Bow thrusters

[BlueSkyNick]

Somebody I know is having a bow thruster fitted to their 36' yacht. The boat is only a year old and they keep it in immaculate condition, often driving long distances to scrub off the seagull droppings. So I can understand the logic of fitting a thruster to avoid any scatches etc., and to make life easier for SWMBO when coming alongside.

However there is second reason - another berth holder has brought a new boat into the marina very close to my friends, which is somewhat larger than the pontoons. This is going to make it very tight for my friends to manouvre onto their berth, so the thruster will be a great help.

As they are incurring the cost because of somebody elses boat, shouldn't they be claiming reimbursement from the other owner? After all, it protects that owner's boat just as much.

Are there other benefits to having a thruster? Bearing in mind the boat in question is a Bavaria, could the thruster be used at sea to help maintain a heading ??

Come to think of it, this could be an answer for somebody else I know who is having steering problems - fit a thruster and all will be OK !

Given that our all fore fathers from Noah to Nelson through to recent years have managed without, is a thruster on a yacht a necessity, a nice-to-have, or another thing to go wrong?

<hr width=100% size=1>I'm average size, Its just that everybody else is short.

 

[Sybarite]

<< As they are incurring the cost because of somebody elses boat, shouldn't they be claiming reimbursement from the other owner? After all, it protects that owner's boat just as much.>>

Dream on....

IMHO a bow thruster is justified on a heavy long-keeled boat but there are alternatives on lighter boats eg warping. Also OK perhaps if very short handed and getting on a bit. Extra cost and I have no idea as to their reliability. Probably OK because not used very much. What happens though if they pick up a line in the harbour manouvre ?


As to maintaining course I think the motor would have burned out before the first mile and what is the significance of it being a Bavaria? Am I missing some in-joke?

John

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[Ric]

I've certainly been in situations myself on my own boat, a 32ft fin-keeler, such as getting into my very tight berth when single-handed and with strong crosswind, where a bow thruster would saved some gel coat repairs. However, I wouldn't have one because of extra weight at the bow, cost, and extra hull drag. But each to his own - I wouldn't mock somebody who wanted one in a 36 footer.

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[ParaHandy]

Handbrake turn ...

... if they keep on building marinas in which you couldn't swing a cat in (ie moggie) then such a thing would likely be included in the marina's T&Cs? hythe would be a likely case in point in my opinion ... you wouldn't get me in there .... however could Nicho not perfect the equivalent of a 'handbrake turn' eg fling out anchor just as about to turn and screech in perhaps with one of the MacRae brothers at the wheel?

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[zefender]

"what is the significance of it being a Bavaria? Am I missing some in-joke?"

Yes. It's the regular rant from those with knackered old boats




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[nicho]

Nice one, Eamonn!!

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[ChrisE]

As an owner of an old knackered boat, I would recommend that your friend does what all us OKB owners do, use the other boat as fender. I find that I can hit most Bavarias about five or six times before they finally sink. That should see him through most of the season.

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[charles_reed]

My experience with Bavarias has been, whatever their other shortcomings, they're extremely easy to handle in close quarters. Bowthrusters are great for combatting sidewinds on something with no grip on the water (A POWERBOAT) but even with very limited space, prop walk and a short keel allow pretty close manouevring.

I'm afraid that any number of gadgets won't make up for lack of aptitude and practice.

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[nicho]

Sigh, sigh, I suppose I did ask for it, and whilst Nicks post is tongue in cheek, it does beg an answer!!

Mrs Nicho and I are not old by any means, but neither are we getting any younger, so anything that makes life easier is OK from our point of view. As with the discussion reference in-mast v. slab reefing, more and more owners are having bow thrusters retro fitted. I am encouraged to find that my better half enjoys helming the boat, and does occasionally bring it in through the lock and into its berth, as she did with our motor cruiser. We virtually always sail on own own (Billy no-mates!!), and it will make things easier for both of us to help manoeuvre in tight spaces e.g. Hythe. I don't necessarily agree with the view that thrusters should only be fitted to tired old long keelers, 'cos modern boats can be absolute ba....rds to get their bow through the wind with little way on. I've had them on motor cruisers for many years, so I can vouch for their reliability and convenience when trying to manoeuvre in strong tide/wind conditions. With regards to additional drag, as long as the hole is flared at the front end to deflect the water around the aperture, I cannot see it making much difference performance wise. If it does, it matters little to this couple, that's only interested in/capable of, gentle cruising!

Cheers all, we're now off to the Australian GP and two weeks thereafter in Queensland (40+ degrees at present), so pls don't shiver too much back in Blighty!!

PS Nick, not much point in asking Nigel for a contribution, he's spent all his money on that flaming great boat!!

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[nicho]

Doesn't say much for your boat handling does it??

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[tcm]

Re: steve 101

nonetheless, it's a bit wassocky (?) having a bowthruster on a 36 ft sailyboat. Or even a 45 foot sailyboat . praps in med where there's hardly any room it's an idea.

I wonder, was this bav owner called "steve" or even "steve101"? ...

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[nicho]

Re: steve 101

Not sure what "wassocky" means, but perhaps I can guess, Matt!! You are probably right, but having had the pleasure of one on previous boats, they really are bloody good things, and as I say, do make things so much easier in tight spaces/difficult conditions. I guessed it might get some negative comments, but not being a "purist" I'm happy to receive them for an easier life!!

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[ChrisE]

You mean that I should aim to sink them in less than five hits?

Thanks, I'll practice the manouevre. Now, who's got a Bav in Yachthaven that they'd be prepared for me to use as a target?

Seriously, my first reaction to the post was 'what a load of wuses' but on calmer reflection, if that's what makes them happy then good for them.

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[jimi]

Mike101

Having experienced Mike's boat handling where his control is such he can put the boat on a sixpence if he wants, I'm sure the major reason is to give the missus time to step ashore when getting blown off (so to speak!) . I would go for the rotatable in the vertical plane bowthruster which operates with reverse thrust to ameliorate slamming.

<hr width=100% size=1>.. whit way roon should it be again ..

 

[tcm]

in reply to

"...Mrs Nicho and I are not old by any means, but neither are we getting any younger"
....brackets your ages as between 50 and 58. Don't ask me why!

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[tome]

Re: steve 101

Nicho

Don't go for one of the cheap underpowered ones. When choosing, ask to hear it work first. If it's any good, you should be able to hear it at Ocean Village from your boat. It should sound 'harsh' and 'well-'ard' and if it's any good you should see masts around you girating in a satisfying way.

'Wassocky' refers to the subtle ones where you wouldn't know it was fitted. What's the point of forking out all those tokens if no-one knows you've got one?

Whatever turns you on (or off)!

Tom

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[nicho]

Make that between 50 and 60 and you'd be pretty close to the mark!! I've noticed I've also started grunting when getting out of a chair too - guess that also points towards advancing years....

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[tcm]

Re: oops just worked it out...

ah right, so it's nicho getting the bowthruster. Bit slow today!

Bow thrusters are nice. But boat not worth any more of course - more cos it's got a bowthruister but less cos it's retrofitted. The way to bustem is to woosh the boat that way and then quickly whosh the boat tother way. in high winds, when you really neededm, they can't really hold the boat against the wind but it feels safer anyway. You need overpowered ones if at all. Note that the cost of a load of fenders and lots of touching up/bribes to mates is LOTS less than a properly installed bowthruster all faired in, re-gel-coat and all the lecky work to uprate batteries etc, which if you "get several prices" may not be doen properly by the cheapest, tho of course it mite be.



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[tcm]

or good at tennis maybe?

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[nicho]

Re: steve 101

Actually I've gone for a 6hp one from the new(ish) Lewmar range. A five bladed prop instead of three cuts down on cavitation, is evidently much quieter, and gives 100% thrust both ways (rather than 100% one way and 70% the other on some other makes) That's according to Lewmar anyway, but they would say that wouln't they...!

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