idea is to have all three in a system - interceptor, fins and gyro - all working together using advanced algorithms to stabilise the boat."
Karlsen concludes that a good stabiliser system is only going to get more necessary - thanks not only to climate change and the rise in storms but also to the rise in the popularity of boating. "Take the Mediterranean, for example - the biggest issue is not necessarily the sea itself, it's the traffic. There are more and more boats out there. I remember a couple of years back, I was speaking to an owner from Naples and he said, 'I can't afford to keep the boat without stabilisers. 10 years ago, the traffic around the islands, around Naples used to be fine, but now there's so much traffic, I can't lay there without having a stabiliser'."
To enquire about how to install the MC² Quick Gyro stabilisers on your yacht, or for more information, contact the team at Quick today.
READ MORE ON QUICK GROUP