Motor Boat & Yachting - January 2016 UK

The latest marine innovations from our experts

NEW TECH

TECHNICAL

Dave Marsh

NAVIGATION

Mel Bartlett

PRODUCTS

Nick Burnham

Humphree takes the zero-speed fins story a stage further with its new integrated trim and stabiliser system

Keeping things on the level

Just when you thought that the gyro

versus fins debate might finally reach

closure, yet another new stabilising

system is announced. This time it

comes from Humphree, the

manufacturer of high speed

interceptors. This Swedish company

has combined its existing interceptors

with new zero-speed fins.

A cynic might argue that this

development is not new, as it has

always been possible to combine any

of Humphree’s five basic interceptor

systems with another manufacturer’s

fins, or with a gyro instead. And

doubtless those combinations would

deliver a sophisticated boat control

system. The big difference with

Humphree’s system is that the myriad

functions are all under the control of

a single digital brain, not two non-

communicating electronic minds.

CLEAR LINES OF COMMUNICATION

With that integration in mind, I’d suggest

two key points arise. Humphree’s

system includes as standard its CTOS

function (Coordinated Turn

Optimisation System). In my opinion,

that is significant because it adds the

final element of comfort and safety

under way. CTOS provides what I call a

‘gravitationally neutral’ turn, that is, the

angle of heel in a turn is controlled such

that, whatever the boat’s speed, your

body is neither forced towards the

outside of the bend, nor left to fall

towards the inside of

the turn. That constancy will also be

relevant to all those G&Ts you’ve just

lined up on the bar.

Secondly, this system is based

around Humphree’s top-end Active

Ride Control. As such it incorporates

automatic control (with manual

override, naturally) of roll and the

associated list induced by crosswinds

or a static transverse trim. Potentially,

I see this as one of its significant

benefits; the ability of the interceptors

at higher speeds to substantially

reduce the current draw of the electric

fin actuators/motors, which have

a maximum rating of 80A.

Of course, modern boats are rarely

short of power, but the less the

MY TAKE: Once you’ve experienced how

effective stabilisers can be you’ll wonder

how you ever coped without. The risk is

that yards start using them to mask deficiencies

rather than enhancing an already capable hull. Hugo

The Dominator 800 will be one of the

first boats to have the new Humphree

integrated trim and stabiliser system