Bow Thruster for Sports Cruiser

[ChristianR]

Dear All

My colleague owns a 1991 Rinker Fiesta Vee Sports Cruiser and finds difficulty controlling the boat in tight spaces such as the marina. Please can anybody suggest a suitable bow thruster that can be fitted to the boat to help control the bow when motoring astern into a mooring space (not the easiest of things to do especially with a leg drive)

Thanks

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[boatone]

Vetus do a range of different sizes.
go to <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boatsontheweb.com/> Website, Photo Gallery, Chat Room, Burgees

 

[abraxus]

I think he can save an awful lot of money by practising until he's comfortable with it. I have a 26ft sport cruiser with a single outdrive and have less than a foot either side in my berth, between the pontoon and neighbouring boat, which I have to back in to.

I used to hate trying to get in there and it often put me off. Confidence is the key, so I got an instructor out for the day to help me and teach me a few techniques. To be honest, I knew all along what to do, but it made me more confident with someone more experienced with me while I practised. In the end I managed to get in and out of the marina and berth 8 times in a row without touching the sides, and now feel much more in control when manoevering at slow speed. There is a lot more control in a leg drive than people often believe, and believing it has poor control has you beat before you start. Once you learn what it can do it makes a huge difference, and with mine (Alpha One) I can steer quite well at both idle and coasting in neutral, which previously I didn't think I could do.

For less than a hundred pounds it was money well spent and certainly a lot cheaper than bow thrusters, and the additional confidence is a huge benefit for many other situations. It may not be the solution for your colleague, but for the money may well be worth a try.

Bill

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[hlb]

Welcome. I see you've seen the light!!

Take no notice of that Boatone git. He's only a ditch crawler anyway, so what would he know. Baa!!.../forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

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Haydn

 

[Its_Only_Money]

Put in the biggest one Vetus make and marvel at how he can attain 30kts sideways. Not sure about steering, Vetus probably do a "bow thruster sideways steering kit" or somesuch....

Move all your crew to one side and you could probably make it do sideways bunny hops!

....but seriously I'd go with the professional tuition approach, much cheaper, and he'll be better prepared than getting to rely on a thruster and then have it pop its fuse when you really needed it.

<hr width=100% size=1>Rgds

Simon
Its Only Money
Fairline Sprint
Solent-based

 

[PhilF]

in spain we have no space either side of the boat, its ramming speed all the way

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[DepSol]

Take it slow, pull the engine out of gear and drift to the mooring, there is no rush softly softly catchy mooring.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>

 

[hlb]

Try an oar../forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

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Haydn

 

[PhilF]

oar moans rather

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[boatone]

There seem to be different sizes of that make and you dont say which one. Also you say "(not the easiest of things to do especially with a leg drive)" which I find a little strange. Manoueverability is much better with a steerable leg than with a shaft.
I am tending to agree that a good session with someone who knows 'how to do it' may well be the most effective solution to the problem. Where is the boat? if its anywhere near me I fancy a day out.


<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boatsontheweb.com/> Website, Photo Gallery, Chat Room, Burgees</A>

 

[hlb]

But you cant drive a shaft boat without a poxy BT. How the hell you going to help.../forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

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Haydn

 

[gonfishing]

And the bow and anchor of the boat moored next to you!!!!!!!!!!!1



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[boatone]

Before graduating to my little steel ship I had a single leg norman 32 and a twin leg Princess 32. I have, to coin a phrase....been about a bit........

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boatsontheweb.com/> Website, Photo Gallery, Chat Room, Burgees</A>

 

[Col]

So I've heard/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

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[itsonlymoney]

I agree with abraxus.
Practice and you will be suprised what can be done with a single drive.
Ian

<hr width=100% size=1>Play the best game you can with the cards you've been dealt ! ! !

 

[Renegade_Master]

not such a good plan in a hefty cross wind eh

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