Bow Thruster Update

[BobG]

Well, the MinnKota EM55 trolling motor, mounted on an arm under my starboard bow, is working out pretty well.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18526

In the first week of operation, I raised the arm with a front fender out - and it squished the fender between the arm and the deck...at least it did 'til a diode in the actuator smoked. New actuator, and adjusting the whole setup so it doesn't go ALL the way up to the deck has lessened the probability of that repeating, but I am designing and building a computerized controller to monitor actuator current, to absolutely prevent it in the future.

Still haven't tried different props on it - the stock prop turns the boat better to starboard than to port. It will come eventually. On my 3,000 pound boat, the 55 lb thrust is OK, but not amazing. I can see eventually going to the 110 lb thrust motor.

Oh, and I'm not on here much, because I'm spending all my time on the boat (and my job has been very busy). 9 weekends in a row now, on Blue Mesa. 20 miles of beautiful water, and hardly any boats.

[BobG]

Oh, yeah - responses to questions:

When it's retracted, the lowest part of it is at least a foot off the water. I did remove the forward starboard guide-on from my trailer, but that's mostly because it was damaged. No problem getting on and off the trailer.

I'll try to get video of it - but I've never done video with my phone (Samsung/Android). We'll see.

[BobG]

Oh, and:

When I turn the thruster hard right, and the main motor hard left (while in forward, idling), the boat moves SIDEWAYS to the right. Parallel parking at the dock is NICE!

Edit: Also, the thruster holds the boat to the dock, while I get out, and tie her in.

[mike]

Very cool! Lets see some video! How much did your setup cost?

[BobG]

Very cool! Lets see some video! How much did your setup cost?

I'll try to have video after this weekend.
Cost?
Cost?

Shoot, I don't know. I guessed around $1,200 at the beginning of the project. The MinnKota motor cost $650.
I'll try to figure out what I have in it.