Bowthruster in Carbon Fiber hull

[TJ D]

Here's one that's a bit outside the norm. I've got a carbon fiber hull with a nomex core and kevlar mat on the outer skin. The twin rudders make docking a bit of a challenge, so we were considering a bowthruster install. I'm planning on doing it myself, so if anyone has experience putting a big hole in a boat like this, and how to do it properly, I'd love to hear from you.

TJ

[Lagoon4us]

We have a 'Swing Thruster' fitted, far better than sailing with a gaping hole. Withdraws nicely into hull.

Be ready for the inundation of 'naysayers' telling you that you DON'T need one, truth is after experiencing the safe docking in adverse conditions you'll want a 'Stern-thruster' as well.

Hull shape at installation position would be similar to a cat:-

[delmarrey]

Cutting thru the kevlar is going to be fun. But I do like Lagoon$us setup! But wondering how it's deployed?

I'm thinking the forward motion forces in back in.

BTW what hull shape are we talking about here? I love putting holes in boats.

[Lagoon4us]

Ok i want to use the Thruster so i :-
1) Arm it by pressing a button, the unit swings down via an actuator. A beep signal will sound.

2) I use the thruster as required.

3) I press a button and the unit retracts. A beep signal sounds.

-SIMPLE-


A thin cutting disc on a 5inch grinder will cut a hole in any glass lay up in seconds.

Ours was part of the boats equipment along with many other $ item's that we would not have been able to afford, we just bought right!

[minaret]

Originally Posted by Lagoon4us

Ok i want to use the Thruster so i :-
1) Arm it by pressing a button, the unit swings down via an actuator. A beep signal will sound.

2) I use the thruster as required.

3) I press a button and the unit retracts. A beep signal sounds.

-SIMPLE-


A thin cutting disc on a 5inch grinder will cut a hole in any glass lay up in seconds.

Ours was part of the boats equipment along with many other $ item's that we would not have been able to afford, we just bought right!

You can't cut a circle with a cutting disc, only fairly straight lines. I've done a great many thruster tubes. I use a custom cutting jig, gives perfect results on a difficult cut every time. Easy to build jig too. I'll describe if the OP is interested.

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by minaret

You can't cut a circle with a cutting disc, only fairly straight lines. I've done a great many thruster tubes. I use a custom cutting jig, gives perfect results on a difficult cut every time. Easy to build jig too. I'll describe if the OP is interested.

I'm thinking a coring saw with a pilot guide, with some heavy duty bracing for the driver.

[Lagoon4us]

Originally Posted by minaret

You can't cut a circle with a cutting disc, only fairly straight lines. I've done a great many thruster tubes. I use a custom cutting jig, gives perfect results on a difficult cut every time. Easy to build jig too. I'll describe if the OP is interested.

Well der!!!! Maybe i was talking about the installation of our Thruster that doesn't need a round hole....

Best you read before stating the bleeding obvious methinks.

[minaret]

[minaret]

Weird, iPad only lets me post one video or pic and then erases all my text afterward.

In any case, that is a short vid of how we do it. Works great in carbon and Kevlar hulls, no fuzziness. This is the Side Power Tunnel Cutter in action. Obviously not a tool for the casual user. I did a whole lot of these by hand before acquiring this tool. Even with loads of practice, it is extremely difficult to even come close to what this tool does. Perfect fit every time.

[delmarrey]

Thanks for that! There's more then one way to skin a cat cut a hole.

I like it when he says "Ut oh!" A professional would say "There!"

[minaret]

Oh, he's a professional. That's El Jefe himself on the trigger. He likes to make the cut, thinks its fun! We use the tunnel cutter a couple of times a week in season. Used it for making some other cuts too.