Bow thruster options for Passage 420 ???

[Island Girl 34]

Greetings all,

I am reposting this question in the "Ask all Sailors" section in hopes of better visability from current extern bow thruster owners.

I have searched forums and found just a few posts discussing bow thruster options for a 2001 Passage 420. No real ending posted. Internal installations seem rare and expensive with the head in the forward V.

I saw the display for the eXturn external bow thrusters at the Annapolis show a few weeks ago. I have since talked with Vito at www.yachtThruster.com about their model 230 S. Looks like this could could be a viable option and do the job for about half the price of the internal unit and installation.

Does anyone here have any experience with these thrusters? I certianly would appreciate some advice before I pull the trigger and get one.

Cheers,
Ken

 

[31seahorse]

Hello Ken,
I enjoyed the video of the installation process. Initially, I though the external thruster would be a great way to snag float lines on crab traps, but it looks well enough faired up toward the bow that it should not be too much of a concern while moving forward. When going astern you have the rudder, the prop, and the keel to snag those pesky lines before they approach the thruster.

It certainly is less disconcerting to drill three "smaller" holes in the hull than to install the tunnel style of thruster. Is the EXTURN supposed to be owner installed or for professionals only? You know, there is nothing quite so exciting as drilling holes in your boat! Especially, when the holes are below the waterline!

I wonder how well the thruster conforms to the hull on all sides? Are there "adaptors" for hulls of varying shape or is the sealant supposed to do the fairing job?

What length warranty is offered?

Best Wishes, Phil (our day sailor probably won't require one of the eXturn thrusters)

 

[Ross]

It works very nicely in a flat calm. How does it work with a twenty knot cross wind when I am trying to back into my slip?

 

[Joe]

Pretty cool..... couldn't find a price though. Care to divulge? Appears to be much quieter than the tunnel style, and much faster than the retractable.

 

[Island Girl 34]

Pretty cool..... couldn't find a price though. Care to divulge? Appears to be much quieter than the tunnel style, and much faster than the retractable.

Joe,

The best I can estimate to have an internal unit installed in my 420 would be in the $12K neighborhood.

This eXturn can be had for just under $6K. I can get my fiberglass guy to do the external install and was planning to do all the internal wiring myself.

I would just like to get some feedback from current owners to see what they think of this thruster solution before jumping on one.

Cheers,
Ken

 

[Island Girl 34]

Hello Ken,
I enjoyed the video of the installation process. Initially, I though the external thruster would be a great way to snag float lines on crab traps, but it looks well enough faired up toward the bow that it should not be too much of a concern while moving forward. When going astern you have the rudder, the prop, and the keel to snag those pesky lines before they approach the thruster.

It certainly is less disconcerting to drill three "smaller" holes in the hull than to install the tunnel style of thruster. Is the EXTURN supposed to be owner installed or for professionals only? You know, there is nothing quite so exciting as drilling holes in your boat! Especially, when the holes are below the waterline!

I wonder how well the thruster conforms to the hull on all sides? Are there "adaptors" for hulls of varying shape or is the sealant supposed to do the fairing job?

What length warranty is offered?

Best Wishes, Phil (our day sailor probably won't require one of the eXturn thrusters)

Phil,

I believe this is supposed to be a self installable unit but there is no way I would tackle the external install myself. I have a guy doing some other work fiberglass for me that could do that part with no problem. I'm not really sure how it comforms to the hull.

There are several internal control units but I feel comfortable that I could do that part myself.

I believe there is a 3 yr warranty on the unit.

Cheers,
Ken

 

[BobM]

From the video

It works very nicely in a flat calm. How does it work with a twenty knot cross wind when I am trying to back into my slip?

If the video is at the true speed it is spinning that sailboat very quickly so it looks power isn't a problem...as long as you have the juice of course.

 

[BobM]

Not apples to apples

Joe,

The best I can estimate to have an internal unit installed in my 420 would be in the $12K neighborhood.

This eXturn can be had for just under $6K. I can get my fiberglass guy to do the external install and was planning to do all the internal wiring myself.

Cheers,
Ken

Ken, sorry to pick on you...but the price difference can't be more than a couple of thousand if you do the wiring for both. I can't imagine that the wiring job would differ significantly, so really we are just talking about the difference in complexity of the glass work. I'd be surprised if the difference in glass work was all that significant and if your boat is fairly new you should consider the extra investment as it may affect value. The exturn may raise questions during resale but a normal bow thruster will only be viewed as a positive. The biggest advantage to the exturn to me is if you do both the bow and stern installs.

 

[Island Girl 34]

Ken, sorry to pick on you...but the price difference can't be more than a couple of thousand if you do the wiring for both. I can't imagine that the wiring job would differ significantly, so really we are just talking about the difference in complexity of the glass work. I'd be surprised if the difference in glass work was all that significant and if your boat is fairly new you should consider the extra investment as it may affect value. The exturn may raise questions during resale but a normal bow thruster will only be viewed as a positive. The biggest advantage to the exturn to me is if you do both the bow and stern installs.

Bob,

The wiring in not the issue either way. It's the fiberglass work to have the tunnel installed but even more complex in my case, the head is mounted in the very forward part of the V. In order to get an internal unit installed, the floor supporting the head would have to be raised a few inches to fit the thruster inside.

Looks to be atbout $12K for the internal vs about $6K for the eXtern.

I agree the internal is the better option but wonder if it is worth 2X the cost?

Cheers,
Ken

 

[Don12364]

The water jet type of thruster uses much smaller 2½" piping and is more suited to tight installations
See:- http://www.usmarineproducts.com/pdf/Jettrhusters_eng.pdf

 

[wonkodsane]

Whew, that looks fancy. It also looks like a cinch to install.

As far as fighting current or crosswinds, I bet it'd do a darn sight better than backing with rudder alone.

The instructions look like by placing it "as far back and as far below the waterline as possible" you will be making it almost completely fair without the sealant by making sure the mounting surface of the hull is nearly flat, with a lot less curvature fore to aft and therefore flush (or nearly so) with the top of the thruster.

That sealant around the edges is your fairing. The sealant and the flexible grommet on the mounting posts are what keep the water out. Compression for the grommet seal and physical adhesion for the sika they recommend.

Now the question is who has any experience with this brand or type of installation? Would love to hear from Maine Sail or one of the other big brains on it.

 

[Don12364]

In fairness to the makers of the tunnel types of thruster, the water jet ones offer less thrust for the same horsepower motor.
As the installation is in a more convenient position a more powerful pump might not matter as much.
Being able to side thrust the stern as well looks interesting too.

 

[Island Girl 34]

I would love to hear some real experience on this thing too. Maine Sail, what things you of this solution?

Cheers,
Ken

Whew, that looks fancy. It also looks like a cinch to install.

As far as fighting current or crosswinds, I bet it'd do a darn sight better than backing with rudder alone.

The instructions look like by placing it "as far back and as far below the waterline as possible" you will be making it almost completely fair without the sealant by making sure the mounting surface of the hull is nearly flat, with a lot less curvature fore to aft and therefore flush (or nearly so) with the top of the thruster.

That sealant around the edges is your fairing. The sealant and the flexible grommet on the mounting posts are what keep the water out. Compression for the grommet seal and physical adhesion for the sika they recommend.

Now the question is who has any experience with this brand or type of installation? Would love to hear from Maine Sail or one of the other big brains on it.