Smartgyro SG80 Aboard Rising Son, a Viking 58 Convertible

Gyro stabilization has gone from superyacht luxury to must-have equipment on serious sportfishing boats, and the market finally has real competition. In this video we step aboard Rising Son, a Viking 58 Convertible, to look at the Smartgyro SG80, the Italian-built gyro making its case against the incumbents. It is part boat tour, part tech walkthrough, and if you fish offshore on anything over 50 feet, it is worth your time.

The boat: Viking's proven 58 Convertible

The platform matters here. Viking lists the 58C at 58 feet 11 inches with a 17-foot 9-inch beam, three staterooms, and a cockpit of about 165 square feet that the builder calls the largest in its class. With the optional MTU power, Viking lists a top speed of 42 knots and a 36-knot cruise, varying with load and conditions. It is a tournament boat through and through, which makes it a demanding home for any stabilizer: big seas, long days at trolling speed, and owners who notice everything.

The gyro: what Smartgyro is doing differently

A gyro stabilizer spins a heavy flywheel at high speed and uses the resulting torque to cancel a boat's roll, at anchor and underway. The practical effect is a crew that fishes longer, sleeps better, and steps off the boat less beat up. Where Smartgyro aims to stand apart is serviceability. The company designed its units to be modular, so major components can be broken down to pass through normal access hatches and the gyro can be serviced in place, without hauling the boat or cutting the deck to crane the unit out. For a boat that fishes a full season, keeping maintenance aboard the boat instead of in a yard is a real argument.

In the walkthrough we look at where the SG80 lives on Rising Son, how the installation came together, and what the owner and crew get out of it day to day.

Who should be paying attention

If you own or run a convertible, a big center console, or a cruising yacht and you have been assuming stabilization means one brand, this video is the counterpoint. Competition in gyros means better pricing, better service options, and more install flexibility for everyone. And if you are shopping boats in this class, factor stabilization into the budget from day one. It changes how the boat gets used.

Watch the full walkthrough on the Nautical Network YouTube channel, and browse more originals for other gear and boat deep dives. Shopping for a sportfish of your own? Start with the marketplace.