Bow thruster dependency increasing
- Thread starter dunedin
- Start date
dunedin
Well-Known Member
Its nit
Written hiding from rain behind the sprayhood with radar on as zero visibility !
Its not the nights, its the days that are so beautiful.Us people in the Med can only dream of nights at anchor on the Clyde
Written hiding from rain behind the sprayhood with radar on as zero visibility !
Bouba
Well-Known Member
It’s a shame that the rain is clogging up your radar.....don’t you need it to track the swarms of midges ?
ylop
Well-Known Member
Trident
Well-Known Member
A decade ago off Gib I met a man when we came in to La Linea who then invited me out for a sail the next day in his radical single hulled boat. Having never been on a mono I accepted and we spent a few hours sailing the bay of Gibraltar - with him using the bow thruster to steer every course change!! On arrival back at the marina I was not surprised to see his berth neighbours (about 4 boats worth each side) shout at each other in warning and come out with fenders to keep him from damaging their boats as he passed. Over the preceding week they'd learned that every time he moved the boat he hit someone; probably because it turned out he had no clue how to steer or about prop walk or anything else except how the throttle and the thruster worked.
There seem to be many of these around the UK now who use a thruster for every manoeuvre even in open water to change course a few degrees. Of course in a tight marina they are useful but when I hear excessive use I do normally reach for a fender now as I find the competence level of the skipper is usually pretty poor.
There seem to be many of these around the UK now who use a thruster for every manoeuvre even in open water to change course a few degrees. Of course in a tight marina they are useful but when I hear excessive use I do normally reach for a fender now as I find the competence level of the skipper is usually pretty poor.
Bouba
Well-Known Member
That’s a bit like the argument that with the advent of electric car windows....drivers’ arms withered away
Irish Rover
Well-Known Member
Unlike some of the more privileged among us, boats weren't a thing for me growing up. I was in my twenties before I got my first taste of boating, and that was on small open fishing boats on the Shannon. I was in my late forties when I bought my first boat, a rib. When I think back now I realise I made many mistakes in my early days of ownership. I'm sure many of the more experienced boaters were amused or annoyed at my way of doing things. We all have to start somewhere, and we all have to learn. There isn't always just one right way of doing things. I posted recently myself about encounters with inexperienced skippers. They're a fact of life, and once you realise you're dealing with inexperienced boaters just take a bit of extra care and get on with things. That is, of course, unless you enjoy moaning and are always on the look out for things to complain about, and people to criticise.
newtothis
Well-Known Member
I lost all upper-body movement when I got rid of my 1949 crank-started Morris Minor. It was a real problem because the Vauxhall Six that followed had no indcators and I could no longer point out which way I was turning. But since the invention of reliiable batteries/starter motors and electical indicators, driving skills have gone out the window (which on the Vauxhall were plates held on by butterly screws).
johnalison
Well-Known Member
Had you forgotten the hand signals you were taught, or are you too young?
Baggywrinkle
Well-Known Member
On the subject of insects, I want one of these for my cockpit ....... as long as it doesn't burn holes in the sprayhood and bimini.
dunedin
Well-Known Member
The clue is in the title - “bow thruster dependency INCREASING”
Last year started to hear people using when picking up moorings - now this year for the first time with people anchoring (and not to position over sand, as zero visibility through water).
I posted as I am intrigued by the thinking of the skippers. I would have thought an ex-instructor you too would be interested in these sorts of decision making processes as well. Lots of other topics where you are very much not of a “laissez-faire” mindset
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Bouba
Well-Known Member
If you don’t want boats with bow thrusters parking near you....welll, the navy doesn’t use bow thrusters....but would you be happy if an aircraft carrier dropped anchor next to you ?.....I think you would miss those thrusters....be careful what you wish forThe clue is in the title - “bow thruster dependency INCREASING”
Last year started to hear people using when picking up moorings - now this year for the first time with people anchoring (and not to position over sand, as zero visibility through water).
I posted as I am intrigued by the thinking of the skippers. I would have thought an ex-instructor would be interested in these sorts of decision making processes as well. Lots of other topics where you are very much not of a “laissez-faire” mindset
Bouba
Well-Known Member
They are talking about $600 for one....if I really thought that it wouldn’t hurt anyone’s eyes or set fire to the boat...I would seriously like one
Stemar
Well-Known Member
Say what you will about bow thrusters, and I agree that, too often, they are a prop for the unskilled, and may prevent them from learning skills, there were times when I wanted one on my little Snapdragon, when I want to leave the club pontoon and the wind and tide say no.
Yes, I do know how to spring off, but with a boat close ahead and astern and a spring ebb and a good breeze both pushing me on, the only thing that worked was to wait. Even with twin engines in Jazzcat, it can be a bit fraught.
Yes, I do know how to spring off, but with a boat close ahead and astern and a spring ebb and a good breeze both pushing me on, the only thing that worked was to wait. Even with twin engines in Jazzcat, it can be a bit fraught.
capnsensible
Well-Known Member
They use tugs.If you don’t want boats with bow thrusters parking near you....welll, the navy doesn’t use bow thrusters....but would you be happy if an aircraft carrier dropped anchor next to you ?.....I think you would miss those thrusters....be careful what you wish for
capnsensible
Well-Known Member
What interests me is why some people want to dictate how others operate their boats. I don't get that.....The clue is in the title - “bow thruster dependency INCREASING”
Last year started to hear people using when picking up moorings - now this year for the first time with people anchoring (and not to position over sand, as zero visibility through water).
I posted as I am intrigued by the thinking of the skippers. I would have thought an ex-instructor you too would be interested in these sorts of decision making processes as well. Lots of other topics where you are very much not of a “laissez-faire” mindset
doug748
Well-Known Member
It's true, I heard the familiar groaning in an anchorage a couple of seasons ago, I had to look out to inspect what was going on. Indeed he was anchoring.
A bit like radio checks, you wonder how the odd business starts and how is it sustained? There is a PhD in this for some enterprising social scientist.
A chum of mine singlehanded his 47ft AWB and rarely used his bow thruster. He called it his - get out of jail free card.
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flaming
Well-Known Member
I chartered a 47 foot boat a few years ago. It had a bow thruster. I'd never used one before, honestly I did't know what to do with it, and figured I'd be more likely to screw up experimenting so I left it alone.
But if someone is used to a thruster, and have developed techniques that enable them to do what they want to do with the boat that involve the use of a thruster, then great. Especially where the use of that thruster means they don't hit me.
If I'm honest I used to be a fully signed up member of the slightly sniffy "you shouldn't need one" brigade. But these days I'm more of the "do what works for you" persuasion. If thrusters are getting more people out having fun on boats, and reducing gellcoat damage to innocent bystanders whilst they do, then I'm all for it.
But if someone is used to a thruster, and have developed techniques that enable them to do what they want to do with the boat that involve the use of a thruster, then great. Especially where the use of that thruster means they don't hit me.
If I'm honest I used to be a fully signed up member of the slightly sniffy "you shouldn't need one" brigade. But these days I'm more of the "do what works for you" persuasion. If thrusters are getting more people out having fun on boats, and reducing gellcoat damage to innocent bystanders whilst they do, then I'm all for it.
Chiara’s slave
Well-Known Member
I’ll admit I am in the ‘bit sniffy’ camp about using one to tack. I wouldn’t do that.
capnsensible
Well-Known Member
Don't you think that it's a simple and effective way to move the bow for your convenience?
Mebbe there is a Masters for the person who pens their dissertation on the combination of how the use of bow AND sternthrusters has an unnatural sonic effect on grumpy old gits who may be slightly deaf anyway?