Bow Thruster Help
 

Hi,

I own a 1942 Wheeler 83 ft (one of the Coast Guard Cutters from WWII) that I
would like to understand which units are best and expected pricing to
purchase and have installed.

83 ft long, 16 beam, 5 1/2 ft draft 70 - 85 tons Hull is carvel planked
with marine grade plywood fastened and then fiberglassed. This work was
done in the mid 80's in Tarpon Springs, Fl.


Which bow thruster do you recommend ?


Thanks,

Marshall

MarshallE wrote:
Hi,

I own a 1942 Wheeler 83 ft (one of the Coast Guard Cutters from WWII) that I
would like to understand which units are best and expected pricing to
purchase and have installed.

83 ft long, 16 beam, 5 1/2 ft draft 70 - 85 tons Hull is carvel planked
with marine grade plywood fastened and then fiberglassed. This work was
done in the mid 80's in Tarpon Springs, Fl.


Which bow thruster do you recommend ?

- 120vac/24vdc/12vdc Electric or hydraulic?
- what sort of maximum beam wind speed do you intend to dock in?
- is your boat fairly low windage?

I'd suggest in any event talking to manufacturers about sizing to suit
your vessel.

Evan Gatehouse

My boat has 800 sq. ft. of wind surface and estimates are coming in to use
anywhere from 450 to 750 pounds of thrust.
What brands do folks like and what should I expect to spend for a turn key
job?
thanks
marshall


"Evan Gatehouse" wrote in message
...
MarshallE wrote:
Hi,

I own a 1942 Wheeler 83 ft (one of the Coast Guard Cutters from WWII)
that I
would like to understand which units are best and expected pricing to
purchase and have installed.

83 ft long, 16 beam, 5 1/2 ft draft 70 - 85 tons Hull is carvel
planked
with marine grade plywood fastened and then fiberglassed. This work was
done in the mid 80's in Tarpon Springs, Fl.


Which bow thruster do you recommend ?

- 120vac/24vdc/12vdc Electric or hydraulic?
- what sort of maximum beam wind speed do you intend to dock in?
- is your boat fairly low windage?

I'd suggest in any event talking to manufacturers about sizing to suit
your vessel.

Evan Gatehouse

MarshallE wrote:
My boat has 800 sq. ft. of wind surface and estimates are coming in to use
anywhere from 450 to 750 pounds of thrust.

I would tend toward a smaller unit and work at placing it as far below
the waterline as possible. Given two units of equal depth to the low
point of the tunnel, the bigger unit will be more likley to suck air and
lose effectiveness both because it is closer to the waterline and
because it's pulling harder.

Depth to the keel of the forefoot is a solid limit.

What brands do folks like and what should I expect to spend for a turn key
job?

Vetus.
$12,000 and up, not counting hauling & storing.
Some friends of ours just had one put in their 41' trawler.

Fair Skies
Doug King

I have a Wesmar and love it. For standard electric bow thrusters, try to get
dual prop and at least one size bigger than they recommend for your boat.
Wesmar now makes continuous duty electrics and I'd sure look at those. They
didn't offer them when I purchased mine. Top of the line are hydraulics, but
if you don't already have a hydraulic system and don't plan to put anything
else hydraulic in, they don't make sense.
http://www.wesmar.com/thruster.html

--


Keith
__
"There are two theories to arguing with a woman.
Neither one works." - Will Rogers
"MarshallE" wrote in message
om...
My boat has 800 sq. ft. of wind surface and estimates are coming in to use
anywhere from 450 to 750 pounds of thrust.
What brands do folks like and what should I expect to spend for a turn key
job?
thanks
marshall


"Evan Gatehouse" wrote in message
...
MarshallE wrote:
Hi,

I own a 1942 Wheeler 83 ft (one of the Coast Guard Cutters from WWII)
that I
would like to understand which units are best and expected pricing to
purchase and have installed.

83 ft long, 16 beam, 5 1/2 ft draft 70 - 85 tons Hull is carvel
planked
with marine grade plywood fastened and then fiberglassed. This work
was
done in the mid 80's in Tarpon Springs, Fl.


Which bow thruster do you recommend ?

- 120vac/24vdc/12vdc Electric or hydraulic?
- what sort of maximum beam wind speed do you intend to dock in?
- is your boat fairly low windage?

I'd suggest in any event talking to manufacturers about sizing to suit
your vessel.

Evan Gatehouse