I installed the Seakeeper Ride active trim system (not the gyro!) on my 2003 330 Express this year. I did 3 200 mile (roundtrip) offshore fishing trips and I feel I can now give a real report on how it performs.
Basically, I love it and feel that it was well worth the ~$22k total cost. The equipment itself was $10k (600 series for 31-36 ft boats) but the installation was pretty expensive because I glassed in the original factory trim tab pockets. They now make some 3D printed plugs for various boats (incl. mine) that would have reduced the install price significantly, but I did my install just before they announced them!
However, what really surprised me is that their effect is a lot more subtle than I'd expected. I thought I'd push a switch and a lot of the movement of the boat would sorta disappear, especially in small waves. In fact, the opposite is true: in a tight 2 ft wind chop headsea (e.g. Cape Cod Bay with the wind up above 12kts), the Ride pretty much doesn't make any difference at all! It probably does a lot more for a smaller, lighter boat, but when switching it on or off I really couldn't tell the difference.
Where it excels and earns its money is out in the open ocean with 3+ foot swells. The effect is VERY noticeable -- in a following sea, instead of that moment when you crest over the swell and you expect the bow to rise too much setting up for a bit of slam into the trough, the Ride pulls the bow down towards level and then releases it just at the crest so it enters the trough without downward momentum. It's a bit unnerving at first because your brain says "oh here it comes" and then it doesn't!
Similarly for beam seas - your brain expects the boat to roll both ways and instead the boat balances neatly on keel. It takes a little getting used to.
Head seas are also a significant improvement in the swells - reduced pounding and more comfortable, BUT anyone who is saying it adds 5 feet to their boat is lying. The boat is still the same boat!
So overall, I think it's worth the $$ for two reasons: Long trips are just less tiring and demanding... It's not 10x better or even 2x better, but it's definitely 1.3x - 1.5x which is pretty damn good! Secondly, its so good at trimming the boat, you just stop thinking about it entirely. Everyone decides to sit on the same side - nothing changes, burn 200 gallons of gas, still on proper trim. Basically should be standard on every ocean going boat and it sounds like that's happening pretty quick!
Basically, I love it and feel that it was well worth the ~$22k total cost. The equipment itself was $10k (600 series for 31-36 ft boats) but the installation was pretty expensive because I glassed in the original factory trim tab pockets. They now make some 3D printed plugs for various boats (incl. mine) that would have reduced the install price significantly, but I did my install just before they announced them!
However, what really surprised me is that their effect is a lot more subtle than I'd expected. I thought I'd push a switch and a lot of the movement of the boat would sorta disappear, especially in small waves. In fact, the opposite is true: in a tight 2 ft wind chop headsea (e.g. Cape Cod Bay with the wind up above 12kts), the Ride pretty much doesn't make any difference at all! It probably does a lot more for a smaller, lighter boat, but when switching it on or off I really couldn't tell the difference.
Where it excels and earns its money is out in the open ocean with 3+ foot swells. The effect is VERY noticeable -- in a following sea, instead of that moment when you crest over the swell and you expect the bow to rise too much setting up for a bit of slam into the trough, the Ride pulls the bow down towards level and then releases it just at the crest so it enters the trough without downward momentum. It's a bit unnerving at first because your brain says "oh here it comes" and then it doesn't!
Similarly for beam seas - your brain expects the boat to roll both ways and instead the boat balances neatly on keel. It takes a little getting used to.
Head seas are also a significant improvement in the swells - reduced pounding and more comfortable, BUT anyone who is saying it adds 5 feet to their boat is lying. The boat is still the same boat!
So overall, I think it's worth the $$ for two reasons: Long trips are just less tiring and demanding... It's not 10x better or even 2x better, but it's definitely 1.3x - 1.5x which is pretty damn good! Secondly, its so good at trimming the boat, you just stop thinking about it entirely. Everyone decides to sit on the same side - nothing changes, burn 200 gallons of gas, still on proper trim. Basically should be standard on every ocean going boat and it sounds like that's happening pretty quick!
