Bow Thrusters

[southchinasea]

Some advice please. I',m about to order a new yacht LOA 50' 6" and EVERYONE tells me to get bow thrusters if available. I am a cruiser not a racer. Questions.
1. Tunnel or retractable? Retractable double the price at Euros 13K plus.
2. Has anyone had problems with either type? I think the factory fitted option is Max Power kit.
Thanks in advance

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by southchinasea on Wed Nov 28 08:22:16 2001 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[ccscott49]

Dont know the make, but I've seen lots of bowthrusters in the med and wish I had one, they seem very handy bits of kit. But would come fairly well down my list of priorities, but if you've got the bread, go for it. The Vetus units seem very popular!

 

[billskip]

If your not a cruiser and not a racer ..sounds like your a gin palace in port all time ..if so....you don need one

 

[southchinasea]

Thanks. I should of course said on my original post I am a cruiser not a racer; too many nots! So no, not a gin palace and defintely not in port all the time.

 

[ccscott49]

Read! He said he is a cruiser!

 

[billskip]

I did read!! he has changed it ..try reading his thread!!..his origanal had to many nots..he knows it ......

 

[ccscott49]

Sneaky bugger!

 

[southchinasea]

Yes he did edit it....Still looking for sensible guidance on tunnel vs. retractable.

 

[ccscott49]

Dont go for the retractable, more trouble than they are worth, you say you are a cruising man, the very, very slight loss of peformance will be made up by the much simpler instalation of the tunnel type. The best time to fit it, is when the the boat is being built of course. I might think about a little more battery capacity. Hows that for a sensible answer!

 

[southchinasea]

Extremely sensible thank you!

 

[billskip]

pretty good ..to early for me though..but agree tunnel type..takes the fun out of parking and giving the stink pots all that worry when they hang over the sharp end though...

 

[billskip]

sensible guidence??..ask clair.......(voiant)

 

[HaraldS]

Happen to have the Max Power retractable. The yard strongly recommened it over the tunnel type because they felt the bow section wasn't deep enough to prevent substantial cavitation with a tunnel type. So far (two seasons) it has worked fine. It is certainly more complex, with lifting motors and end-switches. I was leaning to the tunnel type and I'm still not convinced the retractable was necessary. I was told the top of the tunnel needes to be two tunnel diameters under water.

 

[Boathook]

Vetus say that there tunnels need to have half the tunnel diameter from the top to the surface.

 

[HaraldS]

I'm quite sure that will work too. I was on a sistership of mine, where the owner had insisted on a tunnel. He showed it to me in the box and it did sure pull on the ropes. It also threw up a lot of water to the surface and it's a lot more noicy. I couldn't tell what the difference in power is. With my retractable I have been pushing the bows against 25 knots of wind and it seemed like it could cope with more. I found it really great when you are pinned gainst a wall, with the rudder I can turn the prop wash at the wall (steering towards the wall) and bow thruster takes nice care of the bows.

 

[david_bagshaw]

Go for tunnel & hydraulic driven,

Ask how long the electric unit can be driven for & how long to wait!!

You can garantee when you really need it it will need to be on for ages

David
www.yachtman.co.uk

 

[Boathook]

I also felt that it looked to close to the surface so it is well over its diameter below the surface. This then brings it further aft ..... So the whole lot is a compromise anyway. Just the motor and wiring to install, then afloat next season and see how it works!

 

[HaraldS]

You are right with all this being a compromise. The whole boat is that way. I also went through the how far forward or aft and further forward was sure better for efficiency, but also from cabin layout. So it's really many factors. Yes wiring is another issue, I'm runnng two wires each, positive and negative, at 2/0 AWG (70mm2) at 24V and that seems sufficient.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Please get a quiet one!

Why do most b/t's sound like a blender crushing nuts with the shells on?

A long boat hook is much quieter, and doesn't disturb the neighbours nearly so much.

 

[southchinasea]

HI Harald I am curious to know what size/type (power/sail) you have?
Regards