Smartgyro SG20 Stabilizer on Board the Bluegame BG54: an Easy Test

Stability as the New Form of Comfort

A picture-perfect day in Genoa on September 19: clear skies, warm sun, glassy sea. The kind of conditions that usually don’t offer much excitement during a sea trial. And yet, in this perfect calm, the test of the Smartgyro SG20 installed on the Bluegame BG54 proved that technology can make a difference even when the sea doesn’t.

The goal was simple: to understand how much a gyroscopic stabilizer can improve the comfort of a yacht like the BG54, even in minimal wave conditions. To do this, we carried out the first part of the test with the stabilizer switched off, then activated it to assess the contrast between the two situations.

The behavior without the stabilizer

With the sea almost flat, only the wake of other boats created small waves and ripples. In these cases, the BG54 reacted as expected: a slow, wide but gentle roll. Nothing unpleasant, of course, but enough to remind us that even the most stable hulls cannot completely eliminate the natural movement of the sea.

The inertia typical of a 16-meter hull was most noticeable when the boat was stationary or moving slowly. The wake of a passing boat was enough to set it swaying with that transverse motion that many guests immediately perceive as discomfort.

Then you switch it on… and the boat changes

Activating the Smartgyro SG20 was almost imperceptible: no noise, no vibration. But after a few minutes, it was clear that something had changed. The same wave that previously made the hull roll gently was now “cut off” at its root — the roll was drastically reduced, almost eliminated.

It’s an odd feeling, because the sea remains the same — yet the boat seems to rest on a solid plane, as if there were an invisible support beneath the hull. The deck stays level, the bottles on the table don’t move, and the onboard conversation no longer needs to follow the rhythm of the waves.

For those who see the sea as a place of comfort and conviviality, the effect is immediate: less fatigue, greater stability, and an enhanced sense of safety.

Why Smartgyro is different

The SG20 belongs to the new generation of gyroscopic stabilizers developed by Smartgyro, an Italian company within the Yanmar Group. Unlike other systems, it adopts a modular design that allows onboard maintenance without removing the entire unit — a crucial advantage for owners who don’t want to interrupt their boating season for technical servicing.

The flywheel spins inside a hermetically sealed vacuum housing and is liquid-cooled, a solution that drastically reduces friction, temperature, and noise. The electronic core manages everything automatically: inertial sensors constantly read the yacht’s attitude and adjust the anti-roll torque according to the movements detected.

In numbers, this means a maximum torque of about 15,500 Nm and a roll reduction of up to 89%. In practice, it means constant comfort, less fatigue, and a perception of solidity that changes the onboard experience.

Compact and discreet: an installation that doesn’t interfere

With compact dimensions of 76 x 77 x 65 cm and a weight of 495 kg, the Smartgyro SG20 fits easily even in limited spaces. The base frame can be disassembled into four sections to facilitate installation through narrow hatches, making it suitable for refit projects without invasive structural work.

No external appendages are required, the hull lines remain unchanged, and the impact on interior space is virtually zero. For the owner, this means keeping the yacht’s original design intact while adding a new level of comfort.

The ideal partner for the BG54

The BG54 combines a sporty spirit with the pleasure of a true yacht. The SG20, designed for boats between 45 and 55 feet, perfectly fits this DNA: compact, efficient, and silent. It does not alter the waterlines, requires no external components, and operates even at anchor.

For the owner, this means enjoying the full Bluegame experience — at anchor or during lunch in a bay — without a passing wave spoiling the moment.

The conclusion of a “quiet” test

The September 19 sea trial was not spectacular. No storm, no big waves. And precisely for that reason, it was meaningful: under ideal conditions, the Smartgyro SG20 proved its worth not as a “technical lifesaver” in rough seas, but as a daily comfort amplifier.

Giacomo Giulietti

©PressMare - All rights reserved