Bow thruster repair

Annie Time

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 19, 2010
Messages
136
Fluid Motion Model
C-28
Hull Identification Number
FMLT2710F819
Vessel Name
Annie Time
Hi all.
Thought I would share my issue with my bow thruster. About a month ago coming into the dock I hit the bow thruster and it made a gear grinding sound with no help to move the bow. Not knowing what the issue was, I got on the forum here and with a short search, found a few threads describing what the possible cause could be. There were basically three options:

1) the shear pin, which I checked right away. It was fine and intact.
2) the prop
3) the gear box

I got a new gear box and prop on order which were next to impossible to find. MAURIPRO SAILING on the east coast somewhere, was the only vendor I could find that listed the parts and the only one I found that said they could deliver parts. I called at least a dozen others claiming they were parts distributors for Lewmar and sold parts. Not one of them had parts on hand. not even the prop.

After a few weeks, I received the gear box but no prop. I still haven't gotten a prop from MAURIPRO SAILING. I reached out to the Factory at Range Tugs and they where able to help with a prop.

With parts in hand, I pulled the boat out of the water not knowing what to expect. After a quick inspection, it was clear the prop was fine. After removing the gear box, it was clear what the issue was. Like in the other post I read, the cap on the gear box had fallen out. Salt water had gotten into the gear box and trashed the bearings, causing the gear to disengage.

I will upload an image when I figure out how to do this,

The new Gear box is in place and all works well again. Having the thruster helps a lot in docking the boat....
 
Thank you for sharing this information. I am in the trouble shooting phase of determining an issue with my aft thruster, and having all the possible issues to look for first is very helpful.
 
Currently, the only way to include images in posts is to us the Img tag. Click on it and then copy and paste a link to an image available in a publicly accessible source between the brackets.

Cheers,

Bruce
 
I posted a year or more ago that the assembly port cover had fallen out. It looks kind of like a freeze plug. Before I installed the new one I put a bead of gray silicone around the plug to seal it. So far I have not had a problem, but I do keep a spare thruster on the boat.
KKRCRACE
 
Thanks


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Thank you Annie Time (Perry) I had this exact same problem. Your info helped me get the parts I needed to replace the lower gear assembly within a week and get back up and running.
 
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