Bow thruster motor replacement

[ShaneO]

My bow thruster, a venerable BCS BT55kgf, started sometimes not responding, sometimes responding, and sometimes responding in the wrong direction, so I pulled out the big heavy motor and solenoid bits to see about refurbishment because it was all looking a bit old and rusty. Having quickly decided that I don’t know anything about electric motors and my brain was too full of other YouTube crash-courses at the time, I hauled it back to Blighty and gave it to an electric motor company to quote on. The answer was that it would cost lots. I figured that for lots, I could get a nice new one instead.

That brand doesn’t appear to exist anymore, but all the non-electrical bits seem to be fine - tube, propellor, motor mounting and mating, little oil reservoir. Is there likely to be a drop-in replacement motor I can use?

 

[Boathook]

The bt55 sound like a rebadged vetus unit. Might be worth approaching a vetus dealer ?

 

[Boater Sam]

The bt55 sound like a rebadged vetus unit. Might be worth approaching a vetus dealer ?

Arrange a mortgage and win the lottery first.Vetus make their money from selling spares not complete engines/gear but prices can be eye watering.
Lancashire Rotating Electricals can rebuild for a fair price in my experience, they have never let me down or ripped me off.

 

[Ian_Edwards]

There seems to be some sort of commercial association between BCS in Italy, Rolla SP Propellers also in Italy and Vetus.
Both BCS and Vetus seem to sell very similar units. From the photos online the motor and associated power controllers look identical, the underwater parts look different.
I suspect that Vetus buy in thrusters from BCS, made to their own specification.
I can't find a workshop manual for either the BCS or the Vetus version.
Tracmaster are the uk agents for BCS. There online shops has 1,000 of spare parts, but you seem to need the part number to find anything. You probably need the workshop manual to find a part number, but I've yet to find a workshop manual. Catch 22!
I'd suggest contacting Tracmaster to see if they can help.
I'd add that most companies manufacturing stuff for the leasure marine industry don't make their own power electrical components; motors, contactors, connectors etc. They find existing components which will do.
From what I've seen the motors in the Lewmar and Vetus smaller electric bow thruster are the same. They are made in Mexico. Similarly the contactors all seem to be made by Albright in the USA. Relays are standard parts made more or less anywhere.
In the past I've bought motors and contactors from a fork lift truck spares distributor, identical parts, just different part numbers.
If I were you, I'd get the motor out and take it to a local electrical repair shop, like Boater Sam suggests.

 

[Dunx]

Look for an electric motor rewind specialist? They can diagnose and generally fix most motors. If not they might be able to cross reference to a new one.