What type of battery for a Bow Thruster

affinite

affinite

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I have a 24v Vetus bow thruster on my boat. It is powered by 2 x 12v batteries which some sort of vetus controller gizzmo places in series when the thruster is activated and in parallel for charging.
The two existing batteries are knackered having been left off charge over winter so I need to replace them.
I cant remember what type is currently fitted but should the replacements be start type batteries or deep cycle ?
Obviously a thruster takes high current for only a few seconds so my inclination is towards a starter battery but Ive read that deep cycle batteries are normally recommended.
Any ideas ?
Thanks
 
That's what I have powering mine. You're never going to run the thruster without the engine on. I have both my bow thruster as well as windlass on the same as I'll never run those two at the same time..
 
affinite said:
I have a 24v Vetus bow thruster on my boat. It is powered by 2 x 12v batteries which some sort of vetus controller gizzmo places in series when the thruster is activated and in parallel for charging.
The two existing batteries are knackered having been left off charge over winter so I need to replace them.
I cant remember what type is currently fitted but should the replacements be start type batteries or deep cycle ?
Obviously a thruster takes high current for only a few seconds so my inclination is towards a starter battery but Ive read that deep cycle batteries are normally recommended.
Any ideas ?
Thanks
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I would check what else is running off those two batteries.. you might find that your domestics are as well- in which case I don't think starter batteries are going to be ideal. I've just got some Alphaline from battery megastore which folk seem to think are OK, but in if they are run flat over winter I don't think the brand matters much ;)
 
gjgm said:
I would check what else is running off those two batteries.. you might find that your domestics are as well- in which case I don't think starter batteries are going to be ideal. I've just got some Alphaline from battery megastore which folk seem to think are OK, but in if they are run flat over winter I don't think the brand matters much ;)
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Many batteries are the same make. its only the label that changes
 
I have used 'Optima Blue Tops' on a 15 hp 24v bow thruster for the last three years - they perform as new despite the long standing time / then short heavy load requirements. V. Happy with them.

Just google the above phrase - they are definitely not the same make as others!
 
A couple of bog standard truck starter batteries will do just fine, looked after you should get 8 years out of them. No problem using them to power the windlass either - both devices are truck starter motors or very close relatives.
 
Thanks for all advice
Thruster bank is separate in the bow. I have separate starter batt and the house banks aft
Windlass runs off the house bank (low power long cable)
Will investigate options proposed.
Trouble is that the boat is in a yard on the island of Leros in the Greek Dodecanese. I can request a specific type but Im kind of tied to what the yard can/will supply.

@Sailfree
Canopus is not an AWB to me - she is off-white and anything but average ;)
 
nigelmercier said:
There must be a chandler somewhere that you could visit. Any battery of sufficient capacity also marked with the CCA is likely to be suitable.
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My own experience of buying batteries in Greece is that there isn't enough money in the world,
I know that Charles Reed has found them in the lonian for about 1E per amp hr he but sadly I couldn't. Leros is close to Turkey, the Mutlu battery sold everywhere in Turkey is good and by UK standards very cheap 100ah for 250Lira, perhaps a day trip to Turkey would pay for itself.
 
Marsupial said:
My own experience of buying batteries in Greece is that there isn't enough money in the world,
I know that Charles Reed has found them in the lonian for about 1E per amp hr he but sadly I couldn't. Leros is close to Turkey, the Mutlu battery sold everywhere in Turkey is good and by UK standards very cheap 100ah for 250Lira, perhaps a day trip to Turkey would pay for itself.
Click to expand...

Your experience is limited - I obtain batteries, for myself and a number of others @ about €0.85/Ah, from a number of places on the Greek mainland - Agrinio, Kalamata but not Athens. For simple car batteries the price can frequently be lower. The islands are a different matter - you pay a premium for anything you buy on a Greek island, and those prices start with inflated Athens prices.
Greeks always start with the price they'd like, you then discuss the matter to a price you can afford and won't drive them to penury. 50% discounts are not uncommon.
It's our English inhibitions which make us such sitting ducks.
 
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charles_reed said:
Your experience is limited - I obtain batteries, for myself and a number of others @ about €0.80/Ah, from a number of places on the Greek mainland - Agrinio, Kalamata but not Athens.
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Yes Charles limited to Messolonghi (where we met) the best price I could find there 240E each rising to over 500E when "they" found out I had a boat - and that was for buying 4! I eventually bought them in the UK and bought a car with the difference - you may remember it a Red Volvo?

Hope your well regards.
 
Marsupial said:
Yes Charles limited to Messolonghi (where we met) the best price I could find there 240E each rising to over 500E when "they" found out I had a boat - and that was for buying 4! I eventually bought them in the UK and bought a car with the difference - you may remember it a Red Volvo?

Hope your well regards.
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Yes indeed I do, the lifts to the hospital were most charitable and pleasant - the last battery I got was from the factor in Agrinio - a 92 ah for €59, Messolongi wanted €120 (we were both buying from the same place) brought back on the bus, round fare €11. I also found a replacement "Yanmar/Hitachi" alternator for €49 (though I think he'd made a mistake in reading the print-out) in the same place.

Regarding "well". I had to leave "Flica" in Nea Perama and jet back to UK from Thessaloniki last August, after a mini-stroke. Now back on the boat in Lemnos having got here via Thassos, Kavala and Samothraki. I move with caution, especially pouring glasses of wine as I've limited vision in my R eye and all the pills (and possibly age) the quacks have burdened me with have reduced my stamina. So I'm indulging myself with sails not exceeding 60nm and preferably downwind.
 
Wonderful things bowthrusters, I am sure, but why is it the sound goes through me like an industrial size hammer drill giving me a hip replacement?
 
I'm surprised nobody has come on here yet telling you what a useless skipper you are needing a bow thruster, and that you should hang your head in shame and go to boat handling classes.

It happened to me, but I am going to get one fitted as soon as funds allow!
 
Barleycorn said:
I'm surprised nobody has come on here yet telling you what a useless skipper you are needing a bow thruster, and that you should hang your head in shame and go to boat handling classes.

It happened to me, but I am going to get one fitted as soon as funds allow!
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Im a closet thruster user :)
Managed for many years on previous boats but I dont mind admitting that when Med mooring a 13m boat in a 20kt crosswind a thruster is great to have
 
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