I thought I'd take a minute to describe the stabilizers I installed on Rana
last spring - before heading up thru the Inside Passage.

They are two, seven foot long 1/2" x 6" bars that protrude down on either side
of the hull about 10' forward from the stern.
The bottom of each bar is just about the same depth underwater as the keel.

Each bar has 3 plates, centered on the bar and welded evenly apart.  The
plates are 17" x 24" and rounded on the leading edge.

The idea came from a local fisherman who had used the design for almost 20
years.  He designed them because he needed stabilizers that would allow him to
circle (he fished Tuna) in rough seas.  As a result, he could comment on the
stabilizers under any possible sea.  He also had the usual "fish" on the arms
but found he didn't have to use them much after getting the wrinkles out of
his design.

I did the plans for mine which included the layout for the bars and the mating
plate which is permanently mounted on Rana.  I had two different firms do the
welding and all in, they cost me less than $1200 CDN.  Each bar is bolted to
the hull by two 9" x 1" stainless bolts which sandwich the bars and the
mounting plate between the hull and the ribs.  I estimate I could remove both
arms, by myself, in about one hour.  The mounting plate has nipples that
protrude on both sides of the plate thereby ensuring that the bars slide on
with a perfect fit.  It is the nipples that support the bars and not the bolts
which only serve to sandwich the bars to the plate.

The fellow that designed these stabilizers kept meticulous records and
insisted that there was a very slight improvement in performance.  I can't
really confirm that but I can say there was definitely no degradation in
performance.  I can also say that these stabilizers work EXTREMELY well and
that we are very happy with them.  I think the design could be modified to
suit and hull speed cruising vessel from 35' to 55' and the price is certainly
right.

Under heavy conditions (we had 10' following seas coming around Cape Caution)
the bars will "wave" in the water.  I estimate that the extreme lower end is
waving about 1 foot.  This probably means that the steel will eventually work
harden but the consensus of the "experts" (I'd like a comment from a real
expert if there is one out there) is that it would take years for the
hardening to take place.  The logical conclusion of this would be that the bar
would simply break off at the work point and be lost at sea.  This would not
create an emergency situation - at least not that I can think of.

The obvious danger would be if one of the bars were struck dead on at the
deepest point as the lateral force would be enough to damage the hull.  Any
blow that were not perfectly centered would result in the bar "waving" off to
one side or the other and remaining in this bent position.  I can't see any
serious problem coming from a seriously bent bar other than poor manueuvering
at slow speek and restricted docking.  In any case, if the bar were bent, I
would simply detach and discard it at sea.

There you have it folks.  Low cost, effective stabilization with no moving
parts.

Shaun and Pat Sweeney
Aboard RanaIII
RanaIII@telus.net

Shaun,
Your stabilizers fascinate me.  It's a little hard to be sure I
understand them from your word description, is there a way to see
pictures or sketches?  I'm especially unsure about their exact
mounting location and angle.  I once read about a somewhat
similar set of stabilizers, made from discarded helicopter rotor
blades, but they were retractable into small "centerboard trunks"
and hard to retrofit.

Mark Richter, Winnie the Pooh
Stuart, FL

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