Thrusters

[Barry Cohen]

Looking for input on thrusters.

What is the maximum speed you can travel before the thrusters become ineffective?

What conditions in the water effect the use of thrusters? Waves? Current? Critters?

Yesterday, I was practicing maneuvering in a mooring field so that I know exactly where I can and can't go at slow speeds. It appears that if I engage the thrusters for an extended period of time, they seem to shut down. I'm not sure if this is real, or if the current is making them sound different, or what.

I would appreciate hearing any and all experiences with your thrusters.

Man, this sure ain't like sailin'!!!

 

[rt11002003]

You're right, it "sure ain't like sailin"! 😉 That's why I bought another sailboat after several years with a trawler and a tug. Some days are made sailing and nothing else is a good substitute. On the other hand, there are many more days where a good powerboat is the better answer. As much as I hate to keep up two boats, I'm back looking at tugs and trawlers again. Withdrawal lasted a little over two months. 😳

Now to thrusters. Your thrusters likely overheated and shutdown. They do that. They aren't for extended operation. They are affected by any condition that would affect any other type of propulsion unit, probably more so. They are not really very powerful, horse power wise. I forget their rating.

I suspect the maximum speed where they become ineffective would also depend on other conditions (wind, waves and current) along with the boat configuration (weight and windage).

Gene

 

[bbrh842]

The thrusters are rated for 3 minutes continuous.
After that they will overheat and shut down.

 

[Spirit of Gratitude]

Your bow thruster will not work well if you are in some bouncy seas. You will here the cavitation of the little prop.
If you do here this expect to break a shear pin soon after. Use thrusters at very low speeds for best results.

Here is what I do.... I run my boat as if I do not have thrusters. If this is is not something you know how to do, then learn. Someday they will fail and you will need to know how to run without them. There is always someone in the marina who greatly understands single engine trawlers that would be happy to give you pointers and even teach you.
Your thrusters are best if you just give short taps and then wait for the response. Running a boat is all about anticipating what you want your boat to do well before you ask it to do it. Then understanding how to make it do what you want. Most new boaters will over power all there moves.
I will not attempt to teach you via tugnuts, but I will encourage you to seek out people who do know that are all around in the marinas and ask.

Remember with thrusters.... Less is more

Stuart

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Barry: In addition to the good advice you have been given here I would add that thruster's are meant to be used at slow speeds while docking, manuvering to and from a gas dock or to or away from lock walls. Some thruster manuals state to use, as was indicated, in short bursts however each brand and or size has a different suggestion of what this means....check your manual, online or call the thruster company on this. Lastly, after you've mastered the boats handling without the thrusters it becomes a lot easier and you'll find you will not use them as much. With that said, if your boat has a generator and the thruster batteries are recharged while the genset is running it's a good idea to run the genset while docking. This is done to keep the thruster batteries from running down and therefore preventing the thrusters from working from over use, especially during high winds, strong currents or new docking situations.

 

[ttlmac]

Barry,

My thoughts on use of the thrusters are basically the same as the last couple posts. When the boat was new last year, I used the thrusters every time I backed into my slip. Now I try to dock without them, but in most cases end up using the bow thruster to tweak things as I get into the slip. I generally do not use the thrusters when going through mooring fields (I use the wheel and throttle for turning bursts), but any time I am in close quarters I always have the thrusters on just in case.

Regarding your previous post on rough water handling of the boat, I was out this past Saturday in a pretty serious wind driven chop that sent me and my dock neighbors in their bigger boats back to the harbor pretty quick. I was also out last weekend in the same conditions I think you were out in. If you want to discuss your experiences so far, I am sending you a PM with my work and home phones. I'm hoping we can get together in Scituate this summer. If that doesn't work for you, I'm also thinking about an overnight in Salem harbor at some point, so maybe we can meet there.

Tom
Indian Summer

 

[Lobo]

Manual says they have a cut out if you use them consistently for 3 minutes (I think that's the time). They overheat and it's a protection. If you want to "spin on a dime" (which is lots of fun!) thrust for 10 or so seconds, drift a bit, thrust again....repeat.

Do not go from port to starboard (or the other way) without letting the thrusters stop. If you do you will most likely break a shear pin. See the home page on Tug Nuts on how to change the bow shear pin. Very easy and a nice way to smarten the skipper up on his thruster habits.

I strongly suggest never use the thrusters while the engine is in gear. The prop is more powerful than the thruster. They just fight and you lose. Plan your usage that way and you'll have a happier experience.

Dave
"Lobo"

 

[doke01]

I tend to disagree about not using thrusters when in gear. I use the bow thruster to steer with when I am backing down. The rudder is pretty much ineffectual in reverse, especially when backing to port. I also use them when in forward gear during docking.


That being said, always pause when changing directions, you can do a 360 without pausing because it takes less then 3 minutes, don't expect your thrusters will win out against the wind or the current. They generally won't. In my experience the keys on the thruster props will fail before the pin but I know others have had experiences with the pin breaking (hope I didn't just jinx myself).

Doug