Archive | Stabilizers

High Seas Hydraulics Now Factory Trained and Certified on WESMAR Hydraulic Systems

By Chris Brown on October 1, 2014 in Bow Thrusters, Hydraulics, Stabilizers

On August 25 and 26, we sent two of our Hydraulics technicians to Woodinville, WA, to attend WESMAR’s annual Sales and Technical Service Training Seminar. The seminar consisted of two days of intense classroom work along with time spent on the manufacturing floor assembling, testing and operating WESMAR’s stabilizer systems, bow and stern thrusters and hydraulic systems.

WESMAR is the inventor of the dual prop counter-rotating bow thruster and the electronic gyro powered roll fin stabilizers.

At the end of the course, our technicians were awarded with a Certificateof Achievement for Successful Completion of the Mechanical Seminar on Installation, Maintenance and Operation of Bow Thrusters, Stabilizers, and Hydraulics. They are now Factory Certified to work on WESMAR Hydraulic Systems.

“This was one of the more comprehensive training classes I have attended,” commented Jeremy Short, High Seas Hydraulics Foreman. “Not only did we have the opportunity to learn in a classroom setting, but being able to actually breakdown and rebuild the stabilizers and thrusters gave me real world experience that I can bring back to my customers.

At High Seas Hydraulics, we believe that the investments we make in our people are investments we make for our customers. We will continue seek out new courses and certifications to help guarantee we can offer our clients the best service in the industry.

Replacing shafts on a Quantum Stabilizer system

By Chris Brown on July 29, 2014 in Hydraulics, Pitting, Quantum Stabilizer System, Stabilizers

While working on a Quantum Stabilizing system on a ABS Class 154 foot Richmond, we found that the stabilizer shafts had significant crevice corrosion where the lower lip seal rides. The lip seals on a hydraulic shaft or rod need a smooth surface or the sea water will leak in causing a failure of the bearings. The model of Quantum Stabilizer system used on this vessel was a Zero Speed ™ known for its ability to stabilize a vessel underway or at anchor.

Shafts from a Quantum Stabilizer System

We were able to repair one of the shafts by cladding over the area where the corrosion occurred. Cladding or shaft weld-over, is the process of repairing a worn or damaged area on a shaft. This type of work is done by our on-site machine shop, Straight Line Marine, which is the only shop in Florida that is ABS approved to perform this work on this class of boat.

However, the other shaft had corrosion that ran too deep so it was condemned and a replacement shaft was ordered.

Once the cladding process was complete and the replacement shaft received, we were able to re-install the stabilizer back in the vessel helping to ensure a smooth and comfortable journey for all aboard.

One Stop Service for Multiple Projects on your Yacht

By Chris Brown on May 16, 2014 in Cylinders, Hydraulics, Stabilizers

Having a machine shop, Straight Line Marine; a running gear shop, High Seas Yacht Service and a dedicated hydraulics business, High Seas Hydraulics under one roof at Lauderdale Marine Center really pays off for our customers who are in need of running gear and hydraulics work done on their boats while they are hauled in the yard.

Hose coupling being attached according to specifications.

We just completed work on a 73 foot Palmer Johnson Sport Fisher – a very unique vessel. The NAIAD Stabilizer System required a complete rebuild from replacing the bearings to new seals, hoses and cylinders. We were able to take advantage of our specialized capabilities in the hydraulics shop to make the new hydraulic hoses with our Parker crimping equipment. We have the ability to make hydraulic hoses up to 1-1/4 inches in diameter. We were also able to re-build and stress test the hydraulic cylinders with the help of Straight Line Marine.

We also performed basic running gear service on this boat, removing and straightening the shafts in our machine shop and replacing the Lasdrop Dripless Shaft Seal system using our mechanics at High Seas Yacht Service.

Our customers have come to rely on the High Seas family of companies for one stop shopping to get the job done right in a timely and efficient manner.

NAIAD Shafts; Common Problems – Unique Solutions

By Chris Brown on May 13, 2014 in Hydraulics, Naiad, Stabilizers

Newly cladded NAIAD Stabilizer shaft

One of the most common problems we see on mega yachts is crevice corrosion and wear on stainless steel shafts, whether those shafts are propeller, rudder or NAIAD stabilizer shafts. Stainless steel shafts can be damaged by excessive wear in contact areas, such as bearings or seals due to long life or misalignment. Shafts can also be damaged from crevice corrosion or stray current corrosion.

The solution to these problems can range from cladding the existing stabilizer shafts or fabricating entirely new units. Cladding or shaft weld-over, is the process of repairing a worn or damaged area on a shaft. This type of work is done by our on-site machine shop, Straight Line Marine, which is the only shop in Florida that is ABS approved to perform this type of work on propeller shafts. Replacing a large NAIAD stabilizer shaft would cost thousands of dollars, depending on the size. However, the cladding repair is less than a thousand dollars.

This was the case on a 145 foot Trinity yacht that we were working on rebuilding its NAIAD Stabilizer System. When pitting or crevice corrosion becomes too extensive, it prevents the lip seal from establishing a tight fit thus allowing sea water in or oil to leak out of the system.

We removed the shafts, cladded them and installed new lip seals in the NAIAD Stabilizer and the owner was good to go.

Upgrading a NAIAD Stabilizer System for better Fit and Performance

By Chris Brown on May 13, 2014 in Cylinders, Hydraulics, Naiad, Stabilizers

NAIAD Stabilizer lower bearing housing

While performing routine lip seal maintenance on a NAIAD Stabilizer System on a 120 foot Custom Yacht; we found excessive amounts of corrosion on the external side of the housing. The corrosion was so bad we could not remove the plates in order to replace the seals.

An important component to the comfort and safety of any vessel, the principle behind NAIAD fin stabilization is to counteract the tendency of a vessel to roll with an equivalent and opposite righting moment applied in exactly the proper phase and proportion. These righting moment forces are typically generated from a pair of underwater fins, although other control surfaces are also available. Wave forces are thus prevented from aggravating the vessel’s natural tendency to roll.

Specially designed hydraulic press

Once the fins were removed from the NAIAD Stabilizer, the corrosion on the shaft and in the bearings was so significant that the shaft could not be removed using the most common methods. In order to get the shaft out, we built a special hydraulic press to drive the shaft out of the boat. With the shafts out, we then worked with NAIAD to upgrade the system to the next larger size unit.

Upgrading to the next size required a new housing which required fiberglass modifications to resize the hole in the hull.

What started out as a routine job turned into a complete replacement and modification to the yacht in order to guarantee continued high performance and comfort at sea.

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