I guess I must hang my head in shame

[NoviceRod]

I have just read Nick Burnham's article in MBY - Oh Dear!!!

I have both bow and stern thruster, and find them extremely useful when berthing, especially as my Nimbus 405 Fly has a big windage. I use them to align the boat and engines for forward and astern.

Also I have the name on the bows as well as the transom.

Where do I get treatment?

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Ignore the luddites. They only think boating is any good if it hurts. A sternthruster is a worthwhile piece of kit especially when backing into a berth and anything that makes boating easier has to be a good thing. Occasionally though have a go at berthing in calm conditions without either thruster just to get a bit of practice for when one or other (inevitably) packs up

We used to have a well known and respected forumite (hlb - sadly now RIP) who used to claim that thrusters were the work of the devil and anybody who thought they needed them didnt know how to drive a boat. Thankfully most of us have moved on a bit since then

 

[Firefly625]

I didn't read the article...

The Generation difference;

My Dad had a bow thruster on his boat, used to use it as a last resort when he got in trouble

I have a bow thruster on my boat, I use it to ensure I never get in trouble

 

[Bouba]

Mike is right. Save us from the purists. If you manage, by whatever means, to leave and arrive at your berth without damaging your neighbour’s boat or your own boat, then you have done the boating world proud ??

 

[Elessar]

Ignore the luddites. They only think boating is any good if it hurts. A sternthruster is a worthwhile piece of kit especially when backing into a berth and anything that makes boating easier has to be a good thing. Occasionally though have a go at berthing in calm conditions without either thruster just to get a bit of practice for when one or other (inevitably) packs up

We used to have a well known and respected forumite (hlb - sadly now RIP) who used to claim that thrusters were the work of the devil and anybody who thought they needed them didnt know how to drive a boat. Thankfully most of us have moved on a bit since then

Yes and he would only go into a berth forwards. I would mostly not be able to get off my boat if I went in bow to.......
And a bowthruster helps or makes it possible to go in stern to if there is any element of side wind or current.

Some boats are virtually unmanageable without a stern-thruster as well. I bought a boat with neither and fitted a bow thruster.
I don’t see the value of a sternthruster on my boat for me, but if I’d bought a boat with one I certainly wouldn’t take it off!!

 

[markc]

Agreed, I always use my thrusters because they make mooring much more precise, but learning to use the boat without using a thruster is certainly a good thing. Our neighbour needs to use his thruster in the most benign conditions, which meant that when it was a bit blowy in the summer he ran down the thruster battery and crashed into loads of boat before abandoning it on the fuel quay and getting the guardianage guys to moor it for him. (He tries to helm his boat as if it was a car, but tells me that it's the boat's fault))

 

[longjohnsilver]

Yes and he would only go into a berth forwards. I would mostly not be able to get off my boat if I went in bow to.......
And a bowthruster helps or makes it possible to go in stern to if there is any element of side wind or current.

Some boats are virtually unmanageable without a stern-thruster as well. I bought a boat with neither and fitted a bow thruster.
I don’t see the value of a sternthruster on my boat for me, but if I’d bought a boat with one I certainly wouldn’t take it off!!

actually his berth in PYH was alongside the main pontoon. His proudest moment was the time we, or rather he, tied up with 3 other boats outside him at the Pandora Inn. we wanted to leave so Haydn on Mucky Farter who was tied up against the pontoon turned the whole raft around so the outside boat was gently brought onto the pontoon. A brilliant piece of boat handling, all without any thrusters. He certainly knew how to handle that boat.

 

[sharpness]

I personally think thrusters are a fantastic addition to any boat. Although I've grown up with boats and feel happy at the helm, I still had a bow thruster installed on my last boat, and it proved to be a great addition. With my current boat it already had a bowthruster and sternthruster fitted. I don't mind admitting i used to think sternthrusters seemed overkill, but having now had the boat for a while, I wouldn't want to be without one. A bow and sternthruster greatly help in putting your boat exactly where you want, even when weather, or depth (our river moorings bankside depths can be shallow) go against you, so as not to need to use the bankside engine.
The momentum from just going in and out of gear with this boat keeps you on your toes, but the thrusters are great for small tweaks.

Example below is a tight mooring. Thrusters helped to make it fit, backing in easily.

 

[MapisM]

get a bit of practice for when one or other (inevitably) packs up

That's precisely the point with thrusters: when (not if) they will let you down, it's bound to be in an occasion when you will need them most.
I call myself lucky, having had for many years a heavy boat with no thrusters which forced me to learn how to handle her.
No rocket science, it only takes three simple things: practice, practice, practice.
But now that I have thrusters and the confidence to be able to get by without them, I feel much better than if I should rely on them!

 

[MapisM]

Also I have the name on the bows as well as the transom.

I can understand the dismission of thusters - that's a classic pet peeve of any luddite boater with a bit of macho attitude.
But what does Nick have against the name placement(s)?
I'd rather show a decent name all around the boat, than something like "Pussy Galore" in a more classical spot...

 

[benjenbav]

I was watching Nick Burnham’s Youtube channel (Aquaholic) the other day and couldn’t shake off the thought that he looks just like Will McKenzie’s dad would’ve if he had ever appeared.

As I can’t share any clips of Will McKenzie without facing shore leave, this reference will only be picked up by the inbetweeners on here.

 

[sharpness]

I was watching Nick Burnham’s Youtube channel (Aquaholic) the other day and couldn’t shake off the thought that he looks just like Will McKenzie’s dad would’ve if he had ever appeared.

As I can’t share any clips of Will McKenzie without facing shore leave, this reference will only be picked up by the inbetweeners on here.

If this were true, then Nick would have been a lucky lad. Wills mum was well fit.....

 

[benjenbav]

LOL...but don’t forget that Will only ended up at Rudge Park because of his parents’ divorce.

 

[RupertW]

I’m surprised that there is even a debate about thrusters on this forum. As a raggie I do believe they are the work of the devil and the sound announces to the marina that it’s time to get fenders out as the skipper doesn’t have a clue. But when you see it’s a mobo you relax because with a single engine, flat bottom and high windage they must be a pig to park in crosswinds without them.

But a sailing boat has a deep keel to pivot around, a guarantee that the bow will always turn downwind at slow speed and a very big rudder just behind the propellor that acts as perfect stern thruster at zero boat speed.

 

[Robin]

I have just read Nick Burnham's article in MBY - Oh Dear!!!

I have both bow and stern thruster, and find them extremely useful when berthing, especially as my Nimbus 405 Fly has a big windage. I use them to align the boat and engines for forward and astern.

Also I have the name on the bows as well as the transom.

Where do I get treatment?

you and me both, in my case memsahib insisted on pain of withdrawing privileges. however name on bow was inherited

 

[Hurricane]

Everyone on here is talking about thrusters for manoeuvring.
But they have other uses as well.
Once in a berth, they can keep the boat alongside until the crew have sorted the lines.
I also use my bow thruster to tighten the bow lines before leaving the boat.
And during some instruction in the Hamble many years ago, my instructor suggested "tickling" the bow thruster to warn dinghy sailors who seem to think you are invisible.
The stern thruster can also be very handy in a busy anchorage.
We motor boats swing very differently to the yachties - Very often, I will keep the thruster wireless remote to hand to avoid any contact - usually during short stops where either the other boat or us don't want to re-anchor.
So, they have many uses.

 

[John100156]

Totally agree - whilst I am perfectly happy berthing without BT and ST which was the state when I did my training many years ago in Gib, in fluctuating sea states (February), they are very useful aids. Indeed last week when I went out, I found my ST was not working when tested prior to setting off, no worries, I remembered there was a stop-lock that might have been turned-off when anti-fouling recently, once I got back I checked and all good, if we have paid for them, why on earth not use them. The ability to move sideways without crabbing is so very useful in gusts.

 

[Hurricane]

I've just read Nick's piece.
Has he lost the plot - no boat hook!!

 

[Assassin]

Jeez, is this really an issue; if you don't want them then don't have them; if you do want them then have them, simple as that.

 

[Greg2]

Obviously Nicks article was a bit of light hearted banter but it is interesting how the use of bow/stern thrusters creates such debate. Our Broom 41 had a bowthruster that was pretty useless and we installed a stern thruster, not because we particularly needed it but we were offered it cheap and I thought it would have been handy on a Thames cruise to push the stern in / out from the bank in shallow water to avoid the props bashing the bottom. Most of the time twin engines meant that I didn’t need to use either but I sometimes did where they helped.

The current S34 has a very effective bowthruster so I use it whenever it helps. No need for any macho BS - I can handle boats without one but sometimes it just makes it easier and every now and then it gets me out of trouble but if there is an audience there is inevitably someone who says ‘using the girlie stick then’ ?