Warning to Jeanneau Owners

lustyd said:
Let's remember that until this incident we all thought Jeanneau didn't have this issue so let's also not rule out the same issue being present on other manufacturers. If this were aeroplanes the other manufacturers would all check and confirm they don't have the issue, but it's boats so it's on the owner.
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It’s a good point...because the thruster will be made another manufacturer supplying other brands and for retrofitting
 
Bouba said:
It’s a good point...because the thruster will be made another manufacturer supplying other brands and for retrofitting
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I know Hanse used the same style of thruster. When in Cartagena a few years back an Australian acquaintance had a diver clean the bottom of his 6 month old 54 (or 58 can't remember) - he popped up after a while and said "why is there a big hole in the bottom" - the entire drop down thruster had fallen off at some point. It hadn't leaked though AFAIK
 
Like all manufacturers cheap is better than good. The same group made Lagoon who according to one of their main agents for an entire region - didn't put main fuses on batteries unless the boat went to the USA where it was mandated. (This was after a friends boat had caught fire - a fire that fusing may well have prevented ) because it was an extra cost. A out of perhaps £5 in 2015 (when this happened) when bought in bulk. Yes, he replied but £5 on every boat is adds up and bottom line is everything.
 
sawduster said:
The odd error is understandable and I'm sure their response is commendable now that they've been found wanting, but bow thrusters are not new or uncommon technology. Was it a design fault, a construction fault, a fault with the thruster supplier?

It would be interesting to see what the root cause is - this article , Bow thruster weak point: Two accidents show how important correct installation is though barely readable without paying - seems to indicate a fault in the construction process which is concerning at a business which you would expect to have robust QC processes.

The fix appears to be take it back to Jeanneau for them to stick some adhesive in the gaps where there should be laminate, or add laminate it yourself. Doesn't inspire much confidence.
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This style of thruster is new - boats are between 2 and 4 years old and the fault seems to be in the sealing off the unit into the hull which is very different from the traditional thruster designs. Without seeing the details of the structure that holds the unit in place it is difficult to make any meaningful comment about possible remedial work.
 
Scary stuff, at least they had good conditions. I don't understand the bit at the end of the text. The investigation found it was caused by the thruster install. Jeanneau had already done a recall for that exact thing. The yard couldn't see a connection between those two things 🤷‍♀️
 
Tranona said:
This style of thruster is new - boats are between 2 and 4 years old and the fault seems to be in the sealing off the unit into the hull which is very different from the traditional thruster designs. Without seeing the details of the structure that holds the unit in place it is difficult to make any meaningful comment about possible remedial work.
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Amel have used retractable bow thrusters for years. Henri Amel was asked by a potential buyer what sort of guarantee went with them and he replied "Lifetime if you want."

It's probably not the same sort but it may add a bit of balance in the French knocking.
 
Sybarite said:
Amel have used retractable bow thrusters for years. Henri Amel was asked by a potential buyer what sort of guarantee went with them and he replied "Lifetime if you want."

It's probably not the same sort but it may add a bit of balance in the French knocking.
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Doubt it is the same make of thruster. The fault from what has been said by the owner's representative is the installation and not the unit itself. The recall notice suggests the same.
 
Tranona said:
Doubt it is the same make of thruster. The fault from what has been said by the owner's representative is the installation and not the unit itself. The recall notice suggests the same.
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Some old Amel’s seemed to use a bespoke Amel design of retractable bow thruster. Assume replaced with a commercial one nowadays?
But I think the Jeannea uses a retractable thruster made by the very reputable Sleipner (Sidepower brand).
Some bigger boats can build the bow thruster into a sealed bow locker ahead of a crash bulkhead - as done by X Yachts of 45 foot or so - but not practical at the size of the boat that had the issue.
 
dunedin said:
Some old Amel’s seemed to use a bespoke Amel design of retractable bow thruster. Assume replaced with a commercial one nowadays?
But I think the Jeannea uses a retractable thruster made by the very reputable Sleipner (Sidepower brand).
Some bigger boats can build the bow thruster into a sealed bow locker ahead of a crash bulkhead - as done by X Yachts of 45 foot or so - but not practical at the size of the boat that had the issue.
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I have a Lewmar swing thruster, 15 years old, so not a new style. It's built into a space in front of a watertight bulkhead in a 35' boat. No leaks.

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