Bow thrusters

[TheBoatman]

Why are bow thrusters so noisy?
They sound like coffee grinders, surely an electric motor running through a gear box shouldn't be that noisy?

Peter.

 

[Woodlouse]

Cavitation.

 

[captainslarty]

Should that not be Ventilation ?

 

[johnalison]

Because the owners like it that way so that everyone knows when they come in to to dock that they've got a big boat and haven't the first idea how to manage it even in a flat calm.

 

[orizaba]

i thought it was exasperation

 

[douglas_family]

[ QUOTE ]
Why are bow thrusters so noisy?

[/ QUOTE ]

i can never hear mine over the sound of me swearing at the crew! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Norman_E]

I have bought the new 6 blade prop for my Vetus thruster, and will fit it on next lift out. Benefits are supposed to include lower power consumption for equal thrust because of reduced cavitation, so I guess that cavitation is one of the causes of noise.

 

[MapisM]

Yeah, for myself and swmbo it's now normal practice to get out and grab all our fenders whenever we hear that noise!
Which confirms that it's actually just an alarm system, as you said...
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[hshaky]

Noisy or not everyone said they would not have one and they did not need one so how come most Motor Boats and YACHTS now have one.

Is it because every little helps stops us all looking prats at some time.

 

[MapisM]

Naahh...
Looking prats at some time is inevitably linked to our hobby, so who cares?
'Course all of us laugh at others about it.
But whoever think to be totally and always unaffected, is just cheating.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Pls let us know how effective the new vetus bow thruster prop is

What size thruster do you have

I have a 95kgf 185 mm dia but not in use yet

 

[pessimist]

It's the sound of the mussels who've taken up residence there being ground to a pulp.

 

[rickp]

I have the same units on mine (bow and stern) - and will be fitting the new props on the next lift. Will let you know....

Rick

 

[Norman_E]

Mine is the old 55KGF model, about 155mm diameter. It still has the old chipped 3 blade prop in it, but is very useful when trying to line the boat up to get it back into a narrow berth in the marina.