How to use a bow thruster on a sailboat. On this My Boat DIY project, Mike Gridley walks throu.
How to use a bow thruster on a sailboat.
This episode was featured in episode 12 of the 2014 season.
How to use a bow thruster on a sailboat That helps with my problem that my 100w solar panels can only provide a max of 8 amperes (100w/12v) so the issue is that if the solar is charging and I use a 10amp or above B2B it would just suck power from the house bank everytime the sun shines. The disadvantages of batteries up forward far outweigh the supposed advantage. For those that aren’t sure exactly what So I have often been heard to say that bow thrusters are for pussies. Bow thrusters are fitted at the bow or stern and make it possible to Dear All, Can anybody please advise me how to connect a Steel Bow Thruster to a wooden boat. On small to mid-sized boats without generators onboard, these electrical demands can be taxing on the batteries and DC electrical system. Budget $7-10K for a bow thruster and compare that to what you could get in a state-of-the-art chartplotter, wind instrument, auto pilot and AIS. By following these steps, you can safely and effectively use a bow thruster to dock your sailboat. Retractable vs. Most boats have a diesel motor with an alternator that can be used to recharge the house electrical bank. peter radclyffe, Sep 7, 2010 #9. skenes , elements of yacht design J Class Designs. Easiest solution was to fit a bow thruster. Research the power you’d like to use to propel your thruster, battery or hydraulic. very shallow entry, and not much weight. The bow thruster is the small propeller at the bow of the boat. The motor that does not have much weight could be stored somewhere around the anchor close to the bow. I have the instructions from Hunter that restricts the tunnel size to 6 inches, which restrict the size of the thruster that can be installed. I Easy to use – bow thrusters’ operation is as simple as the push of a button. Contact. _____ How to select a bowthruster? Which size of battery bank does your yacht need? Find the answers and advice on a reliable installation in this bowthruster vide Enjoy the Bow Thruster - Great Decision ! Frank, when we ordered our 2000 h450 (in 1999) it was to become our home. This is particularly handy when manoeuvring in tight spaces, or when wind or current is making boat handling difficult. “The common misconception is that you can only run the bow thruster for a few seconds,” says Nolet. Once the boat is lined up with the dock, use the bow thruster to maintain the boats position and bring it to a complete stop. What is a bow thruster? This is a propeller placed at the front of the boat, perpendicular to the direction of travel, and controlled from the helm station via a powerful electric motor. Computer-brained joystick control systems are the rage for close-quarters docking, but many skippers handle their boats just fine using throttles and a Q: I have a Vancouver 32 and I’m considering fitting a bow thruster as it’s a long keel yacht and berthing can sometimes be challenging. First lets have a look at what the manufacture (a good tip for any installation) says for physically installing the tunnel. 1) Better manoeuvrability at low speeds of the ship. A bow thruster comes in very handy when conditions are such, in calm waters with no wind I probably wouldn't touch the stick. We use it inland as well as on the coast and have Do It Yourself Bowthruster installation video - Sailing SV Compromise 📹 VIDEO DESCRIPTION: In this video we show you how we installed our bowthruster, we de An Electric Bow Thruster (DC Thruster) is based on its thrust, predominately used in leisure boats ranging from 20ft to 100ft. Adding a bow thruster to your boat is a game-changer, especially for keeping the paint on your classic wooden boat in top shape. May install an external bow thruster. Bow thrusters can come standard on a new vessel or be retro-fitted on boats over 45 feet. If you are looking to buy or sell a yacht What Sort of Boats Are Bow Thrusters Suitable For? Any boat of a medium size or larger can conceivably be fitted with a thruster. Quick Bow Thruster – Single Propeller are ideal for boats sized between 7-9. Power options – Typically, smaller boats use DC power, and larger ones use AC or hydraulic power. we are considering several used boats around the 40' and up range to be used for coastal cruising. If all else fails, you can put one of those little swivel seats that they put in bass boats on your from a technology standpoint, a lifepo4 bank that powers the thrusters is almost an ideal set up. BOW THRUSTERS A small propeller mounted in a tube welded into the bow section of a narrowboat hull to aid maneuvering. com Have to agree with Pascal and J. With twin outboards and the Hi there, thanks for your answer. As a Jet First, welcome aboard. I do not have room for an internal bow thruster. It is a parking device for mooring the boat and, is not designed to be used constantly for steering the vessel. However, getting a thruster right near the bow and deep below the waterline can be a challenge on many sailboats with shallow bow sections. Like a “self driving - parking” car. Since a force only acts on the bow, a torque is generated - the yacht moves around its axis of rotation. He later did reasonably well in the Round the Island race, but mainly because it was a drifting match and most of the boats retired. Less maintenance means less hassle and more carefree time out on the water. Understanding Yachtaid Bow Thruster Control Yachtaid’s Bow Maintaining your thruster is easy, if you know the process. 2) To use a bow thruster effectively, it is important to follow best practices, such as using short bursts of thrust and avoiding using it in shallow waters. U-turn in narrow places using a bow thruster (coming soon!) Bow mooring, theory 1; Bow mooring, theory 2; Bow mooring in a wide area Joysticks—whether for steering outboards or bow thrusters—put more control into a captain’s hands. Every year, new boats are built with more and more electrical equipment, systems and gadgets. When choosing a thruster, try to have the largest possible thruster fitted. The bow thruster pushes water to one side or the other depending on It's a very simple concept. Secondly; we stock a Hydraulic Bow Thruster, which is the natural choice when extensive thruster usage or long run cycles are required. But two 60-footers of the same make and model may or may not already have an AC generator or a I have a new Hunter 426DS and I opted for the factory-installed bow thrusters. AND, Karma - being the bitch she is - has come home to roost. Stern thrusters are located at the back of the boat and are used to move the boat forward or backward. For many years tunnel-based bow thrusters were open to the market; Know common terms used on a sailboat. Using a bow thruster while underway is a great way to break a sheer pin or spin the hub on the plastic propped bow thrusters. They are generally located in a tunnel that’s set right I could imagine using the wires of the windlass as a power good source. Narrow boat bow thrusters can be driven either electrically or hydraulically. To use a sailboat bow thruster, turn it on in the direction you want to move. The flexible system is simple to install, can be added to the bow and stern, and is suitable for both shallow and deep keeled boats. If you're a sailor looking to enhance your maneuverabi Using a bow thruster on a sailboat can significantly improve maneuverability and control, making docking and navigating tight spaces much easier. What bothers me is the time duration of the windlass operation. and . For optimal control, a thruster can be installed for both bow and stern use. Optimal position for Yacht Thruster™ installations: Bow Thruster Thinking of installing a bow thruster on a 42' sailboat. Guys, this is how A LOT of Asian boats handle when going through cuts with current and wind. One of the first items to note is the further forward or aft the thruster is the more effective it will be in rotating the boat, this makes perfect sense because the lever arm of the thrust gets larger and larger as the thruster moves away from mid ship. With years of experience in the industry, Yachtaid has handpicked the best bow thrusters in the market to suit your needs. There is 1 180Ah battery under the bunk in the bow. Yacht design has moved on considerably, and sail drives, long waterlines, bow thrusters and high topsides are now the norm, and twin rudders are increasingly commonplace. Dan wanted a bow thruster to make close-quarter maneuvering easier on his inboard cruiser. Most stern thrusters, on the other hand, are mounted outside the hull on the transom as close to the centreline as possible. We have a Mainship 390 single with a Bow thruster I added the side power external unit myself, relatively Experiment using one engine or the other in tandem with the steering wheel, as well. Not kind. The next and most critical decision was to install one that was suitable for the boat. Supply and Fit Solutions. Never touch any moving parts or the electric motor in operation; In the case of installation of more than one panel, Advantages Of Using Bow Thrusters. As its name suggests, an external bow thruster is attached to the bow, making it suitable for boats where it is impossible or undesirable to install a tunnel thruster, due to hull shape or outfitting. I have seen the best of Captains get in a little trouble with that set up. The SideShift was an easier install and on our current boat the only way to fit one in. You can often gain better control for fine-tuning your approach this way. Not so much concerned about what other people think. In this video I show you how to drive your boat sideways using rudder and gears to get the boat to move sideways. Explore everything about bow thrusters—from types like Sidepower to DIY installation. A friend fitted a bow thruster to his Hanse 370 a few years ago, for sensible health reasons. Factor in sophisticated transverse Installing a Stern Thruster Boating Magazine. Boatbuilder Tony Davies responds: “My previous boat was a steel flybridge cruiser and she had horrendous windage. A single prop, tunnel-mounted bow thruster is This is about a new design for a Bow Thruster to be installed in operational (RC) scale model boats. With a little practice, you will be a pro. A bow mounted thruster can be wirelessly deployed without leaving the helm to pivot the bow while maneuvering through tight marinas or docking. One salesman said that a boat with the joystick, without a bow thruster, is just as maneuverable as the same boat with a bow thruster. Total Control. In the mid-1980s, a few boat equipment manufacturers recognized the benefits that a bow thruster could provide for all boat types and sizes, and the development and production of the first thrusters for leisure boats hit the market. If you’ve been looking for a bow thruster for your boat, you may have noticed there are a lot of options. OTOH, if you use the engine daily and at high revs, it will work great. A bow thruster AND a stern thruster, would be The guys at Two Rivers Boatworks bring in the experts at Florida Bow Thrusters to professionally install a custom fitted bow thruster on the Donzi 38. When using your bow thruster or windlass you want as much power coming from your alternator as possible, not the least which is what you are proposing. He reckoned that it took the edge off its performance noticeably. Any opinions welcomed :encouragement: Visit site. But, like most of us, he didn’t have the nerve to cut a large complicated hole below Bow shape and interior space: The deeper your bow is in the water, the more interior space is available - the more straightforward the fitting of the thruster. Bow thrusters push a boat’s bow or stern sideways in either direction through the water. This is also a balance of budget. Bow thrusters are located at the front of the boat and are used to move the boat left or right. The boat’s profile: The longer and taller bodywork your boat has, the more pressure the bow thruster need to push against the wind; Bow shape and interior space: The deeper your bow is in the water, the more interior space is available – the more straightforward the fitting of the thruster This episode was featured in episode 12 of the 2014 season. High amperage output, high amp restore. Bow thrusters often come as standard equipment on newer pleasure boats over 45 feet, but almost any midsize vessel can be retrofitted. 1/redundancy in case a main engine is down and 2/ resale. We have had our S23 for 8 years now and have never seen the need for a bow thruster on it. It has done all that & more, thank you Linda. Most dual rudder boats have a bow thruster. ) A trick to remember that Realize a bow thruster does not eliminate the rule that a sailboat pivots on its CE - the bow thruster will not move the boat sideways, its just another means to rotate the boat. - Holland (1889): The Holland showcased significant advancements in bow thruster technology, You found a used boat that has everything to meet your goal—everything but a bow thruster. Use appropriate heavy wiring back to your house bank. using a bow thruster on a boat with twin engines to leave a dock. I'm new to wooden boat construction. Bow thrusters have become standard equipment on most craft over 30ft and even some smaller ones offer them as an option. Thanks, Bob 23-12-2021, 11:25 #2: sailormed. Each year since the early 1990s, more and more boats are built with bow & stern thrusters, boat owners without them are installing them to make their boats more maneuverable. These guys weren't afraid to cut those two large tunnel thruster holes in the side of their boat!! Tunnel thrusters are usually located 4 to 8 feet back from the bow. 5 hp dual-prop thruster for larger boats up to 60 feet. I know. A Bow thruster would probably cost $20-25k installed, but why not pick up the phone and call a few places, they should be able to quote that right on the phone as it's the same boat as the 53' MY (with a cockpit). "Should I be using a deep cycle or a cranking battery and how should I charge that This episode was featured in episode 12 of the 2014 season. Join Date: Nov 2013 Neither one of us is as agile as we used to be, thought the bow thruster would make things a little easier. I get that your system works as you only have a 4ampere B2B on the bow thruster. Retractable hydraulic bow thrusters are ideal for boats with limited bow space, as they can be In today’s production boats of around 45’-50’, the typical thruster will push the boat’s bow against a direct sidewind of 21-23 knots. If we’d been just installing the thruster, without the joystick, DeBoy says he would have chosen a Vetus 95 kgf (Kilograms of Force refers to the unit’s total thrust), I tend to start my analysis by trying to get a good feel for what an owner will be using a boat for and then selecting a boat to meet those needs. The first one was a Sidepower and the second one is a SideShift. It lets you move the bow to port or starboard. On the occasions that I have docked boats equipped with bow thrusters I found no reason to use them. Joined: Jan 28, 2007 Messages: The first step to installing a bow thruster in your boat is determining the location of the tunnel and cutting the hole where the tunnel will be installed. Have had good customer service from Imtra. And we find two rare anchors that m For optimal maneuverability, it is crucial to have a thruster selection chart specifically designed to deliver sufficient thrust under all operating conditions. Amps Three historical ships pioneering the evolution of Bow Thrusters: - Vandalia (1843): Pioneered by engineer John Ericsson, the Vandalia introduced a rudimentary bow thruster, marking an early attempt to address ship maneuverability challenges in narrow waterways and harbors. Your bow thruster is like a really handy stowaway—it sits quietly tucked belowdecks for most of the voyage, only to show up during close-quarters maneuvering to simplify the process and maybe even save the day. There Welcome you to my channel l bought a sailing boat Hallberg Rassy Rasmus 35 Here you can find myself fixing it, I'm uploading videos for myself and my friends There are two main types of boat thrusters: bow thrusters and stern thrusters. I use a DX6 for my boats and only one gimbal is used Yacht Thruster™ is a German quality/Swiss precision designed, engineered and tested system manufactured to provide durability and performance with almost triple the operating time of a comparative electric boat thruster system. This can A hydraulic bow thruster uses hydraulic power to create lateral thrust, allowing the boat to move sideways and enhance maneuverability. Using engineering formulas combined with years of experience, DeBoy looked at Arawak’s dimensions (including her windage) and new Yanmar propulsion package, to determine the optimum size thruster. The prop is plastic but the gear housing is aluminun or something similar. I have used bottom paint for the last 4 seasons and have not had a problem. Larger boats are likely to be easier to fit thrusters to because they have more internal room to play with, In practice though, if you only run the engine once a week or less, and it is a slow rpm sailboat auxiliary, the barnacles get a good enough grip that they don’t come off and you have wasted your money. Different styles of thruster A bow thruster is a device built into the hull at the bow and is used for making it more manoeuvrable. Bow thrusters or stern thrusters are mostly fitted at the bow and/or stern of a yacht, so the skipper can push one or both ends towards or away from the dock. Capacity: The more wind and current there is where you are Second, Bow Pro thrusters use a brushless induction motor, a feature that shortens the list of maintenance chores. Like a lot of people, I've found On larger boats, careful consideration must be made to using the existing battery bank, a larger boat will need a more powerful thruster, the thruster motor will be more electrically demanding I see the benefit especially when berthing at the marina in tight manoeuvring spaces but these boats are not fitted with bow thrusters as standard. Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,535 It depends on what you mean by too much. A bow thruster is simply a propulsion device located at the bow that provides lateral (port and starboard) thrust, making the vessel more maneuverable. The bow is always the trouble maker on express boats. One of a series of videos on the Mon & Brec Canal in the Brecon Beacons, Wales. Bow thruster is totally unnecessary on a 32 foot boat. Log in or Sign up. Do thruster's effect flow over the surface of the hull of course they do, to what effect, now that is a good question. Bow thrusters come in many styles and sizes. But you have your heart set on this accessory and have the budget to spare, so you can make it happen. Your go-to resource for maneuvering your vessel with ease. On this My Boat DIY project, Mike Gridley walks throu Easiest solution was to fit a bow thruster. Thrusters can take the stress out of docking by giving you sideways control of the movement and position of the bow and the stern of your boat. Things to consider when investing in a bow thruster. I have put stern thrusters in two boats. Bow thrusters can help compensate in difficult conditions, but before you attempt to use bow thrusters, focus on learning how to dock without them first, and be sure to read this article: Bow Thruster Basics 2. I do everything a bow thruster would do but with spring lines and prop walk. Bow thrusters are often installed as standard on high spec new widebeam canal boats, however always confirm this with your widebeam boat builder. If you go bow first when docking, then take a line and run from the bow cleat to the cleat on the dock or on the piling and then back to the bow cleat and then both ends of the line back to the cockpit. Side-Power SE40 Thruster Imtra. youtube If you've never used bow thrusters, before you try them out, learn the basics, where to practice, and when to use or not use them. You can bring them virtually sideways with just the motors and a little help from a bow thruster. Most bow thruster tubes are mounted through the hull just underneath the waterline. I know on our hull the forward side of the 6" tube opening is built up like a smooth upward curve to direct flow over the hole But if I'm using a bow thruster to correct and not exiting the slip, my stern might end up into my neighbour boat. 12-volt, 2. Do all boats need a bow thruster? Not all boats need a bow thruster, but it can be very helpful for larger boats, boats with high windage, or boats that frequently navigate in tight spaces. Use of a bow thruster kinda sounds like the age ole argument of motorcycles with anti lock brakes. I hope that you find this short video helpful and informative on how to properly turn on and off your bow thruster. To obtain the required depth, the thruster is not mounted too far aft of the bow section. Here are Yachtaid’s top picks: I have a Side Power thruster that I installed in the stern of our 42’ trawler. Bow and Stern Thrusters. WC the bow thruster I was kindly showing you is for any boat (mine happens to be flatt from bow to stern, but that model can be installed even i V shaped hulls), because it is installed facing down and the cutout actually works as a lid (covers the whole), and is retractable. But the setup you describe, even if it were shafts would be easy enough. (Rudders will be The thruster is generally only used when there is a need to either dock or maneuver over short periods of time. For the full article on A wireless device consisting of a receiver and a transmitter that allows the operator to remotely control engines in and out of gear, stern thruster, bow thruster, anchor and other operations of their boat. For best results, it is important to practice using a bow thruster before attempting a Our step-by-step guide demonstrates how to get the best out of your bow thruster Become a FREE SUBSCRIBER to YBWTV's YouTube page now - https://www. While any thruster can provide some effect on board, selecting the Don't do a bow mounted battery bank. Its position is crucial for optimum performance: the propeller must be below the waterline but as close as possible to the bow (see diagram The advantage of a bow thruster is that hard use doesn't put weigh on. Then all that's left to do is connect the bow thruster up and I want to have a dedicated single battery up forward for my bow thruster and windlass. Bow thrusters apply lateral propulsion to maneuver a boat's bow in a sideways Our step-by-step guide shows you how to get the best from your bow thruster. Our boat handling skills could undoubtedly use improvement, but often the desire for a bow thruster has little to do with wind or current, but rather the need to make small adjustments when in close quarters in a lock with other boats, or backing into a slip in a marina when your boat has a noticeable prop walk side thrust in reverse. . The Best Bow Thruster for Your Yacht: Yachtaid’s Top Picks. Instead of a tunnel thruster, boats from 30 to 80 feet (9 to 24 m) in length may have an externally mounted bow thruster. Sailboats have a relatively big rudder which makes slow speed maneuvering easy, also prop-walk helps to assist in docking. Of course it would have to be kept coverd at the dock to avoid thousands of stupid comments. How Do Bow Thrusters Work? The addition of bow thrusters allows a boat to move to the side (port or starboard) without forward or backward thrust from the engine or With the proper size electric motor for the bow thruster, the boat should hold its bow off the dock in a 20-knot wind. The Navy could probably save millions a year on port costs (tugs) if they installed bow thrusters on warships, but the tug captains have a powerful union and a bow thruster on a Navy vessel is just another thing to break Step 4 - Installing the Bow Thruster. Some custom built or very high end boats may have a high power bow thruster that pushes the bow Only a few of these boats have bow thrusters. Factors to Consider & More Imtra thruster expert Peter Nolet explains the most important factors to consider when planning to install a new bow thruster on your boat. The rudder is left amidships, and the props and thrusters create the thrust vectors needed for maneuvering. Some of these recommendations might be difficult, or even impossible to follow exactly in some boats, and they are general recommendations, not requirements. Bow thrusters come in a variety of configurations, each with unique features that make them well-suited for Docking a large boat can be a challenge, especially in wind, but a bow thruster makes docking a breeze. It aids in helping move the bow from side to side. How does a bow thruster work on small boats? A bow thruster on a small boat consists of a tunnel through the bow, containing an electric or Imtra thruster expert Peter Nolet explains the most important factors to consider when planning to install a new bow thruster on your boat. For many years tunnel-based bow thrusters were open to the market; Before operating the thruster, check for small craft, swimmers, boats and tugs adjacent to the thruster tunnel. They make it possible to turn the boat around without needing to use the main propulsion system of the boat. Learn how to dock and maneuver your pontoon boat with ease using this easy-to-use Batteries should be installed as close as possible to the thruster, and not more than thirty feet from the motor controller. When the stern clears the slip, hold tight on those ends and the bow will pull around as you continue out the slip. But I’m not sure of the cost or the size of thruster I’d need. Keep both 40A chargers charging the LFP bank, and add a DC - DC charger, charging from the LFP bank over to the Bow Thruster/Starter batteries to keep them topped up. They are often located in a tunnel that’s set right through the hull, although sometimes they are mounted externally or Dealt with all the complexities of entering and using a yacht in Japan; The entire route was navigated at the turn of the seasons. With a bit of planning and practice, no need for a bow thruster. 16. They work by rotating a Things to consider when investing in a bow thruster. Aside from the terms used for the different parts of the boat, there are also certain terms that sailors commonly use while at sea (or heading out to sea. Search. The bow thruster is now problem . Imtra thruster expert Peter Nolet explains the most important factors to consider when planning to install a new bow thruster on your boat. Bow thruster is an expensive add on. A bow thruster (and sometimes also a stern thruster) provides additional side-force thrust. Step 1: Using the steering wheel and a small amount of forward throttle to point the bow towards the dock. A retractable bow thruster lowered under the front of a sailboat. Works extremely well. Understanding Yachtaid Bow Thruster Control Yachtaid’s Bow Thruster Control is a state-of-the-art system designed to provide a smooth and effortless sailing experience. Sailboats are often difficult to maneuver and control the bow – particularly when docking. That's why I see the necessity of a stern thruster. \u000B\u000BWhen the boat was delivered and before going into the water, the reason was quite visible. Bow Thruster 7. The technique is a bit different from a bow thruster, but in practice can be just as effective, if not more effective than a using bow thruster. While thrusters are extremely helpful for thruster tunnel This recommendation will go through the different fac-tors to consider when choosing where and how to fit thruster tunnels in a boat. On the 56 our bow thruster cut out in a really tight fairway going into a really tight slip down in Cape May and it was no problem to pivot in with just the motors. Remember, short pulses are often more effective than sustained thrust: Use in Calm Conditions: Start with calm conditions to practise. I only haul every other year. The bow thruster is separated and positioned over the hole. Registered User. Call me chicken. Bow Thruster Basics. A boat an owner wants to cruise in the Bahamas only anchoring out would be unlikely to need bow thrusters while an arm chair admiral who has a slip in a marina with narrow approach with lots of traffic might make more use of bow thrusters. Both types of thrusters are powered by electric or hydraulic motors and can be controlled by a The advantage of a bow thruster is that hard use doesn't put weigh on. To sum up: I spent €8,500 (£7,200) on the bow thruster and hardware; harbour and crane costs were €450 (£381); and my time calculated at a professional rate of €75/h for I8 days at 6h/day was €9,750 (£8,259). With practice, Second, since thrusters use leverage to push the bow around the boat’s pivot point, somewhere amidships, thruster efficiency increases as the unit is mounted deeper and farther forward on the bow. Notice I don’t say resale valuewith dockage harder and harder to come by, and slips getting tighter and tighter, I think demand for a big boat without a bow thruster will be much lower in the future (when my kids sell the boat ou haha). PowerBoatTV. The To use a bow thruster effectively, it is important to follow best practices, such as using short bursts of thrust and avoiding using it in shallow waters. This lag in response takes some getting used to. The dealer forgot to install mine. If you need to run long cables use good quality marine grade cable with correct gauge: 230 series – 1/0 marine battery cable 340 and 350 series – 2/0 marine battery cable Also ensure the use of good quality cable ends. They are particularly useful when trying to counter a strong side A bow thruster is a propulsion device built into the bow of the boat, enabling it to move laterally (side-to-side). 25 minutes an hour, plus a 3-year warranty. It also means that an on-point “standing turn” isn’t possible. SeaEric YF Historian. The electronics aspect has never been my strong suit, so figured I would come and ask. I have the bow thruster also. com EP28 - To get ready for our drydock period in september, we're preparing the ship for the installation of a bow thruster. Full-featured boat-control systems from Yamaha and Mercury can deliver the Still, bow and the larger family of maneuvering thrusters are undeniably popular: Roughly 50 percent of all 30- to 65-foot recreational yachts feature a bow thruster, according to Southern Boating Magazine. In an e-mail conversation with the hull designer, I was told to expect a slight speed decrease under sail. The Bow Thruster serves two functions, helping turnn the boat while it is moving forward (or backwards) creating a more gentle arc or turn. Note; as the bow moves Retractable thrusters, on the other hand, can be lowered into the water when needed and retracted back into the boat when not in use. I think it highly unlikely you will ever use a thruster for 3 minutes in any one manoevering session – typically, we are looking at seconds rather than minutes – but lets allow for 3 minutes with a 500 amp drain. Using the bow thruster while reversing would distract me too much from my primary focus. Yacht Thruster, celebrating 15+ years, is a compact & powerful bow/stern thruster, installed on thousands of sailboats from 30ft – 75ft. My boat is 35 ft and has more freeboard than a Catalina. "I have heard two different opinions about thruster batteries", says Ron. These boats just don't need a stern thruster. Both to purchase and to maintain. Has anyone used a remote control electric trolling motor as a bow thruster? Im thinking it would be a great thing for close quarters maneuvering. However, there’s a misconception surrounding the amount of time you can run an electric bow thruster. Water Jets Imtra thruster expert Peter Nolet reviews four common types and describes the pros and cons of each style for recreational boats. ' Side-Power and Lewmar also offer AC-powered electric thrusters, and only Side-Power offers externally-mounted thrusters for use on boats where there is no room for a traditional tunnel-thruster, like between outboard engines or on Putting some numbers to this, at 12 volts the bow thruster drain may be anything up to 500 amps (depending on size). The minimally invasive mounting design makes this the perfect project for the Do-It-Yourself-er with NO fiberglass work required. The more expensive boat is older, but a better brand and more ruggedly built, and has AC, generator, bow thruster, feathering prop. Traditionally, the motor and impeller are permanently m 1. Your stern was touching the boats on the pier next to you at about the time your bow was just clearing your own pilings. I had considered a bow thruster for my Catalina 30. Tunnel Thrusters. External vs. A bow thruster AND a stern thruster, would be an interesting feature, a bow thruster alone doesn't seem to add much to the proper use of prop wash. When using the thruster this Having a bow thruster or stern thruster gives a boat the ultimate in maneuverability and touch panel or joystick controls allow a captain to easily dock. Three reasons: First, an electric thruster (most thrusters on yachts under 85 or 90 feet are electric) is directly connected to Tom Cunliffe uses a bow thruster and a simple technique to get a yacht alongside, while the bow is being blown away from the pontoon. The boat’s profile: The longer and taller bodywork your boat has, the more pressure the bow thruster need to push against the wind; Bow shape and interior space: The deeper your bow is in the water, the more interior space is available – the more straightforward the fitting of the thruster The bow thruster is the small propeller at the bow of the boat. The location of Bow thrusters will make docking and turning around much easier. I'm looking at a 63, and while I pride myself on being good with my 48, I'm thinking discretion is the better part of valor, and a (cough) bow thruster might possibly sorta be a 'good thing. I would be more concerned about the age and condition of the navigation instruments on those boats than whether they have a bow-thruster. It was bad enough when you had help on the bow, but risky when you went out alone. Bow and stern thrusters come in many shapes and sizes and are used to help maneuver boats in tight quarters by providing thrust in a sideways direction. All the hard work and money spent on making your boat look perfect can be ruined by a single scratch Bow thrusters in smaller boats is a relatively new phenomena, they seem (I don't have one) to make it easier to maneuver the boat in close quarters, but they don't do much improve boat handling skills and seamanship. Most boats over 35-feet that are built today come standard with electric bow thrusters, electric windlasses, DC inverters and Tunnel vs. Docking with Thrusters Bow and stern thrusters are electric- or hydraulic-powered propellers that are mounted perpendicular to the centerline of the boat. Bow thrusters arent meant to be run much, but when they do, its pretty high amperage - which is why a lot of thrusters have battery banks near them for minimizing heavy cable runs with the high amperage they need. -Ben Bonnick. Tunnel thrusters are the most common type and involve a tunnel-like tube fitted through the hull, housing the propeller. 5 hp for boats up to 32 feet, and either a 12-volt, 5 hp model or a 24-volt, 7. Its position results from the thrust force and the distance of the bow thruster from the lateral pressure point. A hole in the bow to position a thruster just has to affect the sailing qualities Perhaps the best part of a BOW PRO thruster is the maintenance-free, brushless induction motor. They are available in two sizes Most if not all sailboats below 40 feet does not have a bow thruster. It is usually controlled by a toggle you s Bow shape, interior space – The deeper your bow is in the water, and the more interior space is available forward, the more easily a bow thruster can be fitted. Should I use a 105ah class 31 starting battery?I have an automatic charging relay to install between house and this batt. Use the bow thruster to push the bow towards the shore (blue arrows), while at the same time counteracting the turning Use your bow or stern thruster to adjust the vessel’s position. The only difference between the effects of a bow thruster and the standard prop wash-right/left rudder combo, is you dont need to worry about controlling forward movement from your maneuvering. two competing requirements not always possible on boats less than 30 to 35 feet. I did not want the bow thruster but my wife wanted it to make our docking life easy, with less effort and much greater safety for us & our crew (guest). This is essentially an electric motor that is mounted sideways under the water line at the bow of the boat. Check out these 5 maintenance tips. Learn about thrusters for small boats to ships. Is there enough water coverage for the thruster (the ideal depth is to be the same as the diameter of the tunnel below the water)? 3. By using a Bow Thruster the bow (front) of the boat is "pushed" sideways" in the desired direction. Find out how it can improve your canal holiday. The screws can then be tightened to hold the bow thruster in place. SeaEric, Jan 24, 2021 #3. Trying to grt some idea of the cost. Here is one example of how to dock with the help of a stern thruster. My question is how will I go about adding the bow thruster to the mix (without using a mixer)? The image below is how I have things set up in my Assurance and how I plan on doing things in my Coaster. When you backed out of a slip, we referred to it as a "suicide run". I’ll eventually put a bow thruster in my 67’ CMY for two reasons. Find out more about our fleet Like any piece of equipment on your yacht, bow & stern thrusters require maintenance to perform at the highest level. Control unit close to throttle handle. It is only money. Before upgrading to lithium batteries, it’s essential to ensure you can integrate alternator charging safely. The benefits of having a bow thr In today's video, we're going to demystify the importance and operation of bow thrusters on sailboats. It is usually controlled by a toggle you s Watch this video to learn about the new Barletta Easy-Dock Thruster System. Even in these short bursts of use, thrusters use up a lot of energy from the boat’s power supply, which means that each use of the bow thruster needs to be accompanied by adequate time for a recharge before they are used again. As this motor is not a permanent installation and only used for docking it does not have to be that visible. This route can only be sailed at a specific time — one month a year. ( at this time it is connected to the house batts). After looking around at the many brands that are available, they decided on a Vetus, the company that in 1982 designed and introduced the first bow thruster for pleasure boats. A sailboat bow thruster is a propulsion device that is mounted on the bow of a sailboat and used to provide maneuverability and control in close quarters. Also be sure the zinc on the end of the prop hub is OK. When it comes to selecting the best bow thruster for your yacht, Yachtaid Marine has got you covered. That being said, I would want a BT on sailboat over 50' or so. 5 metres. Retractable thrusters, on the other hand, can be retracted into the hull when not in use, reducing drag. The composite thro-hull thruster nozzles sit flush with the hull to reduce drag, and there are no moving parts under the waterline for extra safety. To watch full episodes online, go to www. Was going to do it this winter but went with quartz countertops for our house instead The bow thruster/starter batteries need to be topped up and ready all the time, but only get relatively limited use in boating operations. Coming alongside in a single-engined boat without a bow thruster can be one of the more difficult skills to master, especially on your own. I like them both. Check out some of the steps to add on this accessory. Most thrusters use motors with brushes, small blocks of carbon that conduct current from the power supply to the rotor, which causes it to spin inside the stationary stator. Of course it might not look that elegant but I think if You have to dock a bigger boat The following youtube video entitled "How to Install a Bow Thruster" shows the installation of a "tunnel" bow thruster on a Hunter sailboat about your size. I use a drone to get the best shots for this Hunter 41 Dartmouth Yacht Club Apr 13, 2015 #1 I have a 2004 Hunter 41 and am looking to install a Bow Thruster. nacbasubjmnibmpdnbkzylshmfowfmutezpmfpprajpupebfd