Bow Thruster Installation

[Roysie]

I am thinking of installing a bow thuster to my 8 mtr.fibreglass cruiser and would like some advice on the fibreglassing side of things when fitting the tunnel, such as materials to use and where to get them etc. any help much appreciated.

 

[oldsaltoz]

I am thinking of installing a bow thuster to my 8 mtr.fibreglass cruiser and would like some advice on the fibreglassing side of things when fitting the tunnel, such as materials to use and where to get them etc. any help much appreciated.

Assuming she is solid glass and not a composite, also that she is constructed with standard poly resins.

Because this work is below the waterline you need to be confident that it is strong and watertight. I would only select an epoxy resin for this task; this also means using cloth designed for use with epoxy resin and not chopped strand mat.

Is the tunnel flared at both ends or a simple cylinder? What material is tunnel made with and what if any instructions came with it.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[Cliveshep]

I am thinking of installing a bow thuster to my 8 mtr.fibreglass cruiser and would like some advice on the fibreglassing side of things when fitting the tunnel, such as materials to use and where to get them etc. any help much appreciated.

Why? It's only 8m long and the thruster will add weight at the bow, and gobble up electricity and storage space. Plus it's use will wake up everyone in a 500m radius. Seriously, surely the expense vs uselfulness equation alone is hard to justify on a 8m boat which unless nailed to the harbour bottom at one end is usually pretty manouverable?

Not wanting to rain on your parade but suggesting a cost vs benefits re-evaluation of an expensive toy more usually reserved for much bigger boats where there can be benefits for owners not as in control as they would like to be or larger stuff like Stena Sealink channel ferries!

 

[Chris_Robb]

Why? It's only 8m long and the thruster will add weight at the bow, and gobble up electricity and storage space. Plus it's use will wake up everyone in a 500m radius. Seriously, surely the expense vs uselfulness equation alone is hard to justify on a 8m boat which unless nailed to the harbour bottom at one end is usually pretty manouverable?

Not wanting to rain on your parade but suggesting a cost vs benefits re-evaluation of an expensive toy more usually reserved for much bigger boats where there can be benefits for owners not as in control as they would like to be or larger stuff like Stena Sealink channel ferries!

I'm with Clive on this. You don't say what type of boat. But it is seriously small for adding a bow thruster. You will loose so much storage space - presumably spare sails go under the forepeak bunks.

 

[haydude]

I am thinking of installing a bow thuster to my 8 mtr.fibreglass cruiser and would like some advice on the fibreglassing side of things when fitting the tunnel, such as materials to use and where to get them etc. any help much appreciated.

I think that you should invest more time in improving your manouvering skills. I have an 11m and do well without a bow thruster. I would want one only on 12m+ sail boats.

 

[dnickj]

why

we are over 12m and there is no way i would bother fitting 1 - just improve your close quarters manovering - if you realy want the effect - tape record the noise of someone elses and play that on the way into your berth

 

[paulcooper]

Take heart Roysie.

I fitted a bowthruster to my 23 ft Cox is it was such a pig going astern and after trying to avoid various expensive sunseekers in Poole marina on a windy day it earnt its keep.
I fitted it myself with no problems. I used a Sidepower and the staff were very helpful.
If you want one and can afford it--why not!
It foxes some who see me using it to enter my berth going astern and steering with the joystick.

Paul.

 

[Roysie]

Take heart Roysie.

I fitted a bowthruster to my 23 ft Cox is it was such a pig going astern and after trying to avoid various expensive sunseekers in Poole marina on a windy day it earnt its keep.
I fitted it myself with no problems. I used a Sidepower and the staff were very helpful.
If you want one and can afford it--why not!
It foxes some who see me using it to enter my berth going astern and steering with the joystick.

Paul.

Thanks for that Paul the other replies by master mariners are not what I asked for, just some simple advice on fibreglsassing

 

[LeonF]

Roysie there is a Victoria 26 up at Burnham which has a bow thruster fitted. We pull his leg, but it works a treat. His remote has capacity for a stern thruster as well, and I wouldn't be surprised if he fits these at some point. I could get him to e-mail you if you send me a pm with your e-mail.

 

[lesweeks]

I'm sure that there was a whole 'how to do it' thingy on fitting a bow thruster in PBO sometime earlier this year. I don't take the magazine (being a Classic Boat man), but somebody who does may remember the article and get in touch if you're lucky.

 

[timrobap]

I am tempted to take issue with those responses advising that you need to improve your boat handling ability. I have a 70's long keel boat 11metres long and it would not surprise me if those posts were made by owners of newer and easily turned boats. I've had 11 years of coping with the difficulties of manoeuvring in tight marinas and an obstinate refusal of the boat to go where you try to steer it in astern. I thought I'd developed my skills pretty well but I opted for a bowthruster last winter and it has made a huge difference to close quarters helming and I can actually steer the boat going backwards now! It has certainly reduced the stress level in difficult situations.

I did the full installation myself using a combination of polyester resin and some epoxy and would be happy to talk you through it or show you more when the boat comes ashore in a few weeks time (Solent Area). It is true that the electrics side of the set up needs serious consideration - the bowthruster motor is a greedy beast. PM me if you wish.

Timrobap

 

[Boathook]

I am thinking of installing a bow thuster to my 8 mtr.fibreglass cruiser and would like some advice on the fibreglassing side of things when fitting the tunnel, such as materials to use and where to get them etc. any help much appreciated.

What type of boat and construction. I fitted a vetus 50kgf to a 9m Cat afew years back and would not do it in the winter again !! Preparation, etc takes most of the time. Epoxy is the material to use with various aditives. PBO article was quite good but if new to fibreglassing pick an easier project for your first attempt.