clyst
Well-known member
Is it possible to fit a bow thruster to a wooden carval constructed boat ? Cant see its possible really but you lot may know different .
cheers
cheers
Bow thrusters and wooden boats
- Thread starter clyst
- Start date
sarabande
Well-known member
If you used a lot of doublers and sisters, and made a sort of coffer dam, that might work - probably with GRP matting and filler, too 
pyrojames
Well-known member
Gipsy Moth III has one so it must be possible. Not sure that I approve though!
prv
Well-known member
I could imagine some kind of bronze fitting, a bit like a very large skin fitting or a porthole flange, attached to the wood at each side. They could be all one piece with the tube in between, but that would be pretty heavy and also have to be custom-made (probably cast) for each boat. So perhaps the ends could be separate pieces, with the tube in between made of GRP and some kind of bonding and/or fastening to the bronze ends. A fair amount of rubber in the joint would probably be a good idea to allow for movement in the timber.
Never seen such a device, just imagining how I might design one.
Pete
Never seen such a device, just imagining how I might design one.
Pete
pyrojames
Well-known member
Good description of the one on GMIII!
LittleShip
New member
Always depends on the construction of the hull, but short answer to this question is yes you can. Are you thinking of doing so ?
Tom
chinita
Well-known member
Harrummph! Pink Gin - QUICKLY!!!
You should ask this on the Wooden Boat Forum for some real reaction
Crabman
New member
I love that. Yes you can but its easier and cheaper to learn how to manouver the vessel correctly, bow thruster get outer here , man up .
Elessar
Well-known member
I love that. Yes you can but its easier and cheaper to learn how to manouver the vessel correctly, bow thruster get outer here , man up .
I get irritated by this predictable reply. So I will retort with an irritating, predictable reply.
Bow thrusters allow manoeuvres that are impossible without them. Like going sideways.
Bow thrusters make manoeuvres that are difficult without them simpler. And whats wrong with that?
Bow thrusters usually eliminate the need to spring off berths or rope out of berths. Hassle saved.
Bow thrusters have a place in particular in long keelers in crowded environments. They allow you to steer astern, and keep control slower.
If you think the only use for a bow thruster is to mask bad boat handling (which to some extent it can do), then you need some lessons in how to use a bow thruster.
PuffTheMagicDragon
Active member
The type of bow thruster that is likely to spring to mind is the tunnel type that goes athwart-ships. This could prove extremely troublesome to install although it is not impossible.
There is another type though. It retracts into the hull, rather like the nose-wheel of an aircraft. This type would probably be much easier to install into a wooden hull with relatively less drastic surgery. Think along the lines of 'lift-keel' and 'centreboard case'.
HERE is one. There are others. (I have no connection with this company or its products).
There is another type though. It retracts into the hull, rather like the nose-wheel of an aircraft. This type would probably be much easier to install into a wooden hull with relatively less drastic surgery. Think along the lines of 'lift-keel' and 'centreboard case'.
HERE is one. There are others. (I have no connection with this company or its products).
Ric
Well-known member
You could try an external bow thruster:
https://www.absolutemarine.co.nz/images/products/Bow Thrusters/exturn_bavaria42_bow.jpg
https://www.absolutemarine.co.nz/images/products/Bow Thrusters/exturn_bavaria42_bow.jpg
Elessar
Well-known member
They would be easy to fit.
Thing is most wooden boats are beautiful, and I could not stand to see this on a wooden boat.
Or any boat........
westernman
Well-known member
What is wrong with a crew member in an inflatable dink with outboard motor?
By far the most effective kind of external bow thruster.
prv
Well-known member
Trouble is, it would involve cutting a chunk out of a fairly vital structural member (would "stem post" be the right term?). The bow of the boat would no longer be connected to the rest of the hull except via the planking.
Pete
Penton Hooker
New member
I get irritated by this predictable reply. So I will retort with an irritating, predictable reply.
Bow thrusters allow manoeuvres that are impossible without them. Like going sideways.
Going sideways is quite possible, indeed quite easy, using wind and tide.
Bow thrusters make manoeuvres that are difficult without them simpler. And whats wrong with that?
Nothing, but neither is there anything wrong with practical seamanship.
Bow thrusters usually eliminate the need to spring off berths or rope out of berths. Hassle saved.
See above answer / comment.
Bow thrusters have a place in particular in long keelers in crowded environments. They allow you to steer astern, and keep control slower.
Steering astern etc. is quite possible, with a little bit of forward thrust!
If you think the only use for a bow thruster is to mask bad boat handling (which to some extent it can do), then you need some lessons in how to use a bow thruster.
Okay, so you have a bow thruster and wish to defend your choice. There are those of us who take great pride in doing it the hard way!!
Was speaking to the supplier of such boys toys who openly admitted to me that he could not for the life of him understand why folk were fitting them on small boats! Personally I think that they are great for folk who need them / can't cope without them!
PuffTheMagicDragon
Active member
Not necessarily. The 'case' would be placed alongside the keel, say to starboard, and the surround would be reinforced with the addition of partial stringers and frame sisters. One could even build up a 'dam' around the mechanism, reinforcing as necessary; this would be similar to what is sometimes done with outboard wells.
Personally, I would not fit one but the point of my contribution was that there are many ways of fitting a bow thruster other than the tunnel version that most people think of when they hear the term 'bow-thruster'.
Poignard
Well-known member
Being lazy, and usually short-handed, I prefer to ask the marina boatman to give 'my bow a shove, please' !
SHUG
Active member
Vetus were marketing a water-jet system for a while. All you need are two3inch skinfittings on each side of the bow , a water pump and a control valve.....simples.
Like this: http://www.usmarineproducts.com/pdf/Jettrhusters_eng.pdf
Like this: http://www.usmarineproducts.com/pdf/Jettrhusters_eng.pdf
Elessar
Well-known member
Sorry nonsense. I feel no need to defend my choice.
You are right they are great for folk who's handling skills are less good. They are are also an excellent tool for experts. I don't care where you think I am on that scale.
But I suspect you've never used one or learned properly how to use one.
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Penton Hooker
New member
I have used one, several in fact. Must admit that I am so used to not using one that I do tend to forget that it is there. Don't get me wrong, I can see where they would be useful. Probably a case of old dogs and new tricks.
A near neighbour has a 28', twin screw sports cruiser that has no keel to speak of. At low speeds on a windy day his bow thruster is a godsend. But then, as much as I admire the design, the build quality and the comfort, its not my sort of boat, and I suppose the same can be said of bow and stern thrusters.
