Thruster shear pins on the 29

[Spirit of Gratitude]

Has anyone had a thruster shear pin break on the thrusters on A Ranger 29 for no reason? No stress was put on it, nor was anything caught up in the thruster prop to cause it.
This happen to me this weekend on the forward thruster and I would like to think there was a reason for it that is understandable. I will say it was very easy to replace. I had it done in about 15 min. When I looked at it there was just metal shavings and the tip of the pin left. I am not sure where the rest of it went to.
Anyway, I would like to here if this has happened to anyone else and if they know why. One thought on it was that the locking ring may not have been properly in place and it just worked itself loose till it broke. This is just a theory and I do not want anyone to think that this is what I am saying caused it till I know for sure.

Thanks,

Stuart.....Spirit of Gratitude R-29

 

[Stella Maris]

Stuart,
As I know you have been boating for years, I would assume that you did not spin them on the trailer. For those that don't know it, turning your thruster on while out of the water will shear the shear pin.

As for your situation Stuart, maybe a small stick got sucked in and by the time you got the boat on the trailer, it had floated free. Who knows what causes these things...... The gremlins of the seas like to drive all of us nuts once and a while!

 

[Spirit of Gratitude]

Stuart,
As I know you have been boating for years, I would assume that you did not spin them on the trailer. For those that don't know it, turning your thruster on while out of the water will shear the shear pin.

As for your situation Stuart, maybe a small stick got sucked in and by the time you got the boat on the trailer, it had floated free. Who knows what causes these things...... The gremlins of the seas like to drive all of us nuts once and a while!

Thanks David,
It was in the water and As sensitive as I am to any change in sound and or disruption in any way I would think I would have noticed it if something got caught in it. It was a very quiet night leaving the dock. Oh well maybe the gremlins were out that night.
Thanks for your response and I will wait to here if anyone else has had the issue. It seems to me someone a while back had said something about the locking ring not being seated properly but who knows I could have dreamed it.
I have lots of extras just in case and also have lots of fuses. I always carry spare parts. One thing I can say is that with the few minor things that have gone wrong, we have got them fixed in no time.
We sure love our boat. I am not sure how mush longer I want this celebrity status. We have many people coming up to us every day and all through the day wanting to tell us how much they love the boat. Life's a Beach.... He He Ha Ha
We really do love telling people about the boat.
Best to you both,
Stuart

 

[Stella Maris]

Well, you can give up on the fact that the celebrity status is ever going away...... We were at Poulsbo this weekend with Bruce and Vickie on Moondance. There were million dollar yachts on the docks and the two boats getting all of the attention were the Ranger Tugs! It just seems everyone is drawn to them. Bruce said "its like we are having a mini boat show!"

We feel the same way you and Bridget do. We love the boat and the few things that have gone wrong are easy to correct. You made me add another item to my spare parts list..... shear pins for the thrusters!

Enjoy "Spirit" they are great places to be!

 

[captd]

The stern thruster on the Lucky Fin has been out more than is has been working. Shear pins and one fuse. I think it is not centered in the tube. Pattern is to fix it and use it once and it quits again. About the time you really need it. Like Mac says, " learn to run the boat without it"

See you soon Andrew! I am saving a list for you.
captd

 

[Spirit of Gratitude]

I agree with Mac and we do run the boat without thrusters as much as possible. However many times we are coming into a very small marina, And I mean small, with tons of little boats coming in and out right by the ramp and they do come in handy when you have so many weekend warriors that do not know how to run a boat let alone the rules of the water water ways.
It will be nice to get back to the ocean where you are dealing with a better class of boaters.

As far as the shear pin goes,I have not been having problems with my thrusters on a hole but had one break for no reason that I understand yet.I am really on top of things and can tell if something got stuck in it do to the sound. I am just one of those guys that like to figure out why things happen and keep things running well. I also want to solve issues or see if something is a common occurrence so I can help guide other people to solve it.
I do not rest well till I solve,fix or make something better for me and the next guy.

I am sorry about your rear thruster and that would drive me nuts. Just wanting to get it solved. The thing is, there is a solution because other 25's are not having the issue as bad as you, so you know that there is a fix. Just getting to that fix is the tricky part. Good luck with that. I always look at things like that as a challenge project. Sometimes pulling my hair out but never the less it makes me know I am alive.

Stuart...... SPIRIT OF GRATITUDE 🙂