Scotty_Tradewind
Well-known member
Stating the obvious... dont forget to disconnect the battery supply before playing with the solenoid
Good luck
S.
Good luck
S.
My bowthruster doesn't thrust my bow...
- Thread starter jellyellie
- Start date
Greenheart
Well-known member
Why not call it 'HIWAH'? (Hit It With A Hammer) 
jellyellie
New member
My dad did have a look at the brushes and they looked alright as far as we could see; I will do the hammer test to check it's the solenoids.
Thanks for your help! Certainly more useful than some contributions
Poignard
Well-known member
'Growler'
Blueboatman
Well-known member
Bow Thruster= BT, 'trying to connect you'' (to the shore, obv.)
Scotty_Tradewind
Well-known member
The solenoid is another form of switch.
The control circuit that brings in the solenoid also has a switch.
The control circuit that brings in the solenoid also has a switch.
PeteCooper
Well-known member
This must be a record - 26 replies and nobody has said that you should learn to handle the boat and not rely on a bow thruster!!!!!
jellyellie
New member
This must be a record - 25 replies and nobody has said that you should learn to handle the boat and not rely on a bow thruster!!!!!
I was secretly betting on when that might come up! Definitely a record.
Yes, I agree with your school of thought, and don't actually tend to use it; but might as well have it working if it's there, and I'm not so 'hardcore' I'd completely refuse to use it if ever in a bit of a sticky situation.
PeteCooper
Well-known member
Sorry - that isn't my view at all - anything that makes boat handling easier is a good thing - there are times on my smaller boat where I would love a bow thruster.
jellyellie
New member
Indeed; like I say I'm not all holier-than-thou about it.
I like to know that I can handle her without the bowthruster, so whilst it's been broken it's been great for me to have the practice without, and realise that, yes, I can handle her.
When I get it working again I'll probably try not to use it where I don't absolutely need to, because it feels like more of an achievement to get it right with basic boat handling skills alone; but if I'm going to be blown on to the boat next to me and nudging the bow in with the bowthruster will help, then I'll use it. And it's on the boat - I've technically paid for it, so might as well use it when I need to.
rotrax
Well-known member
As an aside, bowthruster also needs a name. Any suggestions welcomed.[/QUOTE]
How about "Buster"-a bit of bow and thruster?
How about "Buster"-a bit of bow and thruster?
Boathook
Well-known member
Can't think of a name but my when my vetus packed up it was the battery.
Twister_Ken
Well-known member
Maybe it's not working coz you don't use it. Some kit is like that - sulks if it thinks you don't need it. Eberspachers get very moody if neglected, for example.
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Monique
Active member
The BT is used as seldom as I can... but my berth requires a 90 degree turn while going astern... if breezy, I use the noisy sucker...
Otherwise, my berth neighbours would be annoyed and it would cost to repair some AWB's....
Otherwise, my berth neighbours would be annoyed and it would cost to repair some AWB's....
sailinglegend420
Member
Back to the OP.
A friend had a Vetus bow thruster fitted by the only approved Vetus installer on the south coast and he fitted an 8 square mm charging cable when he should have fitted an 8 mm diameter cable. The correct cable size was verified by Nigel Calder in a reader's letter in PBO. The result was that the battery - next to the bow thruster - never got enough charge from the alternator. When he tried to use it there were not enough volts from the battery so the solenoid switched off as the load from the bow thruster drops the voltage. Then the solenoid opens and the voltage rises enough to close the solenoid, and then the voltage drops again and..........finally solenoid chatter burnt out the contacts.
So if your contacts are burnt out in 3 or 4 years this could be the reason.
I mention "Bow Thruster" three times in 5 lines so it definitely needs a shorter name, but I'm not playing that game.
A friend had a Vetus bow thruster fitted by the only approved Vetus installer on the south coast and he fitted an 8 square mm charging cable when he should have fitted an 8 mm diameter cable. The correct cable size was verified by Nigel Calder in a reader's letter in PBO. The result was that the battery - next to the bow thruster - never got enough charge from the alternator. When he tried to use it there were not enough volts from the battery so the solenoid switched off as the load from the bow thruster drops the voltage. Then the solenoid opens and the voltage rises enough to close the solenoid, and then the voltage drops again and..........finally solenoid chatter burnt out the contacts.
So if your contacts are burnt out in 3 or 4 years this could be the reason.
I mention "Bow Thruster" three times in 5 lines so it definitely needs a shorter name, but I'm not playing that game.
nimbusgb
Active member
Silly q Jellie ... but why not fix it a couple of months ago when it first went 'clunk' in one direction?
Twister_Ken
Well-known member
A case of the well known 'it'll get better by itself' syndrome.
mjcp
Active member
Parker - "I'll have Parker bring the bows round"
or
Jeeves - "Ask Jeeves to bring the bows in will you"
either one to be followed up with "Now don't give me any of your lip *insert name here*" when it isn't working.
mjcp
or
Jeeves - "Ask Jeeves to bring the bows in will you"
either one to be followed up with "Now don't give me any of your lip *insert name here*" when it isn't working.
mjcp
mjcp
Active member