bow thruster

[graemek]

Hi
I'm looking to fit a bow thruster in my 365 ketch,does any body know how much room there is between the under side of the floor in the front cabin and the hull,I don't want to lose the front tank if i can help it as it is now my holding tank for the gray water,many thanks oceanpilgrim

[kevin barber]

You would definately need to cut out the forward tank.  The tube needs to be at least 6 inches (or whatever the diameter of the tube is) below the waterline.   In order to get that kind of depth, you would most definately be inside the tank. 

[graemek]

Hi
many thanks for your replie,I was thinking of farther back,ie behind the tank under the floor but i need 8in in hight to mount it in,just don't know the height with out cutting the a hole,manythanks oceanpilgrim

[Dale Tanski]

If you open your forward floor board inspection hatch (the one for the head thuhull) you can look up in there.
Dale

[Henri Hali]

I just found a thruster called eXturn made in Barveria. The web site is www.exturnusa.com.
Its an external bow and/or stern thruster.
I did some checking on it and found the price to be about half what a traditional thruster would be.
For a 365 the model 1800 is recommended. The cost is about $4,200. The installation appears to be very simple. (Drill three holes)
With some modification to the forward tank, the tank may be salvageable.

I'd love to have you guys take a look at it and share your thoughts.

Henri Hali
SV Windrider

[zaya]

How about simply investing the money in a maxprop. you'll get good reverse control, and less drag sailing.

[kevin barber]

The thruster needs to be as far forward as possible.  The farther aft you install it, the more powerful the thruster will need to be.  Just think of the mechanical advantage.   Also the tube would end up being MUCH longer.  

Also, keep in mind that having a thruster means more maintenance.  Also, you will need a seperate battery or a REALLY long run of 4/0 battery cables.   How are you going to charge the battery?

The tube gets fouled, and you will have to replace more zincs.  Overall, this is a very expensive undertaking.   I have installed 4 bow thrusters, and the install will definately cost you more that you think.

I don't think there is any way you would be able to fit the motor and tube under the floor up there.

I'm definately not crazy about that external thruster.  You would loose all sorts of speed with something like that bolted onto the hull.

I agree with Zaya.  Buy yourself a nice Maxprop or Autoprop.  Not only will you be able to maneuver in the marina like a pro, you will also save some $$ on better fuel consumtion.

[Jim S]

I may be out of touch, but I think a bow thruster on a 36 foot pleasure craft is silly.  Our boats are not that heavy and hard to control.  I can think of a ton of things that I would rather spend my money on and things to put in that area than expensive machinery.

[graemek]

hi I know what you mean about the price but in the UK the gap between the fingers on the pontoons is 45ft,the gap between my yacht and the motor craft next door is only one foot so i can not turn until i am at least two thirds out,if the wind is blowing down the row of pontoons the head blows off before i can turn because of the stern hitting first,also now i have fitted,stern ladder,bathing platform,solar panels,and a longer bowsprite the yacht is now 42ft 8in,not a lot of room to play with,OK when mob handed but a prob when i want to go out single handed,but i have now found a perfect place for it ,it will go between the front water tank and the internal molding of the cabin,tube length only 1760
no probblems,yours oceanpilgrim