Repair of Lewmar Thruster 110TT on 2016 Cutwater 24

[gsc3]

When I returned to FL from NY earlier this month, I found that the Lewmar thruster on our 2016 Cutwater 24 no longer worked, although it was OK when we left FL in August. The joystick thruster control caused the thruster to “click” but the motor was silent. My diver confirmed that the thruster prop could be spun easily by hand. The Tech Support Specialist at Lewmar was helpful, suggesting that the problem could be a faulty solenoid not providing voltage to the motor, or that the brushes in the motor “are stuck”, or there is some other problem with the motor. A replacement motor costs $759, with 4-6 week lead time. Local motor repair shops charge $90/hour with no guarantee for the repaired motor.

With some difficulty I managed to remove the motor and to open up the motor case. It was immediately clear that there had been water intrusion and substantial corrosion in the area of the four brushes. (See photos below from my photo album.) Earlier I had a problem with rainwater in the forward bilge, which is now fixed. With liberal use of WD40, I was able to disassemble the part of the motor holding the brushes, which were rusted into their holders.

Waiting a few hours for the WD40 to penetrate, I was able to free the brushes and remove them from their holders. With Dremel, sandpaper, Q-tips, and elbow grease, I was able to clean up the rusted areas so that the brushes moved smoothly in their holders. After putting together the motor and reattaching the Control Box/Solenoid, the motor worked! I reassembled the thruster, and it works.

The job took most of two days, with lots of working lying down to reach into the thruster compartment in the forward bilge, but the success was sweet!

Slade Cargill, 2016 Cutwater 24, Sojourner, Longboat Key, FL

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[KKRCRACE]

I have a C24 and was wondering where the rain water was coming from that was getting in the front bilge?
KKRCRACE

 

[gsc3]

The water in the forward bilge came from a water leak into the V-berth from the "eyebrow" - cabin roof joint. I fixed it by putting line of marine caulk to seal between the eyebrow and the cabin roof. See my post from June 1 about "Fixed Water Leak on Cutwater 24". V-berth and forward bilge now remain dry even after heavy rains.

Slade Cargill, Longboat Key, FL, Cutwater 24, "Sojourner"