The install of the Seakeeper has been underway for a few weeks now. The first step was removing some of the cabinetry in the lazarette and relocating the shore power transformers.  Fortunately Marine Services figured out the transformers could go up on the shelf behind their previous location.  That meant the cordsets didn’t need to be changed and the modifications were kept to a minimum.

In the picture above the transformers are moved to their new locations, the shelf has been removed and the steering gear is still visible.  The steering rams, the tie bar visible in the lower portion of the image, the air conditioning shelving on the left, the autopilot pump and a myriad of other small and large items have also been removed to allow the bracket to make it in.

Here’s the bracket coming together.  This is the actual portion that the Seakeeper will bolt onto.  The rest of the bracket that will glue to the stringers and pick up the outboard stringers will be fit in place in the engine room then tacked together.  The bracket is being made out of 6061 3/8″ aluminum alloy.

 

While it’s a little hard to tell in this picture there are three people in a remarkably small space in the engine room.  This is while all the measurements were being taken and the dry-fitting was taking place.

And now most of the dry fitting is done for the primary stringers.  Work continues on tying in the outer engine stringers and finishing up the bracket.  Once complete the bracket will pick up four engine beds, the transom and two transverse stringers.  I’m certainly hopeful that this will prove sufficient to avoid any damage to the boat from the force of the Seakeeper.  If you look carefully you can see the air conditioners are currently hanging waiting for the bracket to be finished.  Once done, the AC units will be tied into the bracket supports and shelving will be built around the stabilizer to recover some of the lost storage space.

Hopefully some time next week the stabilizer itself will go in.  Once that happens the boat will go in the water very shortly thereafter.