Bow thruster

[Guest]

Previous owner has installed DIY bow thruster (vetus 50kga) The join where the tube meets the hull is leaking , not enough glass when fitted . Consequently we are having the boat lifted and repaired.
The next problem is the thruster is not working now, water possibly fused the electrics. The problem is, there is no fuse in the circuit we have traced every inch of the cable . There are two controls one on the fly & main helm , no power is getting to them. Tried battery direct to motor no response . There is a small spade fuse on motor this is ok. What would blow next as no main fuse ? confused !

 

[hlb]

The motor??

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Haydn

 

[boatone]

Just to elaborate on haydn's response a little, if the fuse at the motor is definitely ok (did you check it with a meter?) and power connected directly to the motor terminals gets no response from motor, suggests motor windings buggered. Any chance prop jammed in tunnel which would also stop motor from turning?
Not absolutely sure this is only scenario as probably relays are involved with switching from helm controls so without circuit diagram could be other possible causes. When did thruster stop working? Are you sure you are connecting battery directly to motor terminals and not to connectors for relay circuitry whch could be mounted within motor assembly??

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boatsontheweb.com/galleryframes.html> My P32, BoatersGallery, VolpenUsersGroup</A><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by boatone on 03/09/2002 07:48 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[tcm]

There will almost certainkly be some sort of main fuse. It will be quite massive, and may the sort of re-settable type, with two things to push together. If there isn't a fuse, then the relay itself is the fuse, and has "gone". But as b1 says, direct conexion will establish if the things wil ever work. You need decent-sized wire as they pull a lot of juice.

 

[stefan_r]

Think you can get instructions and wiring instructions from Vetus.com....find your thruster and look for a 'manuals' link.

This will also tell you cable diam needed for direct connection

Meantime suggest you ensure controller fuse is okay and fuse from batts to thruster cos there should be one and it is BIG if the vetus brand was used...width and depth of three fingers if I remember right

if there isn't one there should be so get cutting that battery cable and put one in!


How much water came in??

mailto: stefan@athito.com

 

[hlb]

Re: Oh No!!!!!!!!!!

He found 100 gallons of water in the front bilge a few weeks ago!! Told him that there should be none in there. Will be all knackered now I'm afraid. Wash everything out with fresh water and prepair to renew/ mend, everything that has come close to the sea water. Pitty you did not ask sooner. Might have saved some bits and pieces.

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[hlb]

Re: Oh No!!!!!!!!!!

But anyway whats a P35 doing with a bow thruster. It drives like a tractor and goes anywhere you put it. Bow thruster would just slow the process down. Just plaster the hole up and get rid of it. Probably go faster without it anyway.

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[Guest]

continual dripping , boat out of water to have bow thruster re glassed.

 

[hlb]

Save your money mark and through the silly bow thruster away. It will be knackered anyway. I've had enough experience of sea water around electric and mechanical bits to know.

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[Guest]

My luck is changing had bow thruster repaired one of the cables had shorted out due to water penetration ,from the thruster tube £25 . Thats the good news now have got to have the bow thruster re glssed to stop water coming in. Boating seems to be one step forward two steps back.

 

[boatone]

One step forward two steps back...........

.....stop stating the bloody obvious....we're all grown up here.........just count yourself lucky it wasnt more serious. Make sure they dry the glass out thoroughly , no COMPLETELY.....or the repair wont last. Oh, and inspect your nether regions more frequently in future!

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boatsontheweb.com/galleryframes.html> My P32, BoatersGallery, VolpenUsersGroup</A>

 

[hlb]

Mark. I moored along side a beautifull P35 in St Peters Port a few weeks ago. Looked like brand new. Owner very fastidious. He was joking about my fenders not all matching and a few other things. So I jokingly said. Never mind your three inches lower in the water, you must be sinking!! Now the bloke had been having trouble for days with electic problems. Making loads of phone calls back home, to his mechanic. A couple of days later he decided to look down the engine room where he found three foot of water!! Now he new he had a faulty fuse on the bilge pump and there was only a small leak cos he had never bothered to tighten the stern glands. He did not like bothering with the mucky bits. I told him to get the engine room hosed down immediatly to save further damage, but no, he could not be bothered. The results will show up over the next few months. Wires falling apart, starter motors, alternator ect, ect, ect.
The moral of the story. Look round every where and spot little problems, before they become major ones.


No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn