Thruster not working

B

boatymcboatface

Active member
Joined
Apr 26, 2022
Messages
41
Fluid Motion Model
C-30 S
Hello,
I am a new owner of a 2010 Ranger Tug R29 and i am having an issue with stern thruster and batteries. My stern thruster only works when going to port and is very weak almost useless. Which brings me to the batteries house bank 13.02 and Starter battery 13.02 and thruster/generator start 12.06. I have replaced the thruster/generator batteries but they don't seem to take the level of charge the other 2 banks take. Any suggestions on where to start.

Thank you.
 
Bumping post delayed in moderator queue.
 
Sounds like you might have a couple of problems. Lets start off with the batteries. There is an ACR that charges the thruster/generator batteries. The ACR's will turn on and allow the battery to start charging once it notices the batteries are getting low. If the ACR doesn't have a green light on it then it's not charging the batteries. You'll want to look at the ACR when you are plugged into shore power with the charger on or when the engine is running. There is also a yellow ground wire on the bottom side of the ACR and if it is corroded or is loose it won't charge the batteries. The ACR can be in the starboard hatch in the cockpit or by the house, thruster, and engine on/off switches in the cockpit. As for the thruster, you could have a loose connection at the wire harness plug next to the thruster or on the thruster. Check the plug for corrosion or loose wires and you might want to check the controller at the helm as well. That is where I would start. Please let me know what you find.
 
boatymcboatface":27kf950p said:
Hello,
I am a new owner of a 2010 Ranger Tug R29 and i am having an issue with stern thruster and batteries. My stern thruster only works when going to port and is very weak almost useless. Which brings me to the batteries house bank 13.02 and Starter battery 13.02 and thruster/generator start 12.06. I have replaced the thruster/generator batteries but they don't seem to take the level of charge the other 2 banks take. Any suggestions on where to start.

Thank you.
Click to expand...

Re: the thruster sounds like a broken thruster leg; we had this problem recently. It could also be the propeller. If it works at all it is *likely* not the shear pin but I would take the thruster motor off from inside the boat and check the shear pin anyway.

Unfortunately, replacing the propeller or the thruster leg require a diver or a haulout. The haulout may be cheaper than the diver. It is a pretty quick repair when out of the water, and parts range $500-700 depending on your thruster model. If its just the propeller, a diver is probably the way to go.
 
Go through the troubleshooting guide and follow the steps per the issue. You may want to also call Side-power. They are very helpful with troubleshooting.
 
Hi Jared,
Thank you for your response, much appreciated. I did find the ACR near the battery switches but the both did not have any lights. The ACR are Blue Sea 7610 and i see no lights or areas that might be lights. Can these be tested?
 
The lights on the ACRs can be hard to see. They are small, flat LED, and green when powered. On the top of the ACR look for the word “Combined” printed on the label section. The light is next to the letter “C”. There needs to be sufficient voltage present for the light to be ON. Provide the voltage by having the engine running or the battery charger charging.

If the light does not turn on when it should make sure the ground connection is good.
 
Jared,
Thank you it was a bad connection on ACR wiggled the yellow wire and found the light. Now on to the thrusters.
 
Hi,
Update on my stern thruster the motor was bad and has to be replaced. The unit is the sealed one but they said it had water intrusion which caused the motor to lock up. I was just quoted $3,000 for the motor which does not include installation. has any one had a similar experience and need to replace stern thruster.
 
Boaty ,

I am near by in Scituate. I have an 2016/R25 so I am not sure if we have the same model thrusters. I had to replace my stern thruster last summer and the cost for the unit was about $1850. The work was done by the RT dealer in Salem , Winter Island Yacht yard. If you don’t know them, they are very good and fairly priced. I keep my boat in Allerton Harbor, Hull,it winters over at Hewitts Cove.

Regards,

Bob Flaherty
 
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