Island Engineering in Piney Point, Md. provides motion control equipment and a wide array of engineering services to the advanced marine vehicle industry. The company, which is led by four highly seasoned engineers specializing in surface effect ships, has been involved in a number of different endeavors including, high-speed catamaran, small waterplane area twin-hull (SWATH), monohull and wave-piercing catamaran projects worldwide.

Among Island Engineering’s accomplishments are the specially engineered T-foils, ActiveSkegs™ and inceptors. A T-foil is an inverted ‘T’ running underwater that uses titanium flaps that pivot in order to stabilize motion. T-foils can be found on high-speed catamarans and on vessels capable of speeds up to 50 knots.

The inverted ‘T’ – similar to the T-tails on jets – is equipped with flaps commanded by a central fly-by-wire computer system. The unit sends real time commands to the T-foil flap and interceptor actuators telling them exactly how to position themselves, enabling the vessel to reduce its motion in waves, drastically decreasing the incidence of seasickness. An ActiveSkeg™ is a stabilizing fin that keeps the craft on course. The boat only strays up to +/- 2 degrees off course, compared to up to +/- 20 degrees without the Island Engineering technology.

The T-Foil flaps, interceptors and ActiveSkeg™ all pivot on T500 bearings. Island Engineering chose these bearings for their high compressive strength and ability to withstand the adverse effects of saltwater. T500 bearings last twice as long as coated or metallic bearings in applications involving high radial pressures – in excess of 8,700 pounds per square inch (PSI) – and low bearing surface speeds, such as the T-foil, which subject the bearings to 5,000 PSI and one cycle every three to six seconds. Island Engineering also benefits from the plastic construction and low moisture absorption of the T500 bearings, which enable them to be continually immersed in saltwater without corroding or failing.

Island Engineering saves money by using the bearings because they are an off-the-shelf solution, eliminating the need for an expensive, custom-made component. While failure in the field is minimal, T500 bearings are available to Island Engineering and its customers with overnight delivery, which greatly reduces time spent on maintenance.

“T500 is what I would call a problem-solving bearing,” said Rick Loheed, director of engineering for Island Engineering. “In the 6 years that we have been employing it and the previous year’s service on the T-foil, we have been impressed with its performance and with the service provided by igus and its sales force.”