1999 Mainship 350 SidePower Bow Thruster battery location

[tomdlacy]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forum and I would appreciate any information pertaining to the location of the battery for the SidePower bow thruster on my 1999 350 and also the location of the circuit breaker/fuse. The thruster quit working, there is no power to the switches (flybridge or lower helm).

Thanks

 

[Comodave]

Welcome aboard. Have you checked all the fuses or circuit breakers?

 

[tachyon]

I don't believe Mainship ever put in a separate battery for the thruster on 350/390 models. It draws off bank 1 or 2, or both, depending on the battery switch position.

 

[caltexflanc]

I don't believe Mainship ever put in a separate battery for the thruster on 350/390 models. It draws off bank 1 or 2, or both, depending on the battery switch position.

We used to charter a 350 of that vintage, single Cat and thruster, and that's my recollection as well; the boat was fairly new then (chartered in '01, '02) so it was an OEM installation.

The big unknown to me here is what may have been done in the last 21 years since new, and if this may have been an aftermarket install by a PO. So start at the thruster and trace the cables back.

 

[Cartouche]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forum and I would appreciate any information pertaining to the location of the battery for the SidePower bow thruster on my 1999 350 and also the location of the circuit breaker/fuse. The thruster quit working, there is no power to the switches (flybridge or lower helm).

Thanks

It uses the starter Batteries, there is a breaker Under the Mattress in the forward stateroom. Remove mattress and you will see a hatch that opens from the bow aft inside is the thruster while in there check the fluid there is a reservoir in there and it probably has not been looked at it Takes EP 90 Oil

 

[Shrew]

I have the same year. It uses the starter battery. Certainly check the breaker, however you more than likely need new brushes. I had mine redone 2 years ago.

Can you hear the solenoid click??

 

[Pmcsurf1]

I thought mine was going. What was going were the switches. I replaced one up top and drilled a hole in the lower. Put a direct toggle switch. New switches are stupid expensive.
As mentioned above, can you hear anything when switch is activated? A click? Something? Maybe pull the switch and try to bypass it.

 

[Bullnuke675]

Our 2000 390T has a similar Sidepower 12V electric bow thruster. There is no breaker on the DC panel for it, so I had the same concern. The thruster is wired directly into our house batteries and is interlocked so it will only operate if the main engine is running. Sounds like Cartouche has a hydraulic thruster due to the reservoir being mentioned; however may be wired similarly. Turns out the breaker/reset/thermal overload is in a panel in the cockpit lazerette on the forward bulkhead next to the house battery disconnect/selector. Discovered that out of necessity after I overcooked the thruster as a nube with a too long 5-10 second burst when docking against a stiff wind. Don't know how long it took the thermal overload condition to clear; best guess prob a minute. We didn't figure it out until we were docked and troubleshooting. Push the button, it resets, then you're back in business.

 

[Bacchus]

It uses the starter Batteries, there is a breaker Under the Mattress in the forward stateroom. Remove mattress and you will see a hatch that opens from the bow aft inside is the thruster while in there check the fluid there is a reservoir in there and it probably has not been looked at it Takes EP 90 Oil

Side Power recommends changing the gearbox oil every couple years. To do that the boat has to be out of the water as the drain plug in in the tunnel. There is an drain plug seal thats best to replace at that time. Also no need to completely drain the reservoir shown just drain the lube in the lower gear unit and it will refill from the reservoir. My lube was pretty dark but cleared quickly as the fresh lube replaced it. Top off the reservoir. Done.

 

[Cartouche]

Our 2000 390T has a similar Sidepower 12V electric bow thruster. There is no breaker on the DC panel for it, so I had the same concern. The thruster is wired directly into our house batteries and is interlocked so it will only operate if the main engine is running. Sounds like Cartouche has a hydraulic thruster due to the reservoir being mentioned; however may be wired similarly. Turns out the breaker/reset/thermal overload is in a panel in the cockpit lazerette on the forward bulkhead next to the house battery disconnect/selector. Discovered that out of necessity after I overcooked the thruster as a nube with a too long 5-10 second burst when docking against a stiff wind. Don't know how long it took the thermal overload condition to clear; best guess prob a minute. We didn't figure it out until we were docked and troubleshooting. Push the button, it resets, then you're back in business.

No you are incorrect mine is 12 volt the breaker is where I said and it is hooked up to starting batteries EP 90 is a gear oil you obviously have not checked your reservoir I suggest you do, as it provides lubrication to the gear head

 

[Cartouche]

Side Power recommends changing the gearbox oil every couple years. To do that the boat has to be out of the water as the drain plug in in the tunnel. There is an drain plug seal thats best to replace at that time. Also no need to completely drain the reservoir shown just drain the lube in the lower gear unit and it will refill from the reservoir. My lube was pretty dark but cleared quickly as the fresh lube replaced it. Top off the reservoir. Done.

Thanks Don for the confirmation, I am upgrading to the 5 blade this spring and will be changing fluids, any problems taking the old blades off the thruster, Boat is in fresh water i was going to spray anti seize on zinc to hopefully make removal easy any input on what i might expect would be appreciated

 

[Bacchus]

Thanks Don for the confirmation, I am upgrading to the 5 blade this spring and will be changing fluids, any problems taking the old blades off the thruster, Boat is in fresh water i was going to spray anti seize on zinc to hopefully make removal easy any input on what i might expect would be appreciated

I've had mine off a couple times w/o too much trouble.
I used a wood block to hold the prop. Anode didn't have much erosion and was fairly clean. Im in fresh water also. Have some water resistant grease handy and lube the shear pin & prop shaft to aid removal in the future.

 

[Cartouche]

I've had mine off a couple times w/o too much trouble.
I used a wood block to hold the prop. Anode didn't have much erosion and was fairly clean. Im in fresh water also. Have some water resistant grease handy and lube the shear pin & prop shaft to aid removal in the future.

Thanks Don

 

[johnma]

Hi everyone,



I'm new to the forum and I would appreciate any information pertaining to the location of the battery for the SidePower bow thruster on my 1999 350 and also the location of the circuit breaker/fuse. The thruster quit working, there is no power to the switches (flybridge or lower helm).



Thanks

There is a fuse in the electric panel right next to the battery on/off/both switch. It’s in the back of the panel so you need to remove the top screws and flip the panel down (it’s hinged)
This is a really heavy duty fuse. It’s a large piece of brass held down with two bolts. I think if the blew you would not only hear it but you would smell it.
I think it’s more likely that one or both of your switch’s went bad. My boat was three years old when I bought it and the upper switch had already been replaced.

 

[Cartouche]

I've had mine off a couple times w/o too much trouble.
I used a wood block to hold the prop. Anode didn't have much erosion and was fairly clean. Im in fresh water also. Have some water resistant grease handy and lube the shear pin & prop shaft to aid removal in the future.

Don sorry to be a bother have the old 4 blade off is there a left and right for the new 5 blade or is it that they only go on one way, many thanks

 

[Bacchus]

Ed
No problem.
Going from my memory as we are away "cruising" with the land yacht.
I think the 5 blade design & mounting is the similar to the 4 blades - identical props and only mount one way
The 5 blade props have an adapter that mounts to the shaft and engages the shear pin. The props have sort of splines that engage the adapters. Anodes are the same.
Hope that answers your question.

 

[Cartouche]

Ed
No problem.
Going from my memory as we are away "cruising" with the land yacht.
I think the 5 blade design & mounting is the similar to the 4 blades - identical props and only mount one way
The 5 blade props have an adapter that mounts to the shaft and engages the shear pin. The props have sort of splines that engage the adapters. Anodes are the same.
Hope that answers your question.

Thanks Don it most definatley does answer my question, after about 1/2 an hour I figured out putting the adapter on first (should have asked before I started) to line up the shear pin. I am now a certified Bow thruster Blade replacement technician. Thanks for your help

 

[Capt Carl]

Anyone know the make and model number for the original bowthruster on a 2005 MS 34? Sidethruster?

 

[Cartouche]

Thruster nake

Anyone know the make and model number for the original bowthruster on a 2005 MS 34? Sidethruster?

on the 390 it is a sidepower 95 and when the 5 blade upgrade is done it is then the same as the new 100.

 

[backinblue]

Regarding wiring, my MS is newer but both thrusters are wired to the start bank and each has it's own battery switch in the engine room. I'm sure there are fuses or breakers too, but I haven't had to look for them yet. The thing that surprises me, is that I assumed when the 2 main battery switches near the helm are off and the ignition is off that the thrusters would also be powered off. But since they go through different battery switches they still have power. With everything else turned off, I can still turn on the joystick power and run the thrusters. This bothers me for 2 reasons. A faulty connection could turn on a thurster when I am away from the boat (not very likely). Or when using a thruster, it may not turn off (I've had this happen) due to corrosion or a frozen relay, and you then have to open engine hatches to reach the battery switches as your thruster continues to run and maybe cause a collision of some kind. Luckily, mine turned off when I hit "off" on the joystick panel, but that wouldn't help if a relay got stuck. Anyone else in this situation that you are aware of?

 

[Cartouche]

Regarding wiring, my MS is newer but both thrusters are wired to the start bank and each has it's own battery switch in the engine room. I'm sure there are fuses or breakers too, but I haven't had to look for them yet. The thing that surprises me, is that I assumed when the 2 main battery switches near the helm are off and the ignition is off that the thrusters would also be powered off. But since they go through different battery switches they still have power. With everything else turned off, I can still turn on the joystick power and run the thrusters. This bothers me for 2 reasons. A faulty connection could turn on a thurster when I am away from the boat (not very likely). Or when using a thruster, it may not turn off (I've had this happen) due to corrosion or a frozen relay, and you then have to open engine hatches to reach the battery switches as your thruster continues to run and maybe cause a collision of some kind. Luckily, mine turned off when I hit "off" on the joystick panel, but that wouldn't help if a relay got stuck. Anyone else in this situation that you are aware of?

Strange on our 390 factory Bow thruster is dead when main battery switches are off Just the bilge pumps and Co detectors are still live our stern thruster I added and it has a separate battery switch and batteries with charger, and also is off when the Battery switch is off

 

[backinblue]

Strange on our 390 factory Bow thruster is dead when main battery switches are off Just the bilge pumps and Co detectors are still live our stern thruster I added and it has a separate battery switch and batteries with charger, and also is off when the Battery switch is off

I'd be surprised that your main battery switch could handle all the normal loads plus the Thruster current. Perhaps the main switch kills the joystick power and therefore theoretically does not allow the thruster to turn on? I may look into making that wiring change in the spring. How exactly is your stern thruster off if you wired it through a separate switch to the batteries as mine is?

 

[tiz]

Anyone know what the 5 blade upgrade on an sp95 sidepower bow thruster costs? Where to order the parts? What is the advantage?

 

[backinblue]

Anyone know what the 5 blade upgrade on an sp95 sidepower bow thruster costs? Where to order the parts? What is the advantage?

Hi from Stratford. Try here:

https://www.sleipnergroup.com/thruster-systems?IS_LEISURE=1

 

[tiz]

Thanks. Tracked the kit down at Defender and will probably add it in the spring.

--Kevin

 

[backinblue]

Thanks. Tracked the kit down at Defender and will probably add it in the spring.

--Kevin

Great, should be easy enough. I removed my bow prop and will be replacing in the spring. Broke a couple blades this season. Relatively cheap replacement. I think they are design to self-destruct if they hit something. There is a "sheer pin" but it's pretty hefty and the manual refers to it as a "drive pin". The rear thruster uses a much thinner brass true sheer pin that can be replaced from inside the boat while in the water. Ask me how I know.

 

[Cartouche]

Thanks. Tracked the kit down at Defender and will probably add it in the spring.

--Kevin

Tip when you install the upgrade install the adapter & shear pin first then install the blades on the spline s of the adapter