Talbot
Well-Known Member
does anybody in the solent area have the expertise and equipment to drill out and seal in a bow thruster tunnel?
and would they be willing to assist in the fit?
and would they be willing to assist in the fit?
bow thruster tunnel installation
- Thread starter Talbot
- Start date
Sans Bateau
Well-Known Member
MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!
You 'aven't gone and bought a mobo 'ave you?!!!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
You 'aven't gone and bought a mobo 'ave you?!!!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Whitelighter
Well-Known Member
Or a Bavaria from what I hear in and around the marina /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Sailfree
Well-Known Member
As it took official installers 2 failed attempts on mine before it went to Osmetec at Hamble Point Marina for a "proper" job I am not sure how easy this job is when the professionals made such a mess of it.
Rooster
Well-Known Member
There's an article how to do it in this month's PBO mag.
R
R
savageseadog
Well-Known Member
It needs to go somewhere near the front.
pappaecho
Well-Known Member
I have already got one on the bowsprit. Its made by Suzuki, and when it not on the bows it drives the inflatibubble. Whats the tunnel for?
ColinHuggins
N/A
Doesn't that Catalac go sideways fast enough already?
Talbot
Well-Known Member
no - but single engine/twin rudder can be a little intimidating to a new owner. I have had a bow thruster sat in my garage for a year, and thought I might as well fit it, but my wrist is not making things very easy.
Talbot
Well-Known Member
How did they fail. did the install leak, or was there a different problem?
Talbot
Well-Known Member
yes read that I have seen a better description in blue peter programmes
Talbot
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
It needs to go somewhere near the front.
[/ QUOTE ]
Is that the pointy end, and if so, how do people in Prouts know which is which
It needs to go somewhere near the front.
[/ QUOTE ]
Is that the pointy end, and if so, how do people in Prouts know which is which
Boathook
Well-Known Member
It's easy ! and my boat stayed afloat. I don't have much time to assist (if any) at present but it is measure and mark many times and cut once. Depending on location you will need to remove some interior mouldings to be able to fibreglass on the inside. The cutting of the hole is best done with a jig saw using a "metal" blade.
Sailfree
Well-Known Member
Paid full price (v expensive) to Jeanneau to have it fitted at factory.
On factory visit found no bow thruster or heater.
Dealers can delete items from order to fit them themselves!!
Assurred they do that because Bill round the corner can do a better job and the fact the even a quality firm like Osmatec can do it for about £5000 cheaper (heater and thruster) is not a factor!!
As I had just come off the bannana boat I understood the dealers rationale of having a quality installation.
Had a lot of difficulty discussing the correct price on the phone - they were always so busy!!
Heater was re-installed by a self employed person called Fred who commissioned the boat and I believe did the best he could. Could only repair the holes in the inner skin with varnished ply though where the heater routes were run post build!!
Bow thruster tube was reglassed and refitted at the winter lift out but still leaked. I insisted that a quality firm was used for 3rd attempt. Osmatec reported holes on underside of tube at junction with hull and during repair no external glassing in of the tube. Osmatec work 1st class and no leaks now.
In fairness to the Jeanneau dealer all warantee work (there were other problems as well) has been completed satisfactory and I am confident they would have done it anyway and the fact that I retained an amount of money had no bearing on the matter!!
Don't run away thinking its a Jeanneau problem though as I had issues with the other 2 new boats I have bought. The UK marine industry is like a cottage industry (a bit like the UK motorcycle industry used to be where the were 100% sucessfull in making bilkes that leaked oil) and it will only be rectified when the boats are completed at the factory and preferably the Far East if reliability is required. Sad isn't it!! The charter company I am with have similar post sales problems with nearly ALL their boats and consider Jeanneau after sales service to be one of the best!!
On factory visit found no bow thruster or heater.
Dealers can delete items from order to fit them themselves!!
Assurred they do that because Bill round the corner can do a better job and the fact the even a quality firm like Osmatec can do it for about £5000 cheaper (heater and thruster) is not a factor!!
As I had just come off the bannana boat I understood the dealers rationale of having a quality installation.
Had a lot of difficulty discussing the correct price on the phone - they were always so busy!!
Heater was re-installed by a self employed person called Fred who commissioned the boat and I believe did the best he could. Could only repair the holes in the inner skin with varnished ply though where the heater routes were run post build!!
Bow thruster tube was reglassed and refitted at the winter lift out but still leaked. I insisted that a quality firm was used for 3rd attempt. Osmatec reported holes on underside of tube at junction with hull and during repair no external glassing in of the tube. Osmatec work 1st class and no leaks now.
In fairness to the Jeanneau dealer all warantee work (there were other problems as well) has been completed satisfactory and I am confident they would have done it anyway and the fact that I retained an amount of money had no bearing on the matter!!
Don't run away thinking its a Jeanneau problem though as I had issues with the other 2 new boats I have bought. The UK marine industry is like a cottage industry (a bit like the UK motorcycle industry used to be where the were 100% sucessfull in making bilkes that leaked oil) and it will only be rectified when the boats are completed at the factory and preferably the Far East if reliability is required. Sad isn't it!! The charter company I am with have similar post sales problems with nearly ALL their boats and consider Jeanneau after sales service to be one of the best!!
Talbot
Well-Known Member
Thanks Peter, I still have all your photos, and if it wasnt for my hand, would have already started. My tunnel is 125mm so I should be able to get it a lot further fwd than you managed. (hopefully inside the wardrobe completely- with the back of the wardroobe chopped out for access. The thruster I chose (sidepower) needs a lot less width than the vetus on as well. It is less powerfull, but if I get it further fwd, that should even things out.
ShipsWoofy
Well-Known Member
Why not fit a KISS thruster, a longshaft outboard to the front of your bridgedeck?
It would be steerable and you could crab in any direction.
No big holes, I am surprised you have enough meat around the bows to get a prop in anyway...
It would be steerable and you could crab in any direction.
No big holes, I am surprised you have enough meat around the bows to get a prop in anyway...
Talbot
Well-Known Member
more than enough meat for the sidepower thruster.
Your kiss system is a bit of a problem when singlehanding /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Your kiss system is a bit of a problem when singlehanding /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Malcb
Well-Known Member
Morse controls and steering back to your helm position, with of course electric start, what more sould you want.
tome
Well-Known Member
Contact Mark Savage, he's fitted loads of thrusters and has a special rig for cutting the tunnel. PM me if you want his contact details
Bergman
Well-Known Member
Won't you need 2 thrusters on a cat.
If directing thrust inwards then you will be pushing t'other hull opposite direction to the thrusted hull.
Must either go nowhere or give you a wider boat - at least at the front.
Or am I missing something?
If directing thrust inwards then you will be pushing t'other hull opposite direction to the thrusted hull.
Must either go nowhere or give you a wider boat - at least at the front.
Or am I missing something?