A question for either or both of you: What type of chargers are these? What powers them?
I've never had a setup like this, but a few boats I've looked at have a bow thruster powered from the house bank. Looking at the amp draw, I'm not so sure I like what that might do to instruments, etc. Especially since I might want to use the thruster a bit in locks where you have the engine shut off.
Your "isolated" systems sound good, so I'm wondering where the chargers get their power and when.
(Figured this might be of interest to the OP as well.
Wow! That's one top notch "how to" document, boathealer!
Just remember that thrusters are designed for short bursts to help your engines, they are not meant to steer your vessel.
My diabolical plan may not work then. I was hoping to be able to use it/them for a little "nudging," if necessary, while short-handed in locks. The engine has to be off in many of them (understandably), so by definition the thruster(s) would not be helping the engines.
(Before buying anything based on this, I would have contacted the thruster mfgr to double check.)
My diabolical plan may not work then. I was hoping to be able to use it/them for a little "nudging," if necessary, while short-handed in locks. The engine has to be off in many of them (understandably), so by definition the thruster(s) would not be helping the engines.
(Before buying anything based on this, I would have contacted the thruster mfgr to double check.)
Interesting. How do you get into the lock with the engines off?
[Once tied up engines off, by then you don't need the thruster(s)].
I think you're ahead of your time . None of the locks prohibit engine operation when not secured.
Just remember that thrusters are designed for short bursts to help your engines, they are not meant to steer your vessel.
I'm thinking about after I'm secured and engines off. I've seen so many boats get cattywampus with either the bow or stern going out/in. Usually looks like it's a flukey wind or an upwelling when they fill the lock. And that's with two people. Solo and without good side decks (it's all a compromise), I could see having that type of "rotation" problem on the way up or down.
(A friend had this happen and did over a boat buck's worth of damage to his starboard side outboard motor cowling when it contacted the lock wall -- and they had two line handlers -- I guess they were right next to a "jacuzzi" spot on the wall.) (Maybe even a thruster would be useless against that kind of force, but I imagine there are "lesser" times it could come in handy.)
Anyway, I just thought it could potentially be one thing in a bag of tricks, not the only way. And the boats I've looked at that have negligeable side decks, do already have bow thrusters.
Thanks for posting back. You're one of my canal "heroes" (read your blog after the side deck discussion a couple weeks ago and that is just the sort of cruising I look forward to). Looked at a few Mainship 34's on YW, too. They are a nice looking boat, simple in a good way, and even though there is no helm door, the sidedecks are palatial compared to having none.
I hear you on the "back wheel steer." I grew up with outboards on small boats so it seems normal to me. You can always tell at a Home Depot when people get those carts that steer from the back whether or not they have ever operated a forklift or outboard motor ...
What I can't get used to (yet) is the darned wheel! Give me a tiller and everything seems normal. The wheel still seems backwards so I still have to think tiller as if I were out back and then mentally translate to being forward with a wheel - but hopefully that will change with time. You'd think a wheel would be easier but it's hard to overcome motor and brain memory.
In my buddy's case, not sure what happened. It was partway through locking up in one of the big river locks (not canal). My guess is that they had gotten a bit casual because they had been doing all "down" locks up until then, and then they were in an up lock and also next to a Jacuzzi, and the bow line got out of control. Maybe bow crew was just holding it and didn't have any turns on a cleat (my guess). Ultimately it all got repaired and didn't put them off.
OP: Sorry to have dragged this so far off-topic, but hopefully you did get enough suggestions for a stern thruster. Nice Sundowner - that is going to make a great loop boat. And you have side doors!
"Tied up" is a relative term.Interesting. How do you get into the lock with the engines off?
[Once tied up engines off, by then you don't need the thruster(s)].
I am planning to add a stern thruster over the winter. What do you guys use, like and recommend. It is for the 32' boat in my avatar weighs 18,000 - 20,000 lbs. Thanks.
I had a Side-Power Stern thruster installed on my 2007 Mainship Pilot 430 in 2013. It has worked great since day one. I would call it a luxury versus a necessity but having had it for a number of years now I would not go back.