A category of our own
The results are indisputable. Seakeeper Ride outperforms all other transom mounted systems.
As the motion control experts, we understand the physics of eliminating underway pitch and roll. It’s why Seakeeper Ride outperforms the competition, and to prove it – we put them head-to-head!
11%
of roll eliminated
2%
of pitch eliminated
4%
of roll eliminated
4%
of pitch eliminated
32%
of roll eliminated
28%
of pitch eliminated
** The above figures represent average pitch and roll elimination across three separate testing days. Percent reductions include each transom-mounted system vs. the boat’s bare hull.
Product Categories
Manual Systems
Conventional trim tabs controlled by the operator with no automation.
Active Trim Systems
Lenco Pro Control Auto and Zipwake automate basic trim tab functions, reducing workload but not fundamentally changing underway performance.
Underway Stabilization System
Seakeeper Ride creates dynamic and automatic underway stabilization in the pitch, roll, and yaw axes.
The difference comes down to speed and control.
Seakeeper Ride actuators move 40x faster than Lenco Pro Control and 20x faster than Zipwake. That speed, combined with a sophisticated sensing suite, control logic, and real-time variable gain algorithm, is what enables the true dynamic stabilization.
Seakeeper Ride’s variable gain algorithm is a proprietary controls logic backed by smart sensors that automatically adjust the system’s sensitivities based on input motions. This means the system automatically adjusts to factors such as sea state, sea direction, hull size/shape, and more, therefore also requiring no additional commissioning or tuning during any point of operation.
Per the chart below, Seakeeper Ride’s underway pitch and roll reductions in Auto are similar in magnitude when compared against manual operation as well as against the boat’s bare hull (no system deployed). The opposite is true of competitive systems. In other words, the pitch/roll reductions marketed by these companies are the result of increased average deployment – similar performance can be achieved with a manual trim tab as when operating these competitive systems in Auto Mode.
It’s not just about reducing workload; it’s about transforming the ride.
Performance Summary
| Seakeeper Ride | Lenco | Zipwake | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pitch | Roll | Pitch | Roll | Pitch | Roll | |
| Auto vs. Manual | 25.3% | 22.9% | -2.6% | -2.1% | 0.2% | -5.7% |
| Auto vs. Bare Hull | 26.2% | 30.4% | 2.2% | 2.9% | 3.9% | 1.3% |
Systems Info
| Underway Stabilization Systems | Active Trim Systems | Manual Systems | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seakeeper Ride 450 | Lenco Pro control auto 12in x 12in | Zipwake series E 400 E | Zipwake series S 450 S | Zipwake pro series E 400 E | Zipwake pro series S 450 S | Humphree Lightening l300 (dynamic Plus) | Standard trim tabs | |
| Deployment Rate (inches per second) | 11.81 Seakeeper Ride’s unmatched deployment speed is the defining feature that enables it to provide complete underway stabilization. | 0.7 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 7.9 | 4 | 3.03 | 0.35 |
| Full Stroke Length (inches) | 1 | 2.25 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 2 | 2.25 |
| Total Time to Full Stroke (seconds) | 0.8 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.65 | 6.43 |
| Roll Authority at Full Deployment (degrees) | 10.9 | 9.9 | 15.5 | Not Tested | Not Tested | Not Tested | Not Tested | 9.9 |
| Pitch Authority at Full Deployment (degrees) | 2.4 | 1.3 | 3.5 | Not Tested | Not Tested | Not Tested | Not Tested | 1.3 |
| Gain Setting | Variable* | Manual | Manual | Manual | Manual | Manual | Manual | Manual |
| Retail Price | $4,500 | $2,675 | $6,430 | $3,500 | $7,260 | $4,380 | $7,378 | Varies |
*Seakeeper Ride’s variable gains mean that it has a smart-sensing suite that automatically adjusts the systems’s sensitivities to changing sea state, sea direction, hull size/shape, etc., therefore requiring no additional commissioning or tuning during any point of operation.
The Test
Now, we’re not ones to make claims we can’t back up. Let’s get into the nitty gritty of our tests.
We ran three identical Sportsman Open 262 Center Consoles with competitive products installed side-by-side for 2.5-5-minute intervals over the same geographical course and in five different sea headings.
See additional test details.
We collected results that included:
Auto Mode vs Bare Hull
Each system was tested in Auto Mode vs. the bare hull of the Sportsman Open 262 Center Console with no system deployed or engaged.
Auto Mode vs Manual Mode
Each system was tested in Auto Mode and compared against its operation in manual mode where the captain worked to optimize manual deployment like one would do with traditional trim tabs. The other systems being operated manually by the captain, like traditional trim tabs, to optimize performance.
All boats/systems in auto vs each other
Each system was compared in Auto Mode vs. all other systems also in Auto Mode. With both systems in Auto, the boat with Lenco installed experienced 44.6% MORE PITCH motions and 21.4% MORE ROLL motions than the boat with Seakeeper Ride.
With both systems in Auto, the boat with Zipwake installed experienced 37.5% MORE PITCH motions and 42.9% MORE ROLL motions than the boat with Seakeeper Ride.
Additional Tests
Here are a few other things we tested…
Pitch Control
We tested pitch control for each system by actively seeking situations in which the boat would porpoise (induced via engine trim) and then switching into Auto Mode.
Click on graphs to enlarge
Switching to Auto Mode mitigates pitch significantly. On the boat, it felt as if it was eliminated entirely.
Seakeeper Ride
In Auto Mode, average deployment ramps up to mitigate porpoising. Essentially no change to porpoising motion when system is in Auto Mode vs. Manual Mode during these 15-20 sec intervals.
No noticeable change to pitching motion when system returns to Auto Mode again.
Lenco
Switching to Auto Mode appeared to do nothing for pitching both onboard and viewing the data. (System only focuses on roll, and pitch bias must be added by the captain).
Zipwake
Switching to Auto Mode mitigates pitch significantly. On the boat, it felt as if it was eliminated entirely.
In Auto Mode, average deployment ramps up to mitigate porpoising. Essentially no change to porpoising motion when system is in Auto Mode vs. Manual Mode during these 15-20 sec intervals.
No noticeable change to pitching motion when system returns to Auto Mode again.
Switching to Auto Mode appeared to do nothing for pitching both onboard and viewing the data. (System only focuses on roll, and pitch bias must be added by the captain).
yaw control
Seakeeper Ride was 10x times more effective in roll reduction while reducing yaw, while Lenco and Zipwake induced yaw as an outcome of trying fight roll.
Motion in the yaw axis can come from natural wave encounters and/or as an adverse effect of asymmetrically deployed systems, typically when fighting rolling motions. Adverse yaw, in addition to an unnatural feeling, can be problematic for steering or other stabilization systems, like a gyro, because the systems are out of phase. Seakeeper Ride is the only system fighting yaw, in addition to pitch/roll motions.
Percent Reductions in Yaw
Auto vs. Bare Hull | 1.8 ft. at 3.2 sec.
| Seakeeper Ride | Lenco | Zipwake | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto-Pilot OFF | 11% | -6.2% | -10% |
| Auto-Pilot ON | 4.5% | -0.25% | -9% |
lift/drag ratio
1.8 ft at 3.2 Seconds | April 2, 2025
Seakeeper Ride produces 11x more authority for a given amount of drag vs. Lenco and Zipwake.
Lenco gradually increases deployment and remains at full deployment to fight pitch because it cannot do this dynamically; Zipwake does nothing to try and fight pitch as per data here (therefore resulting in the least drag).
Seakeeper Ride
Lenco
Zipwake
| Averages Across All Headings | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combined Port & Starboard Deployment (in.) | Controller Distance Moved (in.) | Avg Authority per Inch Weighted (deg/in) | Total Degrees of Authority* | Combined Drag (lbf)** | Degrees of Authority vs. Average Drag | |
| Seakeeper Ride | .347 | 355.5 | 10.9 | 3,875 | 21.2 | 182.8 |
| Lenco | 2.052 | 67.3 | 3.5 | 235.6 | 150.0 | 1.9 |
| Zipwake | .096 | 25.6 | 6.5 | 165.4 | 5.2 | 31.8 |
* Degrees of authority calculated as total movement x roll static degree authority per inch
** Drag calculated from Dawson & Blount Approximation
There’s no need to settle…
You, too, can see these results with a Seakeeper Ride equipped boat. So, why settle for less when you can have the best? Whether you’re looking for a new boat or want to refit the boat you already know and love, reach out – we’d love to show you what boating can really feel like
