I have a windward slip I love, next to the end tie, behind the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Marina del Rey, CA. I've had the slip for several years and had no trouble getting my Silverton 372 in and out despite the strong cross winds (15 mph+) that blow down the finger, trying to push boats into the ballroom of the Ritz. Howerver I recently traded the owerboat for a new Hunter 420 and I'm having a hell of a time getting the bow around when I leave the slip (backing out into the channel appears to be the only viable alternative when the winds are heavy), and keeping the bow enough upwind to permit me to get into the slip when I return. I hired a professional captain the other day to help me learn how to do a better job, but he had the same problems. Since my past boats have included 2 trawlers that I reterofitted with bow thrusters, this solution strongly comes to mind, but my dealer told me that Hunter doesn't have the engineering specs that would permit them to say whether a bow thruster can be fitted into a 420 relatively easily and economically. I'll be pursuing this with the factory next week since it shouldn't take a rocket scientist to determine whether their are any tanks that would have to be relocated, whether the circuit going to the windlass could also power the bow thruster, the width of the hull where the thruster should be located, etc. Also, since bow thrusters are being routinely fitted into 460s (I was told specs are available for that), they should be able to tell me what model would be appropiate. Does anyone out there have any experience or knowledge regarding fitting a bow thruster into a 420 that could augment what I should be able to learn from the factory? Info would be greatly appreciated.
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42 Thruster
There was a post here some time ago regarding one, but I don't recall if it was a 42 or 420. Might check the archives. (PS: I sometimes back my 40.5 out when the wind is up. Coming in, I use the port prop walk to kick the stern around.) Agree, Hunter will have spec's. You must be right near Robert's Twin Dolphin (Spindrift trawler). Relative of mine. Good Luck, RD
There was a post here some time ago regarding one, but I don't recall if it was a 42 or 420. Might check the archives. (PS: I sometimes back my 40.5 out when the wind is up. Coming in, I use the port prop walk to kick the stern around.) Agree, Hunter will have spec's. You must be right near Robert's Twin Dolphin (Spindrift trawler). Relative of mine. Good Luck, RD
bowthruster
Here in San Francisco Bay I have the same problem with the wind pushing my bow around. I was thinking of putting a thruster on my 460. The cost $8600.00 My solution is to back down the fairway when leaving the berth. I had a friend who runs a tugboat try and give me a couple of lessons in getting in and out of my berth. He did it quite easily but admitted that it will take alot of practice for me to get the hang of it. The wind and current really can push the bow around. John
Here in San Francisco Bay I have the same problem with the wind pushing my bow around. I was thinking of putting a thruster on my 460. The cost $8600.00 My solution is to back down the fairway when leaving the berth. I had a friend who runs a tugboat try and give me a couple of lessons in getting in and out of my berth. He did it quite easily but admitted that it will take alot of practice for me to get the hang of it. The wind and current really can push the bow around. John
Back 'er out.
I agree. When the wind tends to blow the bow off coming out of the slip, backing out of the "fairway" to a good turning area has turned out to be much more successful than trying to get it to point the "right way" in a tight area between two rows of slips that are always spaced to close together anyway.
I agree. When the wind tends to blow the bow off coming out of the slip, backing out of the "fairway" to a good turning area has turned out to be much more successful than trying to get it to point the "right way" in a tight area between two rows of slips that are always spaced to close together anyway.
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