Bow thrusters and wooden boats

clyst

Well-known member
Joined
18 Aug 2002
Messages
3,233
Visit site
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
 

sarabande

Well-known member
Joined
6 May 2005
Messages
36,038
Visit site
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 :)
 

prv

Well-known member
Joined
29 Nov 2009
Messages
37,361
Location
Southampton
Visit site
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
 

Crabman

New member
Joined
13 Jan 2010
Messages
244
Location
Australia
Visit site
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


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 .:D
 

Elessar

Well-known member
Joined
10 Jul 2003
Messages
9,997
Location
River Hamble
Visit site
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 .:D

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
Joined
16 May 2001
Messages
14,406
Visit site
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).
 

prv

Well-known member
Joined
29 Nov 2009
Messages
37,361
Location
Southampton
Visit site
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'.

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
Joined
23 Oct 2011
Messages
211
Visit site
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
Joined
16 May 2001
Messages
14,406
Visit site
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

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'.
 

Elessar

Well-known member
Joined
10 Jul 2003
Messages
9,997
Location
River Hamble
Visit site
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!


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.
 
Last edited:

Penton Hooker

New member
Joined
23 Oct 2011
Messages
211
Visit site
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.

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.
 
Top