mahal
Guru
- Joined
- May 26, 2010
- Messages
- 651
I just ran accross this low priced bow thruster.
Wow, a bow thruster that is also a stabilizer. 2-in-1, like a radar/plotter combo.
I just ran accross this low priced bow thruster.
I don't want this to turn into a "Real men don't use thrusters" thread.
In my situation I would just feel more comfortable with thrusters. I bought my first boat in 1981 and have progressed from 16 ft to 38 ft with many in between. One thing I've learned in 30 years is a, stress free happy captain makes for a better journey.
I do plan on doing this myself. A friend is a fiberglass man and we're going to swap services. I have done most if not all of my own work, So I am plenty capable of doing it. It's also the only way I can afford boating. $3500 budget is what I'm thinking (hoping).
Plan is to do this during winter layup so I'm doing my homework now.
All replys are greatly appreciated.
Clay
I'm not proving anything...just suggesting that overconfidence brought upon by overreliance on certain tools can lead to problems.
It's not an "old timer thing"....it's from a current, highly educated and trained boating instructor and professional captain who thinks having certain skills is an asset...
It's a widely accepted concept in all kinds of operations (feel free to read up on it) ....certainly is true of boating also...that's all...if you read carefully...I have said buy and use them if you want...just don't crash into me because of overconfidence or equipment failure.
Failure of a main engine is one thing...mishaps because of thrusters are much more avoidable.
I don't know if the percentage is that high.... but I agree that there are boaters out there without the ability to properly handle their boats in difficult conditions. We were tied up on a face dock at a marina in New Hampshire where the current runs at about 7 knots and the tides are up to 10 feet. A cruiser tried to dock in front of us and lost control... he rammed into our bow, almost took off our pulpit and ground into us for about 10 minutes before he was able to back off. I certainly wish he had a bow thruster that day!!!!
Installing a thruster tube in a glass boat is a simple one day job for a handy fella with average DIY skills. Hell if I can do it anyone can
Add oh, by the way, I learned that with two engines and a bow thruster Those of you with two engines and no bow thruster good luck with that.
Gordon
Heck, I can do that with a single and no bow thruster.
It's called a spring line.
A spring line only works if it's on a dock or piling. It will do nothing for you until then.
Yeah you're right. But then I rarely recall ever finding the need to move directly
sideways in open water.
Nor can I remember not being able to get close enough to a dock to use a spring line.
Of course YMMV.
On more than a couple of locations, dockmaster's have placed me on a bulkhead in a space just large enough for my boat and in the middle of two other boats. Coming in at an angle just would not work very well. However being able to go completely sideways into the space is a big boon in such a situation.
Gordon
The thruster is nice for that no doubt about it. And nice to have in general.
But a spring line would still get you in.
And honestly with twins you wouldn't even really need the spring unless the current or wind were not in your favor.
Truth is people have been getting in and out of those kinds of situations long before thrusters were common on boats much below 80'-100'.