A small electric stern thruster

[Simpo Two]

The infuriating thing is that there's a pefectly good propulsion source two feet away, but pointing in the wrong direction!

We need vectored thrust... but a bit smarter than a rudder...

[Huntsman]

Simpo Two said:

The infuriating thing is that there's a pefectly good propulsion source two feet away, but pointing in the wrong direction!

We need vectored thrust... but a bit smarter than a rudder...

I have a similar issue at times as both my shafts are left handed, so once parked to stbd on a lee pontoon getting off is trickey, my solution is a single big ball fender up front.

If I'm very stuck I use a spring line and motor against it with the offshore engine.

If not so stuck I use one in fwd and one in reverse until I can back out.

[Ledaig]

Wait until this has finished and offer him £50 if it's unsold, gets you 33% of the way there.....you just need a wizzy thing to put in it.

fleabay

[MOTORVATOR]

Simpo Two said:

The infuriating thing is that there's a pefectly good propulsion source two feet away, but pointing in the wrong direction!

We need vectored thrust... but a bit smarter than a rudder...

Look up Volvo IPS. 360 degree propulsion and if you have 2 then supposedly the software can send any part of the boat where you want it by joystick.

Cracking bit of kit designed so that if you hit something at speed the drives just shear off without damaging the boat.

Of course you then have to get back home and buy 2 new drives but the thought was there!

[MOTORVATOR]

Huntsman said:

I have a similar issue at times as both my shafts are left handed, so once parked to stbd on a lee pontoon getting off is trickey, my solution is a single big ball fender up front.

If I'm very stuck I use a spring line and motor against it with the offshore engine.

If not so stuck I use one in fwd and one in reverse until I can back out.

Were they all like that Ben? From their race breed I always assumed they were hydraulic boxes and one would run in reverse to give counter rotation.

[Simpo Two]

MOTORVATOR said:

Look up Volvo IPS. 360 degree propulsion and if you have 2 then supposedly the software can send any part of the boat where you want it by joystick.

If powered craft had just been invented that's what they'd have - the thinking man's outdrive. Contra props too, perfect.

It makes the standard prop shaft and rudder look very primitive. However that is what I have as my starting point!

[lesgreenhough1]

I have a 35FT 7ton cruiser,single engine,no bow thruster which in the slights wind acts like a tesco
shopping trolly with two wheels missing!!!I fitted two 55lbs electric outboards to the bathing platform
through a relay into a joy stick off of my engine battery It works very well with just one and even better with two,if you remove the controls and wire it through the relay you will get full power in forward and reverse and can raise the outboards when not needed to reduce any drag plus you have two
motors in an emergency,at a cost of 566 euros all in,this for a stern thruster that will turn my boat
360 in its own length is very dam good.
Les

[Simpo Two]

'HTR'...!

It's a nice idea Les but in the end I solved the problem another way - by buying a new boat with a thruster at both ends! Only 25kgf so not much use in a strong wind, but usually very helpful.

(Unless the freshwater tanks in the front are low and I have passengers in the cockpit, in which case the bow one doesn't bite... but then I have helpers...)

[J3JCV]

Your problem solved:

[J3JCV]

Your problem solved:

[lesgreenhough1]

[quote=Simpo Two]'HTR'...!


The point of all that work was to get some kind of control when mooring without making a pratt
of myself!!!I don`t have the luxury of a crew as the wife won`t let me alone with 17 yr girl`s
[she`s funny that way] A nice bow thruster would have been great but to fit myself would
cost aprox 3500 euros, so what i now have is working fine,which give`s me a lot of change
to spend on the two 17yr old`s.[damit there i go again my mind making promises my body cant
KEEP]
Les

[mrpurple]

I feel for the OP....I bought this earlier in the year and after a few nice trips up and down the river I still ahve not managed to make a dignified return arrival and there always seems to be a few more experienced boaters about with big grins on their faces

[Simpo Two]

mrpurple said:

I feel for the OP....I bought this earlier in the year and after a few nice trips up and down the river I still ahve not managed to make a dignified return arrival and there always seems to be a few more experienced boaters about with big grins on their faces

Stern mooring is the ultimate challenge - if the wind and prop-walk are against you forget it!

[mrpurple]

Simpo Two said:

Stern mooring is the ultimate challenge - if the wind and prop-walk are against you forget it!

I can get the stern in without much trouble but the bow seems to have a mind of it's own and worried about ramming the boat next to me, fairly close as you can see.

My OH is a game old girl and not frightened to jump off and grab the ropes...only trouble is my nickname for her is Calamity Kate and can see her missing the jetty at some point in time

Edited by mrpurple on Thursday 27th November 00:50

[Simpo Two]

You could always moor nose first and move the little step thing to the end. On the Fens most boats moor nose first; stern in seems to be more of a Broads thing - and more boats have rear access. (I have to moor stern on because the jetty is several feet shorter than the boat!)

[mrpurple]

Simpo Two said:

You could always moor nose first and move the little step thing to the end. On the Fens most boats moor nose first; stern in seems to be more of a Broads thing - and more boats have rear access. (I have to moor stern on because the jetty is several feet shorter than the boat!)

Would be much simpler indeed and have considered that.... have been advised that it is better to have the bow in the current (less pressure) the pontoon rises when the river (Avon) the floods which can be a lot higher than shown in the pics and current considerably stronger.