Blender Boy
Veteran Member
I have a Nordhavn 43 with a Side Power SP95T bow thruster. last August, the drive leg was replaced with a sealed unit. We have been cruising down Mexico, and we are currently in Huatulco, preparing to cross the Gulf of Tehauntepec. A couple of weeks ago when we arrived in Ixtapa after an overnight cruise from Caleta de Campos, the drive leg failed to engage. The motor would spin in either direction, but no prop spin from the thruster. Later that morning in the dock, it worked fine. When we left the dock on tow different occasions, it worked fine. But when we returned, no operation. This is a pattern now - no operation after a cruise, but it works perfectly moments later. I have tried silly things, like stopping and starting the engine, resetting the breaker, etc. When we were in Acapulco attempting our first med-moor (not an easy task for a single screw with no bow thruster!), I repeatedly tried to engage it, and it finally did work. When we arrived here in Huatulco, no operation again. I am at my wit's end trying to figure out what could be wrong, and why it only fails after a long cruise. Has anyone experienced something like this before? Any ideas? Again, it doesn't seem to be electrical, and when it works, thrust is good in both directions.