bow thrusters
- Thread starter freddy063
- Start date
- Joined
- May 25, 2003
- RO Number
- 11591
- Messages
- 1,986
I don't currently have a Bow Thruster, but am looking at getting one...My boat is a relatively flat bottom boat, so pretty well sits on top of the water. I can put the back of the boat pretty well where I want to, but when the wind takes the front there is no way of controlling it. I don’t care how much practice you do, there is no way of controlling the front in a strong crosswind. I would rather spend the money on a thruster than hit a boat beside me that I am trying to dock beside. Different boats handle differently in the wind, and mine does not handle well while backing up in a crosswind.
One can never have too many options on a boat. The more the better.
I was telling an older more experienced boater at the marina about my problems with a crosswind and he always said, thruster son thruster.
One can never have too many options on a boat. The more the better.
I was telling an older more experienced boater at the marina about my problems with a crosswind and he always said, thruster son thruster.
I think we will be sending ghost to time out ... Im sure he did not mean to call me stupid.....
Or infer that anyone was stupid for having accessories that make boating more enjoyable....
Because that is the bottom line ... getting more people into boating correct.....
Or infer that anyone was stupid for having accessories that make boating more enjoyable....
Because that is the bottom line ... getting more people into boating correct.....
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2003
- RO Number
- 12212
- Messages
- 12,219
"I can put the back of the boat pretty well where I want to, but when the wind takes the front there is no way of controlling it. I don’t care how much practice you do, there is no way of controlling the front in a strong crosswind."
well, it's easy : dont' let the wind grab your bow
ex... anticipate the wind and start with the bow upwind when backing up... by the time the wind has pushed your bow, you're between pilings and safe. if coming along side in a Xwind take this into account and change your angle.
i know that my current boat is 50k lbs with a keel and that helps... but my previous boat was a high profile express (37), taller than average with a large sail area and i quickly learned to use the wind instead of fighting it.
well, it's easy : dont' let the wind grab your bow
ex... anticipate the wind and start with the bow upwind when backing up... by the time the wind has pushed your bow, you're between pilings and safe. if coming along side in a Xwind take this into account and change your angle.i know that my current boat is 50k lbs with a keel and that helps... but my previous boat was a high profile express (37), taller than average with a large sail area and i quickly learned to use the wind instead of fighting it.
"I don’t care how much practice you do, there is no way of controlling the front in a strong crosswind. "
That's what anchors are for (among other things). One will nail the "front" in short order. Getting it back though can be a hassle.
That's what anchors are for (among other things). One will nail the "front" in short order. Getting it back though can be a hassle.
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2003
- RO Number
- 12212
- Messages
- 12,219
well, yeah... heel and toeing, matching revs on downshifts are one life's little pleasure i will never drive a slush box again !
before ya all jump on me, i do enjoy, believe and appreciate :
- GPS plotters
- radar
- sounder
- a big genset, a big inverter and Air Con
- digital controls on my ACs
- MSD electronic ignition in my car
- CDs, DVDs, color TV
- Al's invention aka the internet
- cel phone, wireless internet...
and other things. but not slush boxes, fly by wire engine controls or thrusters
i will never drive a slush box again !before ya all jump on me, i do enjoy, believe and appreciate :
- GPS plotters
- radar
- sounder
- a big genset, a big inverter and Air Con
- digital controls on my ACs
- MSD electronic ignition in my car
- CDs, DVDs, color TV
- Al's invention aka the internet
- cel phone, wireless internet...
and other things. but not slush boxes, fly by wire engine controls or thrusters
I would like to thank everyone that responded. I never thought that adding a item to help me safely return home or help with the auto helm to keep my boat true on course, would make me a non boater. I know that I can dock my boat, and sometime not even hit anything, but I spend most of my boating miles offshore, fishing, don't need a bow Thruster out there. But I go to all most a different dock after or during each trip. The last time i wish I had one, I was coming back from p town ,cape cod,(about 100 mile south of home port) and due to ruff weather need fuel to finish the trip home. So coming into a river ,tide ripping out, new and unfamiliar to the area, well that was one of the times I wish I had a Thruster. still not sure for it yet or no, but I guess I could spend the money on better things fishing.[:-eyebrows] quick question does the great lake have tides?
aperbag] wouldn't want anyone to know i can't drive a boat.[:-disguise]Freddy,
I have two, i love them, they make me better, same as all the other gadgets on my boat. All the comments to the contrary have no merit in my case. Buy what ever you want for your boat and forget what the so called purist are saying because there is not one of them who would give up his own boating aids (electronics) that he has deemed OK, they just want to attack yours it seems. Maybe not, but it sure seems important that they get the message out that people should not get too attached to their thrusters. I am learning paper chart plotting, not because I am going to give up GPS and my plotter, but because i want to be prepared if i loose my electronics. In the future if needed I will do OK with paper, but i know i will be better and more accurate with electronics. Learn to dock without the thruster and use the thruster to do it better.
John d
I have two, i love them, they make me better, same as all the other gadgets on my boat. All the comments to the contrary have no merit in my case. Buy what ever you want for your boat and forget what the so called purist are saying because there is not one of them who would give up his own boating aids (electronics) that he has deemed OK, they just want to attack yours it seems. Maybe not, but it sure seems important that they get the message out that people should not get too attached to their thrusters. I am learning paper chart plotting, not because I am going to give up GPS and my plotter, but because i want to be prepared if i loose my electronics. In the future if needed I will do OK with paper, but i know i will be better and more accurate with electronics. Learn to dock without the thruster and use the thruster to do it better.
John d
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2003
- RO Number
- 12212
- Messages
- 12,219
well, i saw two fresh incidents this afternoon which make me even ore sckeptical about the benefits of thrusters...
first, a 35ish contender, pulls in on a bulkhead behind me. the guy ties a stern line and goes on the dock to secure a bow line but the wind caught the bow and pushed it away. He runs back to the stern and on board and tried to bring the bow back with the thruster. no luck. the 20 kts breeze won and after strugling he had to untie the stern and start from scratch.
second, a 46 Azimut, docked alongside the same bulkhead, but stern to the 20kts breeze (not very smart to dock stern to the breeze to start with). drops the stern line but crew takes too long to drop the bow line. boats starts pivoting with stern swinging out, driver attempts to use both thrusters to keep the boat agaisnt the wind without success. winds win... scratches on the bow, almost wipes the pulpit of a sailboat.
in both cases, the thrusters were unable to overcome 20kts breeze and actually resulted in the drivers being pushed into a tricky / dangerous situation.
first, a 35ish contender, pulls in on a bulkhead behind me. the guy ties a stern line and goes on the dock to secure a bow line but the wind caught the bow and pushed it away. He runs back to the stern and on board and tried to bring the bow back with the thruster. no luck. the 20 kts breeze won and after strugling he had to untie the stern and start from scratch.
second, a 46 Azimut, docked alongside the same bulkhead, but stern to the 20kts breeze (not very smart to dock stern to the breeze to start with). drops the stern line but crew takes too long to drop the bow line. boats starts pivoting with stern swinging out, driver attempts to use both thrusters to keep the boat agaisnt the wind without success. winds win... scratches on the bow, almost wipes the pulpit of a sailboat.
in both cases, the thrusters were unable to overcome 20kts breeze and actually resulted in the drivers being pushed into a tricky / dangerous situation.
I am just curious if there is a cut off for boat length when figuring for electric thrusters vs. hydraulic. I realize they both have hp ratings (I guess) but I would think that anything 50' or over would use a hydraulic???
Dan
Dan