bow thruster for 393

[platogb]

Could any 393 owner reccommend a bow thurster make or model?
Ours is 3 cabin version but since this concerns the forward layout of the boat, that is not relevant.
I wish to install a bow thruster but am having problems finding any supplier who can actually give me a refernece for any 393 owner with their product installed.

I would like to hear from the 'happy with it' and from the 'waste of time and money' people and anyone else with a comment.

We are based in Greece.

 

[darkaegisagain]

Maybe you're the first! I would just live with any issues you have, is it just prop wash you are dealing with? The guy down the dock did this to a sub-40' boat and we all thought it was a waste of time and money. The mods he had to make to the boat were substantial to make it work.

I just held out for a port side slip

 

[Mike B]

Can't speak to how it will work on your 393 but I have one on our 2008 43 (it was factory installed) and like having it. It makes navigating in close quarters easier. You can use it in combination with prop walk and just about spin the boat on it's axis. The only problem I have is that it doesn't help much when the winds get above 15kts.

 

[platogb]

Tks for the input Mike - what make and model, do you know?
I still need and anwer to my original question:
"I wish to install a bow thruster but am having problems finding any supplier who can actually give me a refernece for any 393 owner with their product installed.

I would like to hear from the 'happy with it' and from the 'waste of time and money' people and anyone else with a comment."
Tks again

 

[Mike B]

I think it's a Vetus. No idea which model and unfortunately I'm a bit of a way from the boat so I can't go check for you. Try calling Beneteau or a local dealer. They should be able to tell you.

 

[Mike B]

platogb, it finally came to me and it's a Max Power CT80 which is their 6hp, double prop model. You can do a search on the web for them and find the specs for each model.

 

[platogb]

Different layout to 393

Thanks MikeB but yr boat different layout. 393 has head forward of berth. In addition, there is a water tank under the berth + forward head holding tank attached to forward bulkhead. Forward of that you have only the anchor locker. If you stick a bow thruster in there, it is too far forward.

Surely there must be a 393 owner somewhere on the planet with a bow thruster he's happy with..........

 

[Gunni]

"Surely there must be a 393 owner somewhere on the planet with a bow thruster he's happy with.........."

I'm delighted with my bow thruster. She has been the love of my life for +20 years and continues to function flawlessly. Multifunction too, can lasso a dock pile, cleat a line, and rig a fender. Better than any autopilot. A little costly, but if you have to ask you can't afford her.

 

[platogb]

for info

It actually appears that with layout and lack of space between hull and waterline you CANNOT correctly install a 185mm tunnel thruster in a 393.
Various install specs agree on minimum half diameter of tunnel between top of tunnel and waterline + 1/3 diameter of tunnel between bottom and hull. Add to that the diameter of 185mm and it comes to 340mm MIMIMUM needed betweed waterline and hull for optimum install of 185mm tunnel. To give an idea of where this is on the boat, it would have to be installed partially under the corner of the aft berth. You would literally have to extract the berth, still the thruster tunnel underneath it and then find a place for the engine etc.
We're checking retractable thrusters as they need less height between waterline and hull.
So far it looks like it would be installed forward of the head.
Any comments?

 

[epsilonblue]

Hi I have a 411 also with the heads fo'rard and not a dissimilar hull. I bought ours with a bow thruster fitted. Now there is not a lot of hull up front in the water until she is under sail. this creates two problems one the bow is very quickly blown around when manouvering slowly under engine in windy conditions, and two there is not a lot of room to fit a B'Thruster if you want to keep it well for'ard where it is most effective . We have a small diameter thruster, it is not ideal but better than nothing.( No rude remarks please). Not sure of the make it was fitted in the uk.