Joe wrote:
Bow Thruster.....Is your trawler a single screw?


Well, it has a single engine & prop.

That's why I remain unimpressed with all your bragging about maneuvering
boats with multiple props.

DSK

Doug I use to push a 220 foot barge carrying 250,000 gallons of fuel
all over the gulf coast for a company called Grasso.

Did it with a single screw tug the Cherokee Warrior with an 8-71
detroit. Did not have a bow thruster or a steermaster.

IMO a bow thruster is not needed for such a small vessel as yours
unless your just a bad boat handler. You just need much more practice.

Joe

Joe wrote:
Doug I use to push a 220 foot barge carrying 250,000 gallons of fuel
all over the gulf coast for a company called Grasso.


Did you ever do a 360 with that 220' barge in a 225' space?



IMO a bow thruster is not needed for such a small vessel as yours
unless your just a bad boat handler.

Or maneuver in tight spaces with cross winds & current etc etc.

... You just need much more practice.


That much is true. But then, I have practiced plenty and I haven't
banged into anything, either. You can ask the dockmaster at our marina
if he thinks I know how to handle a boat.

We are putting on a bow thruster because we would like to be able to
move the boat into & out of tight places under a wider range of
conditions, and do less warping.

DSK

"DSK" wrote in message

We are putting on a bow thruster because we would like to be able to move
the boat into & out of tight places under a wider range of conditions, and
do less warping.

Contrary to what some here might claim, there is nothing unmanly or
unseamanlike about a bow thruster. It's simply another tool in the
mariner's tool box for those who wish to make their voyages efficacious and
more hassle-free. One doesn't *need* GPS, a knot meter, a depth sounder, or
even a compass, but they make the job more efficient and enjoyable, and
that's what it's all about, no?

Max

We are putting on a bow thruster because we would like to be able to move
the boat into & out of tight places under a wider range of conditions, and
do less warping.


Maxprop wrote:
Contrary to what some here might claim, there is nothing unmanly or
unseamanlike about a bow thruster.

Thank you, Maxprop.

It's simply another tool in the
mariner's tool box for those who wish to make their voyages efficacious and
more hassle-free. One doesn't *need* GPS, a knot meter, a depth sounder, or
even a compass, but they make the job more efficient and enjoyable, and
that's what it's all about, no?


It's also about expanding the scale & scope of operations. For example,
you *can* run the ICW at night but having a spotlight & radar makes it a
good bit less risky. One can navigate a fogbound rocky coast without GPS
& depthsounder, but it's again more risky. At some point, people with
good sense will say "We could do that, but let's sit tight for now and
not take the chances" if only to keep the stress level down.

We obviously *could* cruise without a bow thruster... we've been doing
so for a bit over two years... but with one, it will be easier to get in
& out of places that we'd be likely to skip.

BTW warping is also very seamanlike... but it requires a bit of patience
and is likely to raise eyebrows among the uninitiated.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

Are you going to install it yourself?

Scotty


"DSK" wrote in message
...
We are putting on a bow thruster because we would like to be able
to move
the boat into & out of tight places under a wider range of
conditions, and
do less warping.


Maxprop wrote:
Contrary to what some here might claim, there is nothing unmanly
or
unseamanlike about a bow thruster.

Thank you, Maxprop.

It's simply another tool in the
mariner's tool box for those who wish to make their voyages
efficacious and
more hassle-free. One doesn't *need* GPS, a knot meter, a depth
sounder, or
even a compass, but they make the job more efficient and
enjoyable, and
that's what it's all about, no?


It's also about expanding the scale & scope of operations. For
example,
you *can* run the ICW at night but having a spotlight & radar makes
it a
good bit less risky. One can navigate a fogbound rocky coast without
GPS
& depthsounder, but it's again more risky. At some point, people
with
good sense will say "We could do that, but let's sit tight for now
and
not take the chances" if only to keep the stress level down.

We obviously *could* cruise without a bow thruster... we've been
doing
so for a bit over two years... but with one, it will be easier to
get in
& out of places that we'd be likely to skip.

BTW warping is also very seamanlike... but it requires a bit of
patience
and is likely to raise eyebrows among the uninitiated.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

Scott Vernon wrote:
Are you going to install it yourself?


Heck yeah! I got a chainsaw, duct tape, and a pair of vise grips, what
else do I need??

DSK

I've done a 180 with the 220 in a 60 foot wide bayou. Use to bring all
the fuel to Southern Pacific Railroad up Buffalo Bayou close to down
town Houston. So narrow I always had to break down the tow and push it
back out from the other end. Always drew a big crowd on the bridge I
would lay the barge against.

Also had to shoot into a slip 100 foot wide with a 5 kt side current ,
Had to usually start setting of for that trick 1/2 mile ahead of the
slip.

As for doing a 360 in a 225 foot area it is impossiable since the tug
was 60 foot.

A smarter move than a bow thruster would be flanking rudders IMO.

Is your thruster going to be electric?

Some of the 310 ft supply boats I ran had 6-71 detroit bow thrusters.
In a hard side current at the rig they were useful but rattle the damn
boat so much it drives you crazy. After 4-5 hours of that your damn
happy to be offloaded or loaded.
Problem with bow thrusters are the props tend to cavitate.

Joe