Arghh...Ow Much....

[oldgit]

Pitch black. Got to squeeze in between two boats ...and you know the owners are both on board and probably asleep.
The bowthruster vital to finish the job without drama has decided to conk out at precisely that moment.
A quick check in the morning suggests only the controller on the fly is at fault, operates in one direction but of course not in the direction you so desperately needed.
A quick internet search results in
A new controller £200 +

A new joystick. £110 +

or
A quick dismantle, clean microswitch contacts with emery and splash of switch cleaner.
The less hamfisted and not using a kitchen knife might result in a neater splitting of the case but in slapped back together OK.

The joystick gaitor( £10.00 ) had perished allowing water to get in.
Really needs a replacement micro switch but search on the interweb produces nothing even close
Pin needs to be in centre of switch all switches appear to have the pin at the extreme end of unit.

For the interested the switch was made in Italy by CEMA.

 

[ChromeDome]

Just remark for inspiration:

I added a wireless remote to the SidePower thruster. A great comfort when singlehanded, managing lines etc. away from the fixed switch

Plug 'n Play .
Aftermarket alternatives may exist

 

[Plum]

Pitch black. Got to squeeze in between two boats ...and you know the owners are both on board and probably asleep.
The bowthruster vital to finish the job without drama has decided to conk out at precisely that moment.
A quick check in the morning suggests only the controller on the fly is at fault, operates in one direction but of course not in the direction you so desperately needed.
A quick internet search results in
A new controller £200 +

A new joystick. £110 +

or
A quick dismantle, clean microswitch contacts with emery and splash of switch cleaner.
The less hamfisted and not using a kitchen knife might result in a neater splitting of the case but in slapped back together OK.

The joystick gaitor( £10.00 ) had perished allowing water to get in.
Really needs a replacement micro switch but search on the interweb produces nothing even close
Pin needs to be in centre of switch all switches appear to have the pin at the extreme end of unit.

For the interested the switch was made in Italy by CEMA.

Looks identical to mine, also CEMA. I replaced both microswitches from here ABB P9B10VN CONTACT BLOCK, SIGNALLING LOGIC FEED, 1 NO CONTACT, 8VA MAX, 120 V, 22MM SERIES 9, SNAP-ON MOUNTING | Kempston Controls which were a straight swap. £5 per switch plus postage.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Parabordi]

Bowthrusters......that what people that cant handle their boats have got...

 

[Arcady]

Bowthrusters......that what people that cant handle their boats have got...

Oohhh - very unkind!

 

[Neeves]

Bowthrusters......that what people that cant handle their boats have got...

So very dated. Bow thrusters are common place and allow age challenged individuals, or those contending with cross winds and tides, to extend their sailing.

If you cannot handle your vessel then Volvo have a computer controlled docking system as do devices such as Dockmate. All you need is a small hand held device like a games console and rather lot of money. I think you are living in the 20th century.

Remote Controlled Docking System - Dockmate



Jonathan

 

[capnsensible]

Bowthrusters......that what people that cant handle their boats have got...

Great try. But back to troll class for you.

 

[rotrax]

Bowthrusters......that what people that cant handle their boats have got...

You obviously have no experience of helming a 44 foot, 17 ton Motorsailer with a long keel, huge pilothouse giving massive windage in a tight Marina in windy conitions with a tide running.

Our GibSea 96 was a doddle - turned on a tanner, went astern reliably and stopped quickly. Our Island Packet SP Cruiser is a different ball game.

First Mate is a good helm. She takes plenty of time to work out the best way to tackle tricky situations. I deal with warps and fenders.

Even so, 6HP bowthruster and all, berthing or leaving can be stressfull.

She gave advice on the Island Packet facebook group recently about that very issue.

She said "I use plenty of big fenders and prayer!"

She got about twenty 'likes' and three comments agreeing her method.

A small fin keel yacht or twin engine motorboat bears no comparison to some other designs.

I remember reading about Tom Cunliffe giving own boat training to a Contessa 32 owner.

Even Tom could not get that one to go astern reliably!

 

[Parabordi]

You obviously have no experience of helming a 44 foot, 17 ton Motorsailer with a long keel, huge pilothouse giving massive windage in a tight Marina in windy conitions with a tide running.

 

[LittleSister]

You obviously have no experience of helming a 44 foot, 17 ton Motorsailer with a long keel, huge pilothouse giving massive windage in a tight Marina in windy conitions with a tide running.

Our GibSea 96 was a doddle - turned on a tanner, went astern reliably and stopped quickly. Our Island Packet SP Cruiser is a different ball game

Yes, everyone knows those island Packets SP Cruisers are terrible boats. Can't imagine who'd have one.

I remember reading about Tom Cunliffe giving own boat training to a Contessa 32 owner.

Even Tom could not get that one to go astern reliably!

I think you'll find it was a Twister, and owned by someone on this forum. (Poignard?).

(A Contessa 32 is a doddle is astern.)

 

[MisterBaxter]

Bowthrusters......that what people that cant handle their boats have got...

It used to be much easier to sail an engineless yacht because every harbour was set up to be practical for engineless sailing vessels - read Claud Worth for all kinds of interesting details from a hundred years ago.
But nowadays, marinas are set up in ways that require a high level of maneuverability and for some boats, it's not only a case of needing an engine to get in, you actually need a bow thruster to get in and out under all conditions without multiple crew to handle lines from ashore etc.

 

[Parabordi]

It used to be much easier to sail an engineless yacht because every harbour was set up to be practical for engineless sailing vessels - read Claud Worth for all kinds of interesting details from a hundred years ago.
But nowadays, marinas are set up in ways that require a high level of maneuverability and for some boats, it's not only a case of needing an engine to get in, you actually need a bow thruster to get in and out under all conditions without multiple crew to handle lines from ashore etc.

Some yachts (in my experience the ones with two rudders) are just plain hopeless to manoeuvre even with a bow thruster

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Mines got a steeerable outboard and its a bitch in a cross wind. Sometimes I’d love a bow thruster.

 

[ashtead]

I seem to recall a couple of years ago a couple bought a twin rudder southerly and had all sorts of issues berthing -it disappeared from our marina so I never found out if was a general issue with southerly or just a steep learning curve.

 

[oldgit]

Bowthrusters......that what people that cant handle their boats have got...

Yea Yea Yea.....
Notice your olde Tub is back in the water and on the moorings
.
Have you bought this seasons pint of fuel yet .?

 

[oldgit]

Looks identical to mine, also CEMA. I replaced both microswitches from here ABB P9B10VN CONTACT BLOCK, SIGNALLING LOGIC FEED, 1 NO CONTACT, 8VA MAX, 120 V, 22MM SERIES 9, SNAP-ON MOUNTING | Kempston Controls which were a straight swap. £5 per switch plus postage.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

Wow ...Spot on ........Thanks for that...have just ordered x 2.
The "repaired" switch does now work but it needs a bit of extra pressure to make a decent contact, suspect its really at the end of its useful life.
Obviously no profit for Vetus in doing bits like this.

 

[ProDave]

Looks identical to mine, also CEMA. I replaced both microswitches from here ABB P9B10VN CONTACT BLOCK, SIGNALLING LOGIC FEED, 1 NO CONTACT, 8VA MAX, 120 V, 22MM SERIES 9, SNAP-ON MOUNTING | Kempston Controls which were a straight swap. £5 per switch plus postage.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

You beat me to it, I knew it looked exactly like a standard industrial switch contact block used for all sorts of buttons and switches in industrial machinery, i just had not worked out which make it was.

 

[Neeves]

One of the problems with acceptance of bow thrusters is that most of the time most of us don't need one. If you berth in a marina with fierce tides bow thrusters will be considered the norm and the rest of us will have no need to use that marina.

Round Sydney tides and flow from tides is minimalist - visit Southport Yacht Club marina (just south of Brisbane) its a different story. The tides can be sufficiently fierce I will not go in to refuel - I lack the everyday practice of fierce tides (and we have 2 engines). My caution is simple, the fuel dock is in the furthest away 'corner' of the marina, the big expensive yachts are moored either side of the narrow fairway leading to the fuel dock - and there are options (other fuel docks nearby).

Jonathan

 

[Concerto]

Many decades ago my parents had a Moody Eclipse 43 with the standard bow thruster fitted. It certainly helped in many marinas but not all. She was berthed stern to in Gillingham Marina in a box berth in the locked in basin, so no tides. One day with a force 6 to 7 cross wind, it was impossible to stop the bow blowing off. We had tried using a warp to a wooden pile on the berths opposite and it started to move. The only solution was for the marina launch to hold the bow steady as we reversed. So, bow thrusters are not the perfect solution in all berthing situations but they help in most.

 

[Parabordi]

Have you bought this seasons pint of fuel yet .?

I am waiting for you to, so they can get a new load in at a lower price!