Seakeeper Gyro Retrofit – Calypso Star II

Calypso Star Charters – Shark Cage DivingPort Lincoln, South Australia

WE MAKE BOATSPERFORM BETTER.

Andrew Wright, General manager at Calypso Star Charters shares his reasons for choosing to install a Seakeeper M26000 on the charter vessel, Calypso Star II, which specialises in offshore shark cage diving at Port Lincoln, South Australia.

Why did you choose to retrofit a Seakeeper Gyro to your boat?

The aim for us when considering and then installing a Seakeeper was improving the experience for our guests. We felt we’d worked really hard to make all of the elements of the business that we could control exceptional. The things we still couldn’t control were the seasickness of our guests, the weather and whether the sharks would show up.

I started reading up about stabilisation products and looking at what was available on the market and what might help us to improve the stability of the boat and ultimately limiting seasickness and improving the overall client experience. I’d researched a few different products including fins, which work well when underway but I was looking for something that was good when underway but best when at rest. I hadn’t heard about the Seakeeper Gyro Stabilisers but started

Project Details

Products Supplied and Fitted

• Retrofit a Seakeeper M26000 into a commercial shark cage diving vessel

• Fitted by A Mcfarlane and Sons /Twin Disc Pacific using the Bond in method

Project

SEAKEEPER GYRO RETROFIT

CALYPSO STAR CHARTERS

“It’s almost as effective as putting legs down like those Jack Up boats they use in oil and gas!”

Andrew Wright

reading and hearing more about them when reading articles, blogs and on superyacht forums so I started learning more about their range, as they seemed to offer the solution we were looking for.

When I found out that Twin Disc Pacific are the exclusive distributors it gave me great comfort and confidence in the Seakeepers as I’d dealt with Twin Disc previously with their gearboxes and transmissions so I knew they only dealt with good quality products that are reliable, they provide service support and that work.

Have you been happy with the performance of the Seakeeper Gyro?

Yes, it’s been brilliant, wouldn’t build another boat without one.

I’d forego other things so we could ensure we had a Gyro – it’s that good! It is now crucial to the comfort of our guests and the success of our business. Twin Disc and Seakeeper completed some fairly exhaustive testing for us to determine what level of roll we could expect and we’ve pretty much achieved exactly what they said, limiting up to 80% of the roll. It’s almost as effective as putting legs down like those ‘Jack Up’ boats they use in oil and gas!

While the vessel is underway or anchored, and during critical shark cage operation, the gyro creates a stable platform. This makes for happier customers and enables more operating days for Calypso Star Charters, adding to the business’ profitability.

What commercial benefit does having the Seakeeper bring to your business?

The Seakeeper certainly delivers what we set out for it to do: improving the overall experience for our guests.

The benefits for our guests really start when we leave the marina and until we return in the afternoon. The trip out to the Neptune Islands is a lot more comfortable in just about any conditions. When we arrive, the boat is just so stable ensuring our guests are more comfortable for their day with the sharks. They get to spend more time in the cage, more time on deck looking for sharks and immersing themselves in the beautiful ocean environment.

As a result of our clients having a more enjoyable experience we too see a direct commercial benefit. From the first day we put the Seakeeper in the Calypso Star II, we immediately noticed an increase in onboard merchandise and alcohol sales, simply because people were having a more enjoyable experience and not getting as seasick as they may have previously.

We also lose fewer days to bad weather now, whereas before the Seakeeper there may have been days where we couldn’t go to sea due to the weather or the swell.

The crew also see the benefit from the Seakeeper. The guests are more comfortable and have a more enjoyable time and they have less mess to clean up and seasick passengers to comfort! It also means they’re not constantly cleaning up or picking up mess from spills or breakages.

What was the retrofit installation process like?

It was really quite smooth and simple – better than I expected. We worked with an installer who is a marine surveyor due to our boat being in charter and that just made it so much better.

They were very thorough and detailed with the full pre, during and post-installation process ensuring the

Project

SEAKEEPER GYRO RETROFIT

CALYPSO STAR CHARTERS

foundation work was solid. When the Seakeeper arrived, it was pretty much as simple as bolting it in, adding power and water and away it went. The key too was leaving access for servicing, which again was thought about during the pre-installation process.

What would you say to other commercial operators considering a Seakeeper Gyro?

Just do it, buy one!

If you’re in an industry like where you’re constantly exposed to the open ocean you’re still going to have some days when even with the Seakeeper the swell or conditions are too rough. But we find that we can go on days that other operators can’t, so the commercial advantage is significant. It’s also about ensuring the comfort of your guests and doing whatever you can to make sure they enjoy their experience with you, walk off your boat with a smile on their face and tell their family, friends and colleagues how good an experience they had with your business.

The Seakeeper is a significant investment but it has saved and made us money.

A word of advice though, make sure you listen to Twin Disc and take notice of the roll reduction tests and estimates. We considered investing in a smaller Seakeeper but it just wouldn’t have delivered the results

Calypso Star Charters was founded in 1990 by Rolf Czabayski, an avid game fisherman who operated fishing charters for Great White Sharks prior to their protection in 1997. Over time the emphasis of his charters changed to live aboard Shark Cage Diving.

During the late 1990s, the popularity of his 3 to 4 day cage diving tours led to the launch of MV Calypso Star, a purpose built vessel for Shark Cage Diving allowing him to bring people face to face with the sharks in their natural habitat.

Andrew Wright joined Calypso Star Charters in November 2002 as Rolf’s only employee. Andrew

Calypso Star Charters Shark Cage Diving

we wanted, so be conscious that saving a few dollars up front may cost you in the long run. It’s better to listen to the recommendations and spend a little extra to get a Seakeeper that is right for your boat.

TWIN DISC PACIFIC PTY LTD40 Telford StreetVirginia QLD 4014 AustraliaPhone: +61 (7) 3265-1200Web: www.twindisc.comEmail: twindisc.brisbane@twindisc.com.au

Project

SEAKEEPER GYRO RETROFIT

CALYPSO STAR CHARTERS

“Just makes the trip so much more comfortable and enjoyable, love the Seakeeper ”

Carmel and Rod Jansen Travel Bloggers

began as a deck hand and over the next 4 years achieved engineering and skipper qualifications allowing him to Captain MV Calypso Star. More people choose to cage dive with Calypso Star Charters than any other Shark Cage Diving operator in Australia.

Calypso Star Charters is fully licensed by the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources.

Located in Port Lincoln, South Australia Calypso Star Charters are privileged to be the only one-day shark cage diving operator who is permitted to use natural fish burley to attract the Great White Sharks to their boat at the Neptune Islands Marine Park. Being permitted to burley provides guests with the best possible chance of a shark sightings and productive interaction close to their vessel and cage resulting in a memorable encounter and wonderful photographic opportunities.

Along with this license, they are proud to be Advanced Eco Certified and their Captains’ are Eco Certified Guides. Receiving this certification provides them with

• One day Shark Cage Dives and Twilight Trips available

• NO diver qualification or previous experience required!

• Awarded South Australia’s Best Adventure Tour & Tourist Attraction in 2016

• Ranked Number 1 on Trip Advisor

• NO minimum passenger numbers

• Highest shark sighting success rate amongst the one day operators in Port Lincoln

• Only boat with a Seakeeper Gyro Stabiliser

Calypso Star Charters Shark Cage Diving

Calypso Star Charters Shark Cage DivingTelephone: +61 (8) 8682 3939 Email: info@sharkcagediving.com.au http://www.sharkcagediving.com.au

the recognition that they conduct their operations in a way that is environmentally conscious and sustainable whilst also providing an educational component.

Project

SEAKEEPER GYRO RETROFIT

CALYPSO STAR CHARTERS

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SEAKEEPER GYRO RETROFIT

CALYPSO STAR CHARTERS