American Bow Thruster 
Arcturus Marine In The News
TRAC in Yacht Capital
05/01/2006
Now Rolling is Just a Relic of the Past
Today's stabilizers technology has enhanced the yachting experience by increasing comfort and safety while underway and while at rest. Rolling motion is just a souvenir of the old vessels.
Various stabilization methods have been used throughout history to reduce rolling motion on commercial, military, and, more recently, recreational vessels. Wave-tanks (movable ballast), gyros, bilge-keels, steadying sails, and paravanes are but some examples. Modern, active fin stabilizers have today largely replaced these techniques.
For the recreational yacht market, fin stabilizers had traditionally been limited to long-distance trawlers and/or larger (expensive) mega-yachts. As motion-control technology and electro-hydraulics have become more available, more reliable, and more affordable, the number of recreational vessels with active fin stabilization has exploded. Today, virtually all vessels over 15 meters can be economically fitted with fin stabilizers at build or as a re-fit.
Recreational yachts today are used for much more than just voyaging from port-to-port. From corporate entertaining to expended living aboard, and often as a remote office, these yachts require a higher level of safety and comfort. For owners and guests with limited "sea legs", reducing vessel motion significantly improves the overall experience.
Active fin stabilization widens the "weather window" allowing normal use of the yacht in more challenging conditions. Charter schedules can be maintained and more at-sea days can be enjoyed. For an owner with a strict calendar, the addition of stabilization can be the solution for a successful cruising season. Vessel fuel economy can be improved as well through the use of active fin stabilization. Most hulls "steer" as they roll, requiring constant rudder correction to maintain the desired course. By eliminating roll, and thus roll-induced steering, less rudder correction is required, overall drag is reduced, and less fuel is required for the voyage.
Arcturus Marine (California-USA) have been manufacturing TRAC Ride Control, Thruster, and integrated Hydraulic systems for nearly 20 years. TRAC systems are manufactured primarily in the USA and are distributed worldwide through a dealer and service network. Many top shipyards, such as Azimut, Baglietto, Ferretti, Pisa, San Lorenzo, et al., install TRAC stabilizers as standard equipment on their yachts, on displacement hulls to today's modern high-speed motor yachts.
A basic TRAC system will be comprised of a TRAC LCD Pilothouse Panel, TRAC Servo-control unit with sensor group, hydraulic servo-valves, and TRAC actuators with the appropriately sized fins. Fluid power to move the fins is typically supplied by hydraulic pumps mounted to engines or gearbox PTOs. In some cases, stand-alone AC powerpacs are also utilized. Active Digital Fin Stabilizer systems such as TRAC utilize high-speed signal processing and advanced control algorithms to sense vessel motion and to apply exactly the correct amount of fin-angle to counter the roll. Similar technology is used to stabilize satellites. The secret to TRAC's effectiveness is to detect the initiation of roll and to move the fins instantly so that the motion is eliminated. Digital 3-term control insures performance beyond expectation.
The TRAC system is the most modern and accurate available today. Operating the TRAC Digital Fin Stabilizers could not be simpler. The advanced LCD touch-screen panel is very intuitive and features easy selection of day or night viewing. The TRAC control system is completely automated and requires no adjustment underway, regardless of sea-state or wave angle. The TRAC system senses changes in conditions or in vessel trim and seamlessly fine-tunes the TRAC stabilizers for maximum effectiveness.
TRAC stabilizer fins and exclusive winglets are computer-optimized to provide the highest lift-to-drag ratio available. Fins are built to exacting standards using modern vacuum-infusion methods, GRP laminates, and structural foam cores. TRAC fins are free-flooding and near neutrally buoyant, reducing overall weight. The TRAC winglets create an "end-plate" at the tip of the fin to prevent the escape of water from the high-pressure side of the fin to the low-pressure side. This increases the overall efficiency of the fin and provides more anti-roll force than conventional offerings. The TRAC winglet also significantly reduces drag creating "tip vortex". TRAC fins and actuators are selected (sized) based on specifics of the vessel hull, roll period, speed range, and meta-centric roll radius.
ARCTURUS MARINE SYSTEM has developed a database of all applications which produces the best fin and actuator combination for the most effective stabilization. TRAC systems are available in 2, 4, 6-fin combinations for yachts of 15 to 80 meters in length. TRAC actuators are built for heavy-duty service in extreme conditions. Load-bearing components are intentionally over-sized for long life. Double sealed shaft housings insure virtually maintenance-free operation.
A recent feature added to the TRAC system is "automatic pin locking". The TRAC fins are mechanically locked in the center position when the vessel is maneuvering or backing. This is a fail-safe system that also engages if hydraulic pressure is lost. No longer does the crew have access the actuators to "pin the fins".
A recent enhancement to the TRAC product line is a capability to reduce rolling motion while at rest. Known as TRAC-STAR (STabilization At Rest), vessel motion when drifting, at anchor, or on a mooring is significantly dampened. The TRAC-STAR feature utilizes specially designed fins and modified controls to counter rolling action. Carefully timed "pulses" of energy are delivered into the water to negate rolling tendency.
For higher-speed yachts where standard fins are not applicable, Arcturus Marine has developed the "InTRAC" system. Transom mounted actuators feature a "blade" that is extended into the water flow, creating the lifting force required for fore/aft trim or roll adjustment. The TRAC software is configured to automatically provide trim control during acceleration and then roll control once the yacht is on plane. "InTRAC" actuators can be combined with standard TRAC fin/actuator units for roll control throughout the vessel speed range.
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