| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| stratford4528 |
Posted - 06 Jun 2011 : 23:47:19
This is new to me so can any one tell me if or what I would need for my 32. |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| IanM |
Posted - 10 Jun 2011 : 06:34:43
Oi!
Whadya mean "not a real boat".
That's a genuine Norman 55, that is.... |
| adi-n-chez |
Posted - 09 Jun 2011 : 19:12:20
quote:
Originally posted by stratford4528
Maybe you could hire out your bow thruster
You wouldnt need to hire Ians Bow thruster - To be fair he never needed one when he had a real boat that steered properly  The main problem being whil'st using said bow thruster it is unavailable for other duties such as cooking , lock winding & of course pouring the captains drinks.....
No need to fetch my coat - Its summer !!
Adi
Sewer Tubes ? I'd rather have a D**ncr*ft (Only Kidding) |
| stratford4528 |
Posted - 08 Jun 2011 : 21:08:45
Maybe you could hire out your bow thruster |
| IanM |
Posted - 07 Jun 2011 : 22:32:49
I've got a bow thruster. It needs no batteries or hydraulics. It didn't cost much, at least not directly, and it is very effective. Mind you, she probably objects to being described as an "it"
And to her credit, Jo and the wooden pole are very resilient, even when I get the marina exit badly wrong and she ends up in the brambles. It's only happened twice but she had the nous to duck yet not lose the pole...
A couple of years ago I exited a wide lock alongside another boat. He prodded his bow thruster button and suddenly there I was off line and heading for the shallow mud at the side of the lock pound. The git.  |
| df |
Posted - 07 Jun 2011 : 20:00:13
Do remember that if you're new to boating it will take time to get the hang of it even with a bow thruster, we all start off zig-zaging down the river, once you get used to a bow thruster you will be knackered on any boat without one.
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
Visit leomagill.co.uk |
| stratford4528 |
Posted - 07 Jun 2011 : 19:28:38
I will be putting my boat on my lake to test it so I can try various rudder designs. Also test the new engine I am fitting. I have photo's of me refitting if any one wants to see them. |
| df |
Posted - 07 Jun 2011 : 17:14:17
I have a proper enfield add on rudder in my shed, cast alloy jobbie...
Saw a boat in ely last week just turning left into a wide marina entrance, used the bow thruster 4 times and it was only a 24 foot boat, scary to share the same river realy.
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
Visit leomagill.co.uk |
| Deano |
Posted - 07 Jun 2011 : 12:56:57
If your rudder is not directly in line with a propeller, it will need to be of a considerable size for it to have any effect. For slow speed manoeuvring, it will need to be considerably bigger again.
Dean - Boating on the Great Ouse.
Freeman 30 "Silver Gem"
See the photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/54758027@N00/ |
| stratford4528 |
Posted - 07 Jun 2011 : 12:24:52
Thanks for your reply's. its over 20 years since I had my narrow boat and wanted good honest views on these modern fandango's. I'm going to fit twin rudders to my boat and not just one on the enfield leg. which I think should be a great help in entering narrow locks |
| MUDPILOT |
Posted - 07 Jun 2011 : 09:35:26
Try
Buckets on lines from each bow. Lower into water when making an approach. The drag will enable you to maintain headway and steerage without gaining too much speed. Max rudder with burst of engine. When boat responds reduce to min. rpm.
Or. Simply use larger fenders. That's what most bow thrusters are anyway fenders.
Regarding the cross wind across locks. Consider an anchor on the bottom. Not enough to bring you up simply to drag, you can then use engine and rudder to keep the stern up into the wind and drag the anchor to minimise the bow setting down. If bow setting down let more cable out to hold bow up.
If anchoring not an option try the bucket trick.
Don't forget a large fender before landing.
Bow thrusters will not be effective if water moving across the thruster tunnel. Either caused by excessive boat speed or current. They are not a magic wand, try and manage without one first is my humble advise.
Cheers.
|
| Deano |
Posted - 07 Jun 2011 : 09:19:15
It can also depend on your boating area. We have a lock on our system that is almost impossible to get into safely when there is a cross wind. It is in an isolated area of countyrside and almost always has a cross wind. I have seen many boats get damaged badly on the lock wall, even with experienced crews. Many of our locks have been widened and often you will need to move over sideways in a lock to make space. With twins this can be tricky, on a long single shaft in a breeze, almost impossible.
It can also depend on your boat, on the Gt Ouse many of our locks are 10' 6" wide. A Sherline Tri Cab is a popular moden boat that suits our system well, but it is also 10'6" wide. A bow thruster is nesesarry on one of those as there is no way it can be manovered safely and stress free into a lock.
So it depends on your views, some consider them to be un-seamanlike, others feel that it enhances their enjoyment of their boating, in some cases they are an essential bit of kit.
Bottom line, it's your choice, but expect to pay the thin end of £1000 to have one installed. Don't forget it WILL need it's own battery and that will need to be charged by your electrical system.
Dean - Boating on the Great Ouse.
Freeman 30 "Silver Gem"
See the photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/54758027@N00/ |
| cliveshep |
Posted - 07 Jun 2011 : 05:19:31
My personal view is that it's a "boy's toy" on a small boat. I can see how it might assist in manoeuvring a 40 odd foot upwards narrow boat, which is a heavy piece of kit, in a space restricted situation where no steerage way is possible but from years trundling about in boats I can say that anything below that is controllable with a little practice.
It made me smile when I used to see the Dutch steel Stevens yachts coming down the Thames through the locks where it seems to be "de rigeur" to both have and use a bow thruster in each and every steering event regardless of need and in situations where even a modicum of experience with their craft would have dealt with every eventuality.
A little and light 32 is and always was eminently controllable by it's crew without an expensive and unnecessary bit of kit taking up space in the bow. And have you heard the noise the things make? Never mind the amount of battery power they must consume.
There is no substitute for basic seamanship skills, get out and practice manoeuvring your boat in every sort of condition and you'll soon get the confidence and skills as a team to handle any sort of situation and will smile condescendingly at the unskilled with their toys!
The cost of boating is insignificant compared to costs of a young wife and two teenage kids! |
