Fin stabilizer, a vibration damping element and a watercraft

Abstract

A fin stabilizer is provided for roll stabilization of a watercraft. The fin stabilizer includes a drive unit connected in a vibration-damping manner to a ship's structure. Specifically, a vibration damping element is provided between the drive unit and the hull of the watercraft wall such that a mounting portion of the drive unit is spaced from an attachment portion of the hull wall.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A fin stabilizer for roll stabilization of a watercraft, the watercraft having a hull wall with an attachment portion, the fin stabilizer comprising:
 a rotatably mounted stabilizer fin;   a drive unit for changing an angle of attack of the stabilizer fin and having a mounting portion fastenable to the attachment portion on the hull wall; and   at least one vibration damping element arranged between the mounting portion of the drive unit and the attachment portion of the hull wall such that the mounting portion is spaced from the attachment portion.   
     
     
         2 . The fin stabilizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vibration damping element includes a plurality of vibration damping elements. 
     
     
         3 . The fin stabilizer according to  claim 2 , wherein each one of the plurality of vibration damping elements has an outer part releasably connected to the mounting portion of the drive unit and an inner part connected to the attachment portion of the hull wall. 
     
     
         4 . The fin stabilizer according to  claim 3 , wherein the outer part of each vibration damping element is formed of a material having a greater hardness than a material of the inner part. 
     
     
         5 . The fin stabilizer according to  claim 2 , wherein the mounting portion of the drive unit has a plurality of apertures and each one the plurality of vibration damping elements is inserted through a separate one of the plurality of the apertures of the mounting portion. 
     
     
         6 . The fin stabilizer according to  claim 2 , wherein each one of the plurality of vibration damping elements is individually removable while the mounting portion of the drive unit is mounted to the attachment portion of the hull wall. 
     
     
         7 . The fin stabilizer according to  claim 6 , wherein the outer part of each one of the plurality of vibration damping elements has a rotationally asymmetrical outer contour and each one of the plurality of apertures has a rotationally asymmetrical inner contour. 
     
     
         8 . The fin stabilizer according to  claim 2 , wherein a separate one of a plurality of fastening screws extends through each one of the plurality of vibration damping elements and is engaged with a separate one of a plurality of threaded holes of the attachment portion of the hull wall. 
     
     
         9 . A vibration damping element for a fin stabilizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the vibration damping element has an outer part for attachment to the mounting portion of the drive unit and an inner part for attachment to an attachment portion of the hull wall, wherein the inner part of the vibration damping element or the outer part of the vibration damping element has vibration-damping properties. 
     
     
         10 . A watercraft having a fin stabilizer according to  claim 1 .