No more steering issues....

[Micker747]

Gents,

After many thoughts, i have finally decided to deal with the maneuvering issues of my Volga.. It is a pain in the butt in almost all harbours, and i have decided to make my life easier with a bow thruster.
I know, it doesen't belong there, but in our small harbours and canals in Copenhagen i am unable to turn around the corners.
First i wanted an almost invisible water jet system, but the company went bankrupt, and it was apparently not very effective.

I am installing a Sidepower SE-40, the smallest diameter bow thruster of 125mm.
For the tunnel i am using 57s aluminium, with inboard welded flange and supports, and riveted like original.
I have cut the tunnel for exact inside fit and drawn a 30mm flange i need to laser cut tomorrow and weld on. more pics to come.
Cheers
Mike
Fake Rolex

[Georg Weinstabl]

Hi,

This gives sense to me. How much HP do you have on this unit and does it really help?
these bowthrusters use to heat up during use and are available for limited time.
What are your experiences, so far ...

Have you ever tried to enlarge the rudderblade?
Have you thought of using a selfpriming pump with smaller diameter pipings and high revs?

[Micker747]

Hi Georg,

Side-Power supplies about 40-50% of the market and is of very high quality. I havent been able to find any smaller with the same effect. It pushes 40kg, and the tunnel is not that big. I put it just in front of the fwd wing to make it least visible, and it will be white as the bottom paint.
I have tried to make the rudder bigger, but i didnt like the feeling and took it off. At low speeds it had very little effect.
The problem is the vertical supports to the wings, they all act as rudders and are very hard to pursuade by the rudder so far aft.

Today i made the flanges and welded them on to the tunnel. Since it is only 2mm thich i have made a reinforcement around the motor mount.
Pics tomorrow...

Mike

[Georg Weinstabl]

Davai!

[Micker747]

A few update pics... the tunnel is now ready to be installed in the hull.

[Georg Weinstabl]

Hi,

I have no steering experience yet. My boat's engine didn't properly work when it was afloat. The gearbox was unfunctionable too.
So I never experienced the request for a bowthruster. I am afraid, I will live it soon...

Now back to thrusters... This one is electrical, I guess, don't they heat up after 1-2 minutes of use and are then no more useful
for about 5 minutes or more until cooled down again.

I think that this is a useful toy, but I would be interested and this in the name of everybody who is claiming steering problems what the
results on the bowthruster aid is and how long you can do the maneuvres with it.

Best regards,
Georg Weinstabl

[Micker747]

Here is a bit of update..

The thruster tunnel is now installed and riveted to the hull. I have painted it three times with 2-component epoxy, before the bottom paint.
There is a support bracket with a hoist point inside the boat. Beware, this support is not stainless and caused corrosion in my hull. I have removed it now, and repaired the hull with two 2mm saltwater proof aluminium sheet metal pieces. Getting the pieces in the exact shape was quite a job, not to talk about all the riveting...






Georg, about the contionous operation of the thruster, its just for turning in tight places, i think 20-40 seconds will be normal and sufficient to get the bow turned. I look forward to try it.

Regards

Mike

[Georg Weinstabl]

Nice integration of the thruster. Looks even original with the rivets. Good luck with the maneuvres! Frankly speaking after seeing you installing a thruster, I see myself soon becoming very popular in our tight marinas. I hope it's not going to become my nightmare...

cheers!

[Micker747]

Its like a dream come true, my Volga can steer in tight places now:-)

The thruster is absolutely fantastic, i Can do a 360 turn in less than 30 seconds with the stern staying in the exact same place! Continous operation limit is 3", so the 40kg thruster is more than you will need.
I have mounted the joystick behind the dash, so only 2 cm is visible behind the steering wheel.

Enjoy the summer

[Mark]

Hay Micker 747,
I was wondering how u did the riveting at such tight place like under the tunnel??


Regards,
mark

[Mark]

Hay Micker 747,
I was wondering how u did the riveting at such tight place like under the tunnel??


Regards,
mark

Well i now know how to rivet in tight places.

Together with one of the welders,we installed a 110 diameter tube for:
http://www.craftsmanmarine.com/English/ ... f_12V.aspx
Now i can cruise in the Amsterdam channels and make the turn in one try.

Today i also placed a order for some nylon spacers.
More than 50% of my rubber insulators of the foil bolts is gone


Now to find a dry place(yuuup she stands still outside in the snow),
so i can replace the insulators and pait the hull inside.

[Mark]

end result..