Stern thruster leaking oil

[Rangergal]

The stern thruster in my 2018 R29 is leaking oil. Every time I use the thruster there is a light oil slick in the water and this has been going on for quite some time. Who would be the best person to contact in Vancouver (specifically West Vancouver) to have this repaired?

 

[knotflying]

This is an odd situation. I am not aware of any oil in the thrusters. Perhaps the gear and pinion have grease in them, but they are sealed. I am wondering if the oil is coming from a different source and is only noticeable when activating the thruster. How are your trim tabs and the level in the tank? Perhaps there is a slight leak from your piston cylinder for the port trim tab.

 

[fishheadbarandgrill]

Like the previous post, I would check trim tabs. No oil in the thrusters.

 

[RichBirk]

Our 2019 29CB lives at home on the trailer. On occasion, I will find a drop or two of clear gear oil in the thruster tunnel of the front thruster right under the shaft seal of the gear leg. Ivan ordered a new gear leg for me, but I never followed through on having it changed out. I continue to find an occasional drop now and then but its always clear. It would be milky if water had entered. Over 800 hours on the boat and still going strong. If my boat lived in the water, I would have the gear leg checked out next haul-out.

 

[Osprey]

I agree that the motor section of a Side Power thruster does not have oil. However, it is my understanding that the in-the-water section i.e. the gear leg does have oil. Inside the leg housing there is form of crown and pinion gear assembly required to accomplish a 90 degree change in the axis of rotations between the motor shaft and the propeller shaft. It bears a similarity to the bottom end of an outboard motor. Oil is required for such a mechanical arrangement.

 

[Rangergal]

I have had to fill the transmission oil for the trim tabs on a couple of occasions so I suppose a leak is possible.