slowandsteady
Senior Member
Has anyone installed a second bow thruster control at a second helm? My joystick control is on the bridge and I would like to install a second at the lower helm. It's a Sidepower Thruster.
I have thruster controls at both helms but almost never use them. I have a wireless remote that is on a lanyard. I slip it over my head before we get to the dock or slip. I don't often need to use it, but it's certainly handier than having to take my eyes off the dock/slip as I'm maneuvering the boat.
I wouldn't expect the controls at a second or third station to do anything when one switch or lever is activated.I have sidepower bow thruster controls at each of my 6 stations. Of note, activating at one station will not activate at any other stations, so the controls are not simply wired in parallel.
thats what I want when I grow up
.I wouldn't expect the controls at a second or third station to do anything when one switch or lever is activated.
The only problem I can see with wiring the controls in parallel would be if someone at one station activated the left control while the other activated the right control or vice versa. That possibility could be eliminated using relays.
Over the course of the summer I became less and less dependent on the bow thruster. But as the weather got cooler I found myself using the lower helm much more often, but I still go to the bridge to pull into my slip. I just didn't have the comfort level at the lower helm without the bow thruster at my finger tips. The wireless control sounds like a neat thing to have. Cheaper? The wired control is only a $240.00 item plus connector and wire and I'm a DIY guy.
My boat has bow and stern Sidepower thrusters with a remote. When I back into my home slip, which has piers on both sides, my wife is in the stern with the remote and positions the boat while I handle the engine. I do get the boat pretty well lined up before I give control to her. This really works good with no skill required. I know - BAD....
It is a bit odd though.. the boat gets run by committee.. sounds like something the govt. would of come up with!
HOLLYWOOD
:lol:
Concerning the remote, GFC says he has his remote on a lanyard. My remote doesn't have anyway to do that. It has to be held in your hand and I'm always afraid someone will drop it in the water. I'm always on the lookout for some kind of eye that I can glue to the remote case so I can attach a lanyard to it. Haven't found one yet.