Question from the other side.

[doug748]

Does a moderately sized (say 35 foot) TSDY need a bowthruster?

I was alerted to the question by a power boat man, in another place, who said that he can tell a novice by the amount of use he makes of a thruster when moving slowly in harbour conditions.

It makes a soddin awful noise first thing in the morning is all I know.

Although I normally go equipped with sails I am often impressed seeing power boats wiggle into small spaces, so I have no axe to grind. I am just intrigued.

 

[moonraker 36]

well i don't have one.
never found myself wanting one either..

 

[pmagowan]

I don't see that they would NEED one as most sail boats of the same size don't have one and manouvre under motor in harbours. Might be nice to have one though!

 

[DPH]

What's a TSDY?

 

[epervier]

I don't have one, and thus far not felt the need, but I can clearly see why people fit them, including big yachts.

wind blowing the bow off, push the electric button the bow comes back round, excellent!

 

[epervier]

What's a TSDY?

Twin screw displacement yacht.

 

[duncan]

basically the answer is no

but it would add additional options that could make some specific maneuvers much simpler. without a keel you have nothing ahead of the props to provide grip in the water

this isn't any different from yachts - last one I chartered was 51' fin keel and there were times the bow thruster was invaluable, and many more days it wasn't used at all.

the craft you outlined is probably one of the most capable low speed maneuvering set up without a thruster, add one and it sings.

one of the reasons that they have become increasingly popular is the gradual increase in foredeck height and associated wind-age - again not dissimilar to DS yacht development.

having enjoyed (?) the challenge of a full length keel (Victoria 26) I welcome anything that increases the ease of slow speed maneuvering - you don't have to use it!

 

[duncan]

Twin screw displacement yacht.

I suspect you are correct - I interpreted it as Twin Shaft Drive Yacht!

 

[moonraker 36]

allway's known it as twin screw diesel yacht..

 

[doug748]

allway's known it as twin screw diesel yacht..

I was thinking that. It is light displacement boats that seem to find the thruster very useful.

 

[epervier]

allway's known it as twin screw diesel yacht..

I stand corrected,

but, my boat is displacement and twin screw

 

[david_bagshaw]

allway's known it as twin screw diesel yacht..

+1
certainly was in the 70s to differentiate from petrol powered craft.

 

[Ripster]

Bow thrusters are just another tool in the box that give extra options when going into a tight space and moving about in wind. They are not essential for everything, in fact most moboers I know only use them when they have too, not as routine. The challenge being not to need it! But it is there if you do want it and can make life a lot easier on occasion. Bit like parking sensors on your car - you dont neeeeeed them but they are very handy when you are squeezing into a tight space.

 

[jpd85]

If a TSDY had a bowthruster could you make it move sideways?
Reeverse port engine, forward starboard engine makes the stern go to starboard. then bow thruster to move bow to starboard?

 

[fireball]

Having recently helmed a 35' mobo - twin outdrives and thruster I can say I was pleased it had the thruster ...

Long story short - I had to bring her back on one engine and the berth was fairly tight in to the shallows around a finger (with another vessel on it) and preferably backed in.

I would not have made it in there in my own boat (no thruster, single engine although with keel as well) but with single outdrive and thruster I was able to drive in, shimmy across sideways then reverse back - all quite easy in the end. Quite a useful tool really ...

 

[jfm]

If a TSDY had a bowthruster could you make it move sideways?
Reeverse port engine, forward starboard engine makes the stern go to starboard. then bow thruster to move bow to starboard?

Yes very much. You can move the thing pure sideways if you balance it correctly, doing just as you describe

It works better on a fast mobo with big pitch props. It's much harder to do on say a big heavy Nordhavn with a keel and small engines/fine props

 

[asteven221]

Twin screw displacement yacht.

Is it not "twin screw diesel yacht?"

 

[david_bagshaw]

If a TSDY had a bowthruster could you make it move sideways?
Reeverse port engine, forward starboard engine makes the stern go to starboard. then bow thruster to move bow to starboard?

great fun at times to be able to slot sideways into a berth of ones own length.

similarly great for getting underway from shallow moorings without using the vulnerable shore side prop. (stbd slow ahead,plenty of port wheel,stbd bow thrust,however have only used a hydraulic powered one so no limit on thrusting time)