Experience with hydraulic bowthrusters?

[npf1]

I want to rig a new pump for the hydraulic bowthruster as the current set-up is complex and unreliable. Choices seem to be using

a) a belt driven pump, driven off the main engine crankshaft pulley, with an electric clutch. I think the engine is big enough to handle the power required at tickover. There's no PTO on the transmission.

or

b) fit a PTO and pump to the generator

Does anyone know the pros and cons of each approach? Does the main engine driven route have limitations on the rev range when manouvering?

Thanks in advance.

 

[marcusgillies]

CONTACT
AR PEACHMENT in Brundall

01603 714077 and ask for Tony or Andrew

 

[William_H]

Hydraulic power steering on a car relies on the principle of bypassing the pressurised fluid back to the inlet of the pump when not being required to provide power. So it should be reasonable to use such a pump running continuously on your engine via a belt.
I don't know how the power requirement compares, obviously with power steering the power is transfered via a simple belt which you often hear slipping when the steering is hard over.
I am just thinkiing aloud here, you need an expert but I don't think you need an electric clutch. olewill