My boat has a hole in it!

[Harpsden]

The yard has just started to install a bow thruster for me. Its a bit of a shock to go to the boat and find the holes cut ready for the tube.

from the inside you get a better idea of the elliptical shape that has to be cut to create the right shape for the circular tube.

A close up of the cut out shows the shape that was cut and also the thickness of the lay-up which is reassuring. I was surprised how heavy the piece was.

A couple more weeks of work yet!



Harpsden

 

[poltergeist]

Out of curiosity, what boat is it being fitted to?

 

[MapisM]

[ QUOTE ]
Its a bit of a shock to go to the boat and find the holes cut ready for the tube.

[/ QUOTE ]I'd rather be worried about the parts they completely removed inside...
Was that evaluated in advance?

 

[Harpsden]

There is a plan for what's being done including the removal of the skin section you can see and to answer the other question it is on a Sealine SC29.


Harpsden

 

[MapisM]

Good for you, if they know what they're doing.
Actually I didn't understand exactly what that "skin section" is, but its thickness wouldn't make sense unless it has some structural function - hence my point. SC29... is her really so difficult to maneuver with no thruster, or do you use her in particularly tricky conditions?

 

[DavidJ]

[ QUOTE ]
.....is her really so difficult to maneuver with no thruster, or do you use her in particularly tricky conditions?

[/ QUOTE ]
Doubtless those with loads of experience can maneuver in any situation without the need for a thruster. However for some of us who only do a dozen or so tricky maneuvers per year the bow thruster is fantastic. I particularly like the ability to move sideways out of a fuel berth.

 

[MapisM]

[ QUOTE ]
the bow thruster is fantastic.

[/ QUOTE ]I never said it isn't, and I surely would have used it, in some occasions.
I only asked because it's both a rather expensive and a tricky modification to be made properly ex-post, so I suppose Harpsden gave it a good thought.

 

[Harpsden]

The SC29 with twin stern-drives is fine for manoeuvring and turns very well. The normal mooring procedures are also not a particular problem. Whilst as a relative new-comer I know my boat handling skills could be better and there will be lots more practise this year (without using the bow thruster) there are also times when I need to bring her in sideways to the mooring before getting a line on and the bow thruster will let me do that without worrying about it.

The intention is to carry on developing the skills (without the thruster) to deal with all the different scenarios, wind on to the mooring, wind off, current this way and that way and so on.

The bow thruster is to be there to be used in certain situations and it will always come in handy as an insurance policy on the normal stuff.

If my handling skills get good enough to never need to use it - I'll be very happy!

The local yard doing the work is the one featured in PBO last summer retro-fitting a thruster and they have been talking with Sealine about the details of the fit. If I can get some more photos during the fit as it progresses I'll put them up.



Harpsden

 

[CX54WEK]

Some muppet in our marina has just shelled out to have bow thrusters fitted to an S25. You can blow at it and it will move!!!

 

[jhr]

I've seen one fitted to a sister boat to mine (22 footer). Mind you, she was obviously owned by gadget man, because she was bristling with every bit of kit you could imagine. I didn't see a radar, but the owner has probably fitted AIS by now. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MapisM]

You make me feel a bit guilty for starting the argument now...
Even if personally I wouldn't have spent money on a b/t, actually I see Harpsden point.
Sterndrives are much trickier to maneuver than shaft generally speaking, and the fact that small boats move quickly and easily just blowing at them can be more a problem than an advantage when mooring in crosswinds.
So, there is some sense in a b/t on sterndrive boats imho, possibly even more than in bigger shaft boats.
Aside from the fact that the potential damages are obviously worse with bigger and heavier boats, obviously.

 

[CX54WEK]

Having only ever hired shaft driven boats before buying ours i disagree. Stern driven boats are a breeze to handle in comparison. Each to their own i suppose. It just stikes me as a waste of money.

 

[MapisM]

Mmm... Actually, it's widely accepted that shafts are more maneuverable than sterndrives, other things equal. Which is mainly due to where the thrust is applied - much nearer to the center of the hull, with shafts.
That said, obviously there are sterndrive boats more maneuverable than shaft boats.
And I couldn't agree more on the "each to their own" factor: at the end of the day, that comes always first.

 

[Nick_H]

I agree, each to their own, which doesn't make someone a muppet for choosing to fit a bowthruster to their boat, if that's what they want?

 

[CX54WEK]

[ QUOTE ]
I agree, each to their own, which doesn't make someone a muppet for choosing to fit a bowthruster to their boat, if that's what they want?

[/ QUOTE ]

It does when you see him attempting to use it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Harpsden]

Before I put the post up I thought this was bound to bring up the pros and antis of bow thrusters but I thought the images might be of interest.

I'm having the bow thruster fitted to deal with some specific circumstances where it will make life a lot easier for me and as a result make my boating more enjoyable. I intend to continue to develop my skills so that I don't need to use it but when I do it will be there. Given the annual cost of boat ownership the spend on the bow thruster is small compared with the total cost of ownership!

I fully respect the views of those who think a bow thruster is a waste of space or money and I hope that when I have as much experience as many others on this site it will be a waste of space on my boat too. In the meantime for the usage I have in mind I will be very happy for it to be there.

I did a week on a Grand Banks 36 with twin shaft drive and actually found it to be very similar to the sterndrive and in some instances even more manoevrable.

Good debate though!



Harpsden