Bow thruster types

[rog]

Would appreciate your advice on the relative merits of

Sleipner SP75 (75kg thrust 4.4kW)
or Vetus 75 (75kg thrust 4.7kW)
or Volvo BP900 (89kg thrust 5kW)

and what else should I think about.
The Vetus is about £550 cheaper than the other two.
To be installed on a 40' flybridge.

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[hlb]

HeruMff.

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Haydn

 

[tcm]

I think i mite go for the vetus.

reason: ask of suppliers of the shear pins ie chandlers (these are the bits that desigbned to break under stress) for all models, incl model numbers. I bet they will have the vetus stuff. Most proddy mnodels have the vetus. Make sure you have a vetus spare shear pin (the internallybit that breaks instead of motor or prop) and prop kit (to give to the diver when the external bit breaks)

With bowthruster, do not wirr wirr right and immediately wirr left cos tht busts the shear pin. I did two in a week this way but shh do not grass me up.

Also make sure you shout wooh haydn no bthruster hehe hard luck about clonking the pontton again har har can't you tell the diffrence betwen a stork and buttering the pontoon, hehe.



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[Gludy]

I have installed the Sleipner SP95 in the stern and the SP155 in the bow. I had them installed with remote auto power switching.

I am very impressed with the quality of these, whilst more expensive I think they are a cut above the rest including Vetus. You also apprantly have to watch how the different makes specify their power rating - they are on a different basis.

In either event I think that with the windage on the front a 40 foot flybridge you should consider the SP95 model



<hr width=100% size=1>Paul

 

[qsiv]

Ive got a sleipner (side power) on a 50' 24 ton sailing boat. The units is almost inaudible from either the boat or the pontoon, and provides sufficient power to hold the bow up against about F6 wind. Any more than that and it's a struggle (but that is a sizing issue, not a comment on the unit), but the boat is cutter rigged (two furling headsails), and has a tallish rig (85 foot).

The thruster has never failed, never invoked it's thermal cutout - what more can be asked?

It does use one anode each year - but they're not expensive.

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[ccscott49]

Bow thruster types are normally those that can't handle a boat without one, non bow thruster types are HLB! Oh! I wish I had one!!

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[steel_slug]

check Aquafax, I had a chat with them at LIBS and their new range (sorry cant remember the model but its the blue one) is made by the people in Italy that made the vetus range before production was switched to (I think ) India. If I get the chance , and dont forget! I will check with them at Crick this WE and post the info

HTH

Paul M

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[sfh]

Aquafax sell the BCS, i have just bought one, although it has not been fiited yet, i wondered why the prop was stamped Vetus

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