Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 10-08-2012, 01:07   #1
Registered User
 
CnC40sailor's Avatar

Join Date: May 2012
Location: West River, MD
Boat: C&C 40
Posts: 129
Hmmmm - Bowthrusters ??

They sure look useful(bowthrusters), but I've never had one. So I just wanted to know what I'm missing out on
CnC40sailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 02:35   #2
Registered User
 
Auspicious's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Chesapeake Bay
Boat: HR 40
Posts: 3,651
Send a message via Skype™ to Auspicious
Re: hmmmm bowthrusters??

In my opinion very little. They are a convenience. In my experience they aren't powerful enough to push the bow in high winds or current. The problem is that if one gets used to the bow thruster in benign conditions there is no chance to build skill and experience maneuvering the boat when things go pear-shaped.

Add to that the consumption of storage space and the black dust that accumulates from the motor brushes and the added resistance from the open tunnel.

Not an effective capability in my opinion. YMMV.
__________________
sail fast and eat well, dave
AuspiciousWorks
Beware cut and paste sailors
Auspicious is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 03:37   #3
Moderator
 
carstenb's Avatar

Community Sponsor
Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: May 2012
Location: At sea somewhere in the Pacific
Boat: Jeanneau Sun Fast 40.3
Posts: 6,346
Images: 1
Re: hmmmm bowthrusters??

I've never had a bow thruster until this summer in my new boat. Generally, those who have boats without them say "If you can sail you don't need one." Those that have them say "It's a god send"

Having had it both ways I think I can have an informed opinion.

Auspicious is right when he says that if you start with one, you will never build the skill set to sail without one. So if your's breaks down then you are in deep ****.

And he's right that unless you greatly over dimension it it will be too small for use in heavy winds.

Having said all that- it does make docking in very tight places much easier. I spent most of this past summer docking in harbor on the island of Bornholm where virtually all the harbors are extremely over-crowded and very small. Jockeying a 40 footer around in tiny harbors with boats laying 3-4-5 on the outside of each other can be tricky and I certainly enjoyed having a thruster
__________________


https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=carsten...ref=nb_sb_noss

Our books have gotten 5 star reviews on Amazon. Several readers have written "I never thought I would go on a circumnavigation, but when I read these books, I was right there in the cockpit with Vinni and Carsten"
carstenb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 04:03   #4
Registered User
 
Blue Stocking's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: St. Georges, Bda
Boat: Rhodes Reliant 41ft
Posts: 4,131
Re: hmmmm bowthrusters??

The two previous posts crystallize the pros and cons better than any brochure you will read.
__________________
so many projects--so little time !!
Blue Stocking is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 15:02   #5
Registered User
 
DSDman's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Chicopee, MA
Posts: 606
Images: 16
I've been debating the same thing in my head for the past few months. My boat had one that is installed, just no longer works. I'm getting better docking without it but I think when I can sort out all the hydraulic parts I'm going to get it up and running. I think the expense is justified if it saves my bacon just one time. I know twice now I've had to power out of some sticky situations where if I had a thruster I could have just swung the nose a bit and been good.
DSDman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 15:33   #6
Registered User
 
captainKJ's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: 3rd wave passed the sea wall
Boat: private yacht always moving
Posts: 1,388
Re: hmmmm bowthrusters??

If getting a bow thruster you might want to consider a stern thruster also. they come in handy on 35 foot boats. There is also another system called DP. it keeps you in one position for as long as you want. this way you don't have to anchor, just keep the engine running all night to power the DP and all the other electronics along with the AC units.

real sailors don't need thrusters
captainKJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 15:46   #7
Registered User
 
brankin's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Florida
Boat: Endeavour 43
Posts: 233
Re: hmmmm bowthrusters??

Love mine. Lot of hard work to install but worth every cent. I have a 43' with a lot windage.
brankin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 17:00   #8
Resin Head
 
minaret's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Seattle WA
Boat: Nauticat
Posts: 7,205
Images: 52
Re: hmmmm bowthrusters??

I have installed a great many thrusters in all sorts of boats. The opinion I have formed is that they are great-for powerboats. In a sailboat, even if you install as I do with a fairing brow, the effect of the exposed tunnel creates way too much drag, all of it in an area which will strongly affect helm trim and noticeably affect boat speed. Of course this issue has been solved by the invention of retractable thrusters, but they are very expensive and much more tricky to install than traditional tube thrusters. Unless you are at the high end of the market or on a stinkpot I wouldnt even consider it, for all the reasons stated here. I have been on clients boats before and after install and the difference in efficiency under sail is noticeable, I try hard to talk our clients out of it unless they can afford retractable or have a particularly difficult boat that spends a lot of time maneuvering in close quarters and not much time sailing.
minaret is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 17:10   #9
Registered User
 
IslandHopper's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Bundaberg, Qld.
Posts: 2,192
Re: hmmmm bowthrusters??

Quote:
Originally Posted by captainKJ View Post
If getting a bow thruster you might want to consider a stern thruster also. they come in handy on 35 foot boats. There is also another system called DP. it keeps you in one position for as long as you want. this way you don't have to anchor, just keep the engine running all night to power the DP and all the other electronics along with the AC units.

real sailors don't need thrusters
DP on a 35ft sailboat.....hahaahahah....i needed a good laugh!
IslandHopper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 17:15   #10
Registered User
 
captainKJ's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: 3rd wave passed the sea wall
Boat: private yacht always moving
Posts: 1,388
Re: hmmmm bowthrusters??

last time I used a thruster on a sailboat it had BOTH, bow and stern,,,,then again the boat was 120 feet long,,,sailed like a dream,,,,
captainKJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 20:44   #11
Registered User
 
Coachbolt61's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Newcastle Australia
Boat: Bollard Steel 40ft - Lady Kara
Posts: 137
Images: 17
Mount an electronic outboard on the bowsprit. That way you can remove it when you are sailing. And I think they are cheaper than bow thrusters ? Just for fun.
Coachbolt61 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 21:03   #12
Registered User
 
CnC40sailor's Avatar

Join Date: May 2012
Location: West River, MD
Boat: C&C 40
Posts: 129
Hmmm... A little more negative than expected. No matter, putting a bow thruster on a C&C 40 seems crazy!!....to me at least
CnC40sailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2012, 21:07   #13
Resin Head
 
minaret's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Seattle WA
Boat: Nauticat
Posts: 7,205
Images: 52
Re: hmmmm bowthrusters??

Quote:
Originally Posted by Coachbolt61 View Post
Mount an electronic outboard on the bowsprit. That way you can remove it when you are sailing. And I think they are cheaper than bow thrusters ? Just for fun.
This would only work on boats so small they don't need a thruster, because a sailboat of any size would have too much freeboard. The outboard would have to have reverse as well. Maybe an outboard well in the forefoot? What's next?
minaret is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-08-2012, 02:46   #14
Registered User
 
micah719's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Somewhere in Germany
Boat: OEM, proportional
Posts: 1,437
Re: hmmmm bowthrusters??

Azipods and Hydrofoils.
__________________
Ps 139:9-10 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
micah719 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-08-2012, 02:52   #15
Registered User
 
captainKJ's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: 3rd wave passed the sea wall
Boat: private yacht always moving
Posts: 1,388
Re: hmmmm bowthrusters??

Quote:
Originally Posted by Coachbolt61 View Post
Mount an electronic outboard on the bowsprit. That way you can remove it when you are sailing. And I think they are cheaper than bow thrusters ? Just for fun.


If you mounted 4 of them, one on port bow, one on port stern, one on starboard bow, one on starboard stern, you could hook them up to one controller and have a sailboat DP system long with thrusters.
captainKJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:59.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.