We used to use a dinghy with a 6HP engine to swing the bow of a Baltic Trader (60T) with relative ease in tight spaces. Slow but effective, even through the wind.
Lewmar don't make much rubbish though disappointed to read it's the quietest electric model on the market.
rofl.... but you cant hear ours, yet it manages to push 28 tonnes to weather in F6. I wouldn't want to be without it - the alleyway in the marina is only about 2 feet wider than the boat is long.
As for the new boat - at least it's shorter, but it weighs nothing and has no keel worth speaking of to give any grip. Only soloution is get the fenders to string the crew around the topsides for protection<g>
<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by qsiv on 26/02/2004 17:32 (server time).</FONT></P>
Trucks have lots of luvverly stickers and signs. Things like "long vehicle' and 'Caution, air brakes'. Buses have a few too but these are a bit boring like "exact fare only".
Now if you're sitting in the cockpit and see some nutter charging between all the pontoons at about 6 knots, it would be very reassuring to see a big sign on the bows saying "relax, bow thrusters on board". I feel this should be compulsory and could easily be managed via a sort of (and inevitable) bow thruster dues/tax.
This is discrimination at it's worst! Surely it would be more sensible to force all owners WITHOUT bowthrusters to carry a sort of Government Health Warning, in large letters along their topsides. Something along the lines of "BEWARE, boating without bowthrusters can seriously damage your mental well being, and your neighbours boat" and/or "DANGER, thrusterless owner on board"
In fact, in the absence of boat owners having obtain a licence to prove their boat handling competance, perhaps bowthrusters should become compulsory?
I've always fancied one that is on all the Cal-Mac ferries - "Beware of the Prop"
They have the signs plastered all over the ferry - bow, stern - sometimes even midships.