All Speed Fins: Adding Efficiency to Your Humphree Stabilizer System
The second part of this Humphree system is adding 24-volt fin stabilizers which rotate 360 degrees and must be custom-trimmed to clear the hull structures and keel. Why 360 degrees? When anchored in slight current or wave action, the fins rotate and swim the boat away from the anchor rode. This keeps the rode snug, anchor set, and the boat stable.
This model is powered electrically, not hydraulically. An electric system is self-cooled via the underwater flange plate. This design eliminates the need for a hydraulic reservoir, Power Take Off pump on the propulsion engine, and a remote heat exchanger to cool the hot hydraulic oil. No more hydraulic hoses to maintain.
This is the time to analyze your power sources. Consider how you will use the boat, the size of the fins, vessel speed, and if you plan to use the Zero Speed Stabilization for anchoring. All these factors consume power so more thought must go into the installation. Many boaters install additional 24-volt battery banks and recharge them from the alternator on the propulsion engine or via a standard 24-volt battery charger while plugged into shore power or operating the onboard generator.
The sensing device learns the movement of the boat with an inclinometer and accelerometer so the system will become proactive in reducing roll in the boat. This also has plug and play wiring to the helm station and connections to the GPS for speed input. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology is included so an authorized dealer can access your system remotely for any updates or troubleshooting.
Because the system knows the speed, it will power center the fins when idle for docking or anchoring. This prevents the fins from rotating freely when maneuvering the boat.
If at anchor, set the anchor feature. If you have a system failure, you can open the servo cover and use the special tool to center and then lock the fin in a forward-facing position. This keeps the fins stable and provides some help in reducing vessel roll.
