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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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

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]

Originally Posted by Cartouche

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by Bacchus

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]

Originally Posted by Cartouche

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]

Originally Posted by Bacchus

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]

Originally Posted by 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

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]

Originally Posted by Bacchus

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by Capt Carl

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?