R-27 OB bow thruster issues?

[fhanscom]

Having owned an R-27 for 3 years, I am now seriously considering the OB R-27. I am interested to know what issues (if any) that OB R-27 owners have had with regard to bow thruster problems or issues. Thank you for any comments.

 

[Submariner]

We've had our boat 3 months, 1600nm, and 150 hours. Lots of docking through that. No thruster issues so far.

That being said, it's not strong enough to push against the wind or any real current. A suicide knob helps a lot for maneuvering. I still use the thruster, but a lot less now with the suicide knob.

 

[baz]

The slightest wind blowing on the side of the R27/OB will over power the bow thruster easily. Docking practice with the OB motor is tricky until you used to it. The 300HP OB has tons of power and you simply have to learn how to control the boat in close quarters with it.

The bow thruster is useful and sufficient in zero wind and zero current conditions. It's also very noisy. 😉

 

[ixlr8]

I agree with others with the 27OB, with no wind, no current it works fine. If you have any side wind or current, it is too small of a thruster and is useless.

 

[fhanscom]

Thank you for you comment - - I am sorry to ask naive question - - but what is a suicide knob?

 

[JeffRad54]

Thank you for you comment - - I am sorry to ask naive question - - but what is a suicide knob?

Something added to your wheel to make it easy to spin the wheel rapidly vice hand over hand.
Most folks use a knob strapped to the wheel. I braided a 4-strand lanyard between the spokes to do the same thing. Lots cheaper!

 

[Submariner]

Thank you for you comment - - I am sorry to ask naive question - - but what is a suicide knob?

It's 5.5 turns from stop to stop on the 27-OB. A suicide knob helps you quickly rotate the wheel all the way to the stop giving you the most control during docking. While it is true that the bow thruster is not going to do much directly against wind or current, it is still very helpful is pushing the bow in conjunction with the outboard directional thrust.

For example, to spin the boat (literally, spin it on a dime to make a U turn in between the docks), I would go hard to port on the wheel, kick the engine into reverse, and tap the bow thruster to starboard to help push the bow opposite of the direction the stern is going.

The suicide knob I picked up off Amazon cost $30.

 

[JeffRad54]

My paracord lanyard was free. I had the paracord and spent about 30 minutes to make it.

 

[jlhowland]

Any chance for a pic of the paracord lanyard setup?

 

[JeffRad54]

Any chance for a pic of the paracord lanyard setup?

Check my Photo Album 'CustomWork' folder.

 

[SLyle01]

FM changed to Lewmar thrusters a couple of years ago. Don't know why, except maybe less costly? Heard that the thruster units by "Side-Force" were more effective: powerful and more reliable than Lewmars. Opinions?

 

[Matty]

Agree it can be overpowered easily enough. I have had no mechanical issues.
But it is a great help well leaving the dock.
As far as the outboard and menuverabilty i did learn additional techniques on reading the wind, tide direction, bumping in and out of gear etc and after a number of bumps and bruises i got it down pat.
I hardly hear a peep from the first mate when docking. Huge bonus.

 

[Daveruegger]

Love mine, the marina that I’m in is tight, with the knob (there a lot of post on them here on tugnuts) and the thruster I can parallel park my R27 in the tightest of spots, gets lots of attention not may boats have them here in Texas. As far as maintaining if you follow the instructions for using you should have no issues. I keep an extra shear pin on the boat but have not needed to use it.

 

[yorangerjim]

I have a 2017 R27 OB Yes to the knob for sure the factory said it really helps Bow thruster I would rather have it than not.