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The End of Seasickness? Seakeeper Ride Just Unleashed a Game Changer for 55-Footers
A New Era for Underway Stability
The open water promises freedom, but it often delivers relentless chop, a constant battle against pitch and roll that can mar any day. For boats in the 43 to 55-foot range, truly stable underway motion has remained a luxury often out of reach, or tied to larger, more complex systems. Until now. Seakeeper, a name synonymous with marine motion control, has just pulled a bold move, launching five new Seakeeper Ride products. For the first time, complete underway stabilization is here for a significant segment of the marine world, changing the game for countless owners.
Expanding the Smooth Ride Frontier
This expansion introduces the Seakeeper Ride 900, 1050, 1125, 1275, and 1500 models, each precisely engineered to accommodate larger vessels. These new systems bring the company’s revolutionary Vessel Attitude Control System (VACS) to an entirely new scale. This technology promises to eliminate up to 70% of pitch and roll while the boat is in motion, turning choppy seas into remarkably stable platforms. It is a critical advancement for everything from fishing tournaments to comfortable cruising, ensuring every moment on the water is enjoyed as intended.
Demand Drives Innovation: Listening to the Owners
The move to larger applications is no surprise to industry insiders. Andrew Semprevivo, Seakeeper President and CEO, highlights the rapid demand.
“Owners of boats in the 55-ft. size range know Seakeeper better than most, as we’ve offered the Seakeeper gyro in that size range the longest. They expect excellence from us, and we know we can deliver.”
With standardizations on over 125 models from 25 builders and a remarkable 111% refit growth in Q1 2024, the market has clearly spoken: performance and comfort on the water are non-negotiable.
The Engineering Behind Effortless Stability
How does this new generation of Seakeeper Ride achieve such dramatic results? The system is pure marine intelligence. Controllers mount discreetly to the boat’s transom, below the waterline. Using proprietary inertial sensing hardware and software, the system takes an astonishing 1,000 measurements per second. It constantly monitors the boat’s behavior across all three axes—pitch, roll, and yaw. This data then commands custom-designed rotary blades, which deploy beneath the running surface, making 100 precise adjustments per second to create dynamic lift.
Tailored Solutions for Every Vessel
Understanding that no two boats are alike, Seakeeper Ride offers a tailored approach to product selection. Whether it is a hard-charging 55-foot center console or a luxurious sportfish, sizing is done individually to meet the specific stabilization needs of each hull design and function. Built with robust aluminum components for strength, these new models, like their successful smaller counterparts (Seakeeper Ride 750 and 750 Quad), ensure durability alongside their performance.
Accessibility and Investment in Onboard Comfort
These new Seakeeper Ride products are available for immediate shipment to OEM partners and through a global dealer network for aftermarket refits. They support stepped or non-stepped, fiberglass or aluminum hulls equipped with a compatible Multi-Function Display. With retail prices ranging from $23,500 for the Ride 900 up to $35,500 for the Ride 1500 (with introductory discounts available), this technology represents a significant, yet justified, investment in onboard comfort, safety, and performance. For owners and guests alike, the promise of a smoother journey is a powerful lure.
The Future of Underway Stability Has Arrived
Seakeeper Ride’s expansion means a new benchmark for boats. This is not just about avoiding seasickness; it is about extending operational windows, enhancing safety for everyone on board, and making every moment on the water more enjoyable. As the demand for seamless marine experiences grows, Seakeeper Ride stands as a vital development, ensuring the future of boating is as comfortable as it is exhilarating. Photography provided by Ricky Marcic.
