Thinking about adding a bow thruster

[scottinsydney]

We had the maths done for our boat and believe it was 45-60 litres or 10-15 US gallons per minute for a hydraulic system. If I am correct you needed 40hp to do this. This would be a very big pump on the PTO at idle. Or separate motor/pump in the genset room. Or a big electric motor running off the genset. I cant remember the amps used, but it was large.

We went back to a 48 volt and biggest Vetus thruster. Dedicated lithium batteries should be able to supply the current draw.

[Pascal]

I ve had good experience with Sidepower (electric). Supported by Imtra which has the best customer service in the industry

Both boats I have run over the last 15 years had Sidepower. Only significant issue was a gearbox failure (10 year old thruster) Intra has it in stock (upgraded design) and wasn’t too expensive. Considering.

[Fanfare]

Installing a bow thruster would pretty much eliminate my wine cellar under the bow compartment--Oh, the horror!

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

And reasonable access to my head pumps!

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[Jammin']

And reasonable access to my head pumps!

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Eliminating the wine cellar may prevent this.

[MadHatter53]

I’m more of a vodka man and can wiggle my skinny a** into that bow spot where my macerater and overboard valves are. Sound like a battery powered thruster might be better.

[SeaEric]

I've had good experiences with East Coast Bow Thrusters out of NY. They use Vetus thrusters. for a 48' to 60' boat they spec a Vetus Bow 160 which (for the latest list I have) is $15,500 installed. They will come to your location.

[SKYCHENEY]

The newer transmissions have optional PTO drives on them that can run a hydraulic pump. On the old Detroits you have many accessory ports on the back of the engine to run a hydraulic pump. I see no reason to go electric when hydraulic is that easy to set up.

[SeaEric]

The newer transmissions have optional PTO drives on them that can run a hydraulic pump. On the old Detroits you have many accessory ports on the back of the engine to run a hydraulic pump. I see no reason to go electric when hydraulic is that easy to set up.

When a bow thruster really comes in handy is on the (hopefully) rare occasion when you have to maneuver on one engine.

[JD5652]

I have a 24V Vetus 220. The manual says it can be run continuously for 7 minutes, but I have not tested it to that time limit.

https://www.vetus.com/en/manoeuvring...er-220kgf.html

I find mine very helpful in docking in 15+ knot winds, especially when I have to back down a long fairway or in close quarters. One other time I find it very useful is when strong current. My marina is on the Mystic River and the current can run as high as 1-2 knots. With the large keel on the 58 LRC, manuvering in strong current can be a challenge in particular when combined with 15-20+ knot winds in same direction when it is abeam.

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