|
01-07-2017, 07:23 AM
|
#1
|
Guru
City: Punta Gorda, fl
Vessel Name: Escapade
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 37 2002
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,231
|
How To Protect Your Thruster
The good news is you never have to scrape sea growth out of your thruster again.
The bad news is you have to get wet.
Go on line and buy high density boat cushion foam that is 5" thick and a density above 2.5.
Measure the diameter of your thruster and then add 1".
Cut two pieces of the foam using a serrated knife to the thruster diameter and the added one inch.
(7" diameter thruster, cut foam with an 8" diameter)
Turn thruster battery switch off.
Put sign next to thruster control
"Do Not Operate"
Make a bucket of soapy water using blue colored Dawn Dish Soap. Add the amount of Dawn to water like you were going to wash dishes.
Put the round foam pieces into the soap solution and step on them to extract the air out of the foam.
Get in the water and shove the foam into both sides of your thruster.
Six weeks or six months later your thruster is clean as the day you installed the plugs.
Don't:
Do not add too much soap it will attack your thruster shaft seals. The soap is to help remove all the air from the foam.
Do not put a chlorine pool table in between the foam plugs to sanitize the water. They will eat your seals and burn/melt the foam plugs.
You can cut a 1/4" thick starboard ring that is 1" diameter LESS than your thruster, cut a 4" center diameter hole (to accommodate the thruster center shaft) and tie a loop out of the front of the plug so that you can pull the plugs without getting wet using the looped line that is tied to the starboard ring on the back side of each foam plug.
I'm on the west coast of southern Florida with Warm water the sea growth will jam up your thruster in six weeks. I have used these plugs for six months now. My thruster blades do not even have slime on them. Clean as a whistle. Sea growth needs light and water movement. With foam plugs there is neither.
Now I have more time to party.
[emoji481][emoji482]🥂[emoji485]🥃
|
|
|
01-07-2017, 08:52 AM
|
#2
|
Guru
City: North Charleston, SC
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,870
|
My diver cleans the thruster when he cleans the hull.
I can see how your plan would work but in my area, the water can be very cold when it's time for me to leave on a cruise. Perhaps having a rope fastened to the plugs would allow them to be removed without jumping into the cold water.
|
|
|
01-07-2017, 09:39 AM
|
#3
|
Guru
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,834
|
I met a guy who puts a plastic trash bag over his prop and secures it to the bearing holder. No growth on the prop. I'm not that motivated.
Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
|
|
|
01-07-2017, 04:35 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
City: Ft Lauderdale
Vessel Model: 120' Custom, Cat 3512's, 1750 HP ea.
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 174
|
Can't do it, there are safety bars mounted to hull over thruster opening.
|
|
|
01-07-2017, 07:13 PM
|
#5
|
Guru
City: Punta Gorda, FL
Vessel Name: Aweigh
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 42
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 628
|
Pgitug,
I have been looking all over pgi for you to do mine. Looks like a good idea if I could get you to do it for me.
My last NT 42 located (here in pgi) was bad about eating up thruster zincs. Does your system keep the zincs from going away too quickly?
|
|
|
01-07-2017, 07:26 PM
|
#6
|
Guru
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,834
|
The whole idea of plugging the holes is to let the water go stagnant (no oxygen), and all the marine organisms die. Seems like you could accomplish the same thing with 2 old towels stuffed in the holes. If you tie 1/4" lines to each back up to the railing, you might be able to pull them back out without getting in this water.
Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
|
|
|
01-07-2017, 10:50 PM
|
#8
|
Guru
City: Bayview
Vessel Name: Puffin
Vessel Model: Willard Vega 30
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,444
|
Condom?
__________________
What kind of boat is that?
|
|
|
01-07-2017, 10:56 PM
|
#9
|
Guru
City: Queensland
Vessel Model: Milkraft 60 converted timber prawn trawler
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 5,482
|
Useing the boat stops stuff growing.
|
|
|
01-08-2017, 01:23 AM
|
#10
|
Master and Commander
City: Vallejo CA
Vessel Name: Carquinez Coot
Vessel Model: penultimate Seahorse Marine Coot hull #6
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 12,559
|
Mine is protected with bottom paint, and I operate the thruster every time I take the boat out, even if not necessary for maneuvering. Stuff has been observed being "blown" off with use.
__________________
Kar-KEEN-ez Koot
|
|
|
01-08-2017, 02:35 AM
|
#11
|
Member
City: Hong Kong
Vessel Name: Sea Vixen
Vessel Model: Clipper 48
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 18
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Simi 60
Useing the boat stops stuff growing.
|
Thats the best way, I put prop jelly on mine instead of bottom paint / anti foul, I have a lot more success with it. Exercise it ever 3 weeks if I don't use the boat.
|
|
|
01-08-2017, 07:24 AM
|
#12
|
Guru
City: Punta Gorda, fl
Vessel Name: Escapade
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 37 2002
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,231
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by seasalt007
Pgitug,
I have been looking all over pgi for you to do mine. Looks like a good idea if I could get you to do it for me.
My last NT 42 located (here in pgi) was bad about eating up thruster zincs. Does your system keep the zincs from going away too quickly?
|
Thruster zincs are ten months old and still looking good.
|
|
|
01-08-2017, 07:41 AM
|
#13
|
Enigma
City: Slicker?
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 16,563
|
Greetings,
Although I do not have a thruster(s) the solutions presented thus far have been pretty ingenuous. I was thinking about the various options presented and came up with a possible alternative. How about a 4'X6' tarp draped underneath the bow with lines at the 4 corners? One edge of the tarp could be drawn under the bow/stem past the thruster opening and pulled aft with those lines tied to a railing. The opposite edge could be pulled tight and fastened similarily. Sort of like an external band-aid. Installation and removal might be accomplished from the fore deck alone. Just a thought.
__________________
RTF
|
|
|
01-08-2017, 10:35 AM
|
#14
|
Guru
City: Campbell River
Vessel Name: Okisollo
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 783
|
Somehow I got this posted in the wrong thread yesterday
If you could adapt these doors?????
Ted
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Trawler Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|