Bow thruster batteries on Beneteau oceanis

[JOHNMARDALL]

Originally Posted by SaltyMetals

Interesting. I hv a Jeanneau 43ds which has a bow-thruster with its own batteries alongside the thruster and I suspect is very similar to the Oceanis. What is surprising is that both the 3 X 110 Ah service batteries and the 1 X 110 Ah engine battery were replaced after 8 years but the two smaller bow-thruster batteries are still going strong and are now 12 yr old.

You have very good battery longevity genes. Those are extraordinary life spans. What type and make of batteries are they?
All the best
John Mardall
Vetus Maxwell Group

[SteveInMD]

My new Oceanis runs the thruster off two batteries located next to it in the bow, however the windlass is wired all the way back to the house bank. I was very surprised to see that's how Beneteau does it, rather than use the bow batteries for both the windlass and thruster. I'm curious about the logic behind that one!

[Doug4bass]

Our new Catalina 385 has a bow thruster (I am somewhat embarrassed to say).....and it is powered off of the main battery bank, which seems to be more than adequate. Only time I have ever had to use it was showing off and being obnoxious.
Catalina used 2 gauge for the cable run, about 15 feet.


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[SaltyMetals]

StevelnMD: yes I agree it would hv been logical to power the windlass from the bow thruster batteries but I think the reason is that the basic spec for the boat includes the windlass. The bow thruster is an option so the basic spec must allow for the possibility of there being no bow thruster ( with its associated batteries). I have exactly the same set up on my Jeanne a 43ds. My Windlass is powered from the engine battery.

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[poiu]

Originally Posted by SteveInMD

My new Oceanis runs the thruster off two batteries located next to it in the bow, however the windlass is wired all the way back to the house bank. I was very surprised to see that's how Beneteau does it, rather than use the bow batteries for both the windlass and thruster. I'm curious about the logic behind that one!

The current draw will be 4 or 5 times the amperage for the bowthruster compared to the windlass and the bean counters will have worked out the batteries are cheaper than cable.

I'll bet it would be economical to bump up the windlass cable a little and drive the bow thruster off it too, but they won't do that at the factory because they build on a production line and just add a bowthruster to the standard windlass equipped boat. They are not flexible in production. 24v wiring will make it much cheaper to do if you are lucky to have it than 12v.

[SaltyMetals]

john,
the bow thruster batteries are 2 x 50 Ah Optima. model 34R, (Hem | OPTIMABATTERIES) "Made in USA". Previous owner told me he never changed them and believed they are the original installation from 12 years ago. Still work fine.the bow thruster is also original and the label says "Super Power series 100 - 12V, Max Power-F06210 Cannes Mandelieu "

Sorry, i guess that means that Jeanneau was not using Vetus in 2004.
Andrew

[JOHNMARDALL]

Originally Posted by SaltyMetals

john,
the bow thruster batteries are 2 x 50 Ah Optima. model 34R, (Hem | OPTIMABATTERIES) "Made in USA". Previous owner told me he never changed them and believed they are the original installation from 12 years ago. Still work fine.the bow thruster is also original and the label says "Super Power series 100 - 12V, Max Power-F06210 Cannes Mandelieu "

Sorry, i guess that means that Jeanneau was not using Vetus in 2004.
Andrew

Thanks Andrew, c'est la vie.