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Installing Stern Thruster

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 5:50 pm
by The Dog House
I thought I would start a new thread to discuss my plans to install a Yacht Thruster 180C stern thruster ( http://www.yachtthruster.com/models-technical ). My current plans are to install the stern thruster in the Spring of 2018 (1 year from now). I'm going to take this Summer to figure out how I'm going to install it and where everything (battery switch, control box, etc.) will go inside the boat. My birthday present this Summer will be a X2 Power Group 27 battery ( https://www.batteriesplus.com/battery/m ... DQodZRYBqg ). The battery is an AGM type and will be able to handle the current load placed on it by the stern thruster.

Re: Installing Stern Thruster

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 5:57 pm
by The Dog House
I looked at the transom of my F26 today and there is 18 inches between the bottom of the hull and the point where the transom curves back a little bit, so the stern thruster should fit (it needs 17 inches). I did notice the transom comes to a point in the middle of the stern. Since the stern thruster will need to be mounted on a flat surface, I plan on mounting it slightly to starboard of the center line. I'm planning on mounting on the starboard side because the boat naturally goes to port in reverse. The stern thruster should still be able to push the boat in both directions even though it will be mounted slightly off center.

Re: Installing Stern Thruster

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 6:02 pm
by The Dog House
I'll need to seal the three holes that I'll be putting through the transom. I read that 3M 5200 will run on a vertical surface but that 3M 5200 Fast Cure will not. The fast cure gets tacky in 1 hour, so it should be enough time to do what I need to do. Does anyone have any experience using the 5200 and 5200 Fast Cure on vertical surfaces?

I'm thinking that I should use 5200 because the holes will be below the waterline. It will make it difficult, however, to remove the stern thruster if I should need to replace it. Would 4200 Fast Cure be a better choice? How good is 4200 Fast Cure for underwater applications? Any advice would be appreciated.

Re: Installing Stern Thruster

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 6:16 pm
by prowlersfish
I would use 5200 myself . How often do you plan on removing it ? I see no issue with mounting it of center and once the water no one would see it . You could always glass a flat section but that's a lot of unnecessary work .


4200 and 4000 would also work fine

Re: Installing Stern Thruster

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 10:37 pm
by Big D
The Dog House wrote:..... X2 Power Group 27 battery ( https://www.batteriesplus.com/battery/m ... DQodZRYBqg ). The battery is an AGM type and will be able to handle the current load placed on it by the stern thruster.
I wouldn't use that particular one. It is a deep cycle and you always want a starter battery for a thruster. If you're going AGM and plan on charging it with your charger, best make sure it has an AGM setting. If the rest of your batteries are AGM, you're okay, if not, you'll have to change them to AGM unless you have the type of charger that can be programmed to charge different battery technologies at the same time ($$$)

Re: Installing Stern Thruster

Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 9:00 pm
by rsciolino
here is a video on installing a stern thruster-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl6bO8aVY04

Re: Installing Stern Thruster

Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 6:47 am
by The Dog House
rsciolino wrote:here is a video on installing a stern thruster-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl6bO8aVY04
Thanks! I'm actually planning on contacting Florida Bow Thruster to get a quote for a Vetus stern thruster. Cutting such a big hole in the transom makes me a little nervous, but being able to repair/replace the electric motor from the inside would be nice.

Re: Installing Stern Thruster

Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 6:55 am
by prowlersfish
Make sure their thruster is ignition protected . I have not looked at them so I don't know

Re: Installing Stern Thruster

Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 7:48 am
by The Dog House
prowlersfish wrote:Make sure their thruster is ignition protected . I have not looked at them so I don't know
Vetus has an ignition protected thruster. I will definitely make sure the quote is for that version.

Re: Installing Stern Thruster

Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 8:58 pm
by Big D
I was all excited at the beginning of the video, then a guy showed up to do the install :wink: And did you see the guy comfortably working inside the boat? If only it were that easy!

Is there a reason why Vetus vs someone such as Side-Power? Do you guys have good support for Vetus down there? Are parts easily available?

Re: Installing Stern Thruster

Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 9:01 pm
by comodave
I started installing my stern thruster today. I cut the 8" hole in the transom. I have about a 1/4" to 3/8" camber from side to side that I had to deal with. I fitted the tunnel to the transom with thickened epoxy between the thruster and the transom to fill the gap on each side. I covered the tunnel with wax paper so that I can remove the tunnel once the epoxy has gone off. Will be putting a heater on it tomorrow to help it along. I already have the control wiring run to the flybridge and the battery charger wired in. Have to glass in the battery tray and do the battery wiring. Oh and put in the thruster motor which weighs half a ton... Can't wait to get the boat in the water and test it out.

Re: Installing Stern Thruster

Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 9:47 pm
by captainmaniac
Big D wrote:Is there a reason why Vetus vs someone such as Side-Power? Do you guys have good support for Vetus down there? Are parts easily available?
+1 from me.... for a 26', don't think you need the huge hole etc of the Vetus setup... SideShift https://sideshift.com/ would work perfectly fine, and minimize underwater holes (maybe even keep them all above water line!). I have seen this, in bow thruster form, on a 25' Bayliner, 32 Carver Aft Cabin, 36' Trojan Sedan built in the late 60's, and a 43 Silverton Aft Cabin.

Don't think I have ever seen Vetus stern thrusters on anything smaller than 40', or single engine / full keel trawlers under 36'.

Re: Installing Stern Thruster

Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2017 10:36 pm
by Big D
I've installed the Sideshift in the past where there wasn't enough room inside or enough depth on the transom for a conventional thruster. They happen to have been on single screw trawlers much longer than 26ft and with large keels so if they could move that type of boat sideways, they'd have no problem with an F26. Cheaper and much easier install too.

Re: Installing Stern Thruster

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2017 7:03 am
by prowlersfish
The Dog House wrote:
prowlersfish wrote:Make sure their thruster is ignition protected . I have not looked at them so I don't know
Vetus has an ignition protected thruster. I will definitely make sure the quote is for that version.

Looking the "ignition protected thruster" it looks like the same unit but in a sealed housing , that may take up a lot of room in side the boat .

Re: Installing Stern Thruster

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2017 1:31 pm
by The Dog House
prowlersfish wrote: Looking the "ignition protected thruster" it looks like the same unit but in a sealed housing , that may take up a lot of room in side the boat .
The Vetus 2512 thruster is ignition protected without the housing, is relatively small and light weight (22 lbs.), and has a low current draw (http://www.vetusmarine.com/Shared/PDFs/Page%2018.pdf ). It also is relatively inexpensive compared to the other options. The 2512 is rated for boats 18 to 28 feet long, so it should work fine for my F26. The Vetus 3512 is rated for boats 21 to 33 feet long and will definitely be able to handle my F26, but it will be a tighter fit. I'm hoping that Florida Bow Thruster confirms the 2512 will be sufficient when I request a quote. I need to take off my shrink wrap and take some pictures before I request the quote. I'll keep everyone up to date as the project proceeds.