I will be doing a lot of single-handed sailing...I should say a lot of one man docking. Does anyone know of a bow thruster that is more like a trolling motor? -Something that I can swing down when I need it and back out of the way when it is not in use.
portable bow thruster
- Thread starter suds22334
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Sounds impractical
How would you control the thing from the cockpit, never mind actually finding an aesthetically pleasing place to mount and keep it? Given time and practice, it's more than likely you'll learn to do fine without it, even in cross wind or current.
How would you control the thing from the cockpit, never mind actually finding an aesthetically pleasing place to mount and keep it? Given time and practice, it's more than likely you'll learn to do fine without it, even in cross wind or current.
Don, you need to spend more time
watching the fishermen! Some of those bow thur- uh trolling motors have remote controls for steering and forward and reverse. Personally I preferr a live deck hand at the bow. She is ssooo much nicer to cuddle than a weedy trolling motor.
watching the fishermen! Some of those bow thur- uh trolling motors have remote controls for steering and forward and reverse. Personally I preferr a live deck hand at the bow. She is ssooo much nicer to cuddle than a weedy trolling motor.
Ross, I agree about the deckhand .
I had thoght I had heard everything when that guy wanted to rig an electric starter to his small outboard engine but I think this one beats it.
I had thoght I had heard everything when that guy wanted to rig an electric starter to his small outboard engine but I think this one beats it.
If a thruster is what you want.....
A trolling motor will cost you about $500 or so, plus the battery, plus the hastle of it up on the deck where it does not belong, plus the wires where they will get in the way, plus the fact that it is not designed for control from the stern, plus storing the thing and all its accessories (battery) when not in use and getting it out when you need it.... You can get a bow thruster for about $1,100 plus instalation and it will work like you want it to
A trolling motor will cost you about $500 or so, plus the battery, plus the hastle of it up on the deck where it does not belong, plus the wires where they will get in the way, plus the fact that it is not designed for control from the stern, plus storing the thing and all its accessories (battery) when not in use and getting it out when you need it.... You can get a bow thruster for about $1,100 plus instalation and it will work like you want it to
curious Question.......
Question......what boat do you have? when i was in Point Cadet Marina in Biloxi, Ms., I had considered a bow thruster for my Catalina 30. When you backed out of a slip, we referred to it as a "suicide run". Your stern was touching the boats on the pier next to you at about the time your bow was just clearing your own pilings. It was bad enough when you had help on the bow, but risky when you went out alone. And yes, i was in a 30 foot slip with a 30 ft. boat. The harbor masters crew was rarely available on radio or otherwise. This meant that I could only go out solo in calm weather. A lot of fun thats going to be on a sailboat. Anyway, Vetus makes a bow thruster and they are also sold by 'go2marine'. See link below.
Question......what boat do you have? when i was in Point Cadet Marina in Biloxi, Ms., I had considered a bow thruster for my Catalina 30. When you backed out of a slip, we referred to it as a "suicide run". Your stern was touching the boats on the pier next to you at about the time your bow was just clearing your own pilings. It was bad enough when you had help on the bow, but risky when you went out alone. And yes, i was in a 30 foot slip with a 30 ft. boat. The harbor masters crew was rarely available on radio or otherwise. This meant that I could only go out solo in calm weather. A lot of fun thats going to be on a sailboat. Anyway, Vetus makes a bow thruster and they are also sold by 'go2marine'. See link below.
tie duck to the bow
round up the dock ducks and tie them to a line that's attached to your bow. Then throw bread in the direction you want the bow to turn
Just kidding. I single handle a 37' in a 38' slip. Both the fareway and slip are tight but with practice, patience, it's become easy to handle it by myself. If your boat is a fin keel boat, there is an easy way to insure a safe docking. Just back into the slip slowly and when the stern just passes the finger, hop off the boat while in reverse with a spring line in hand. Loop that spring line around the finger cleat and the boat will come to a stop and pull up to the finger. Let the line out until the boat is in the right place and then tie her off. After you do that a few times you will start to get the hang of it and soon you will have the docking down so well that you don't even need to top hop off the boat until your there. For leaving docks...learn how to use a kicker line. A line that you can attach to the dock and the boat that will spin the boat once out of the slip. This line is also retrievable from inside the cockpit. If you need more more detail on any of this including the ducks just ask and I will provide.
round up the dock ducks and tie them to a line that's attached to your bow. Then throw bread in the direction you want the bow to turn
Just kidding. I single handle a 37' in a 38' slip. Both the fareway and slip are tight but with practice, patience, it's become easy to handle it by myself. If your boat is a fin keel boat, there is an easy way to insure a safe docking. Just back into the slip slowly and when the stern just passes the finger, hop off the boat while in reverse with a spring line in hand. Loop that spring line around the finger cleat and the boat will come to a stop and pull up to the finger. Let the line out until the boat is in the right place and then tie her off. After you do that a few times you will start to get the hang of it and soon you will have the docking down so well that you don't even need to top hop off the boat until your there. For leaving docks...learn how to use a kicker line. A line that you can attach to the dock and the boat that will spin the boat once out of the slip. This line is also retrievable from inside the cockpit. If you need more more detail on any of this including the ducks just ask and I will provide.Stern thruster
On those days when the wind is dead wrong for backing out my Catalina 30 I have built a simple wooden frame that I can hang over the stern rail. On this I have mounted a 35lbs thrust trolling motor, this set to drive the stern to port. With the boats natural prop wash driving the stern to starboard and an east wind making matters worse by driving the bow to port I can still back out nicely with the little motor, this pulling the stern to port and allowing a normal exit from the marina, ie, bow first. Luckily the motor only cost me, used, $100, plus I had an old battery off my broken down old ride-on mower,so the thing cost me next to nothing. Don't need it often, but on those days I need it, I really need it. It can easily be stored in a lockwer when not in use.
On those days when the wind is dead wrong for backing out my Catalina 30 I have built a simple wooden frame that I can hang over the stern rail. On this I have mounted a 35lbs thrust trolling motor, this set to drive the stern to port. With the boats natural prop wash driving the stern to starboard and an east wind making matters worse by driving the bow to port I can still back out nicely with the little motor, this pulling the stern to port and allowing a normal exit from the marina, ie, bow first. Luckily the motor only cost me, used, $100, plus I had an old battery off my broken down old ride-on mower,so the thing cost me next to nothing. Don't need it often, but on those days I need it, I really need it. It can easily be stored in a lockwer when not in use.
Jim
I congradulate you on your ingenuity but have you considered a kicker line? It's a very simple concept. If you go bow first when docking, then take a line and run from the bow cleat to the cleat on the dock or on the piling and then back to the bow cleat and then both ends of the line back to the cockpit. When the stern clears the slip, hold tight on those ends and the bow will pull around as you continue out the slip. If you back into your slip like I do, then do the same thing, just on the stern cleat. You may need a bit of 1/4 line but I'm sure it doesn't cost $100 and you can use the line for other stuff when the need arises plus it stores a lot easier then a motor. Remember: We are sailors...we know how to use lines. We don't need motors much (I say that while I smile because I'm waiting on my engine to come in so I can go sailing). I personally think there isn't one situation where a bow thruster is needed on any sailboat.
I congradulate you on your ingenuity but have you considered a kicker line? It's a very simple concept. If you go bow first when docking, then take a line and run from the bow cleat to the cleat on the dock or on the piling and then back to the bow cleat and then both ends of the line back to the cockpit. When the stern clears the slip, hold tight on those ends and the bow will pull around as you continue out the slip. If you back into your slip like I do, then do the same thing, just on the stern cleat. You may need a bit of 1/4 line but I'm sure it doesn't cost $100 and you can use the line for other stuff when the need arises plus it stores a lot easier then a motor. Remember: We are sailors...we know how to use lines. We don't need motors much (I say that while I smile because I'm waiting on my engine to come in so I can go sailing). I personally think there isn't one situation where a bow thruster is needed on any sailboat.
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