Do I need a stern thruster?
I don't have thrusters but at times I could use one.
When anchoring in the wind my Willard's bow tends to go downwind and soon we get 90 degrees to the rode. Very difficult to lay out a rode sideways. A stern thruster would probably work just fine.
I don't have thrusters but at times I could use one.
When anchoring in the wind my Willard's bow tends to go downwind and soon we get 90 degrees to the rode. Very difficult to lay out a rode sideways. A stern thruster would probably work just fine.
This is never an issue with all chain rode Eric, and is a function of the light weight in your rope rode. My boat, by virtue of the windage of the highish bow, flybridge and bimini, etc, always tends to fall off for'd in a breeze, but it is never enough to interfere with anchoring. One suggestion to alleviate this could be to follow the conventional advice with all rope rode of having at least a length of chain equal to the length of the boat, connected to the anchor instead of just the 1 metre I believe is all you use. Gives better chafe protection at same time, and helps keep the rode down with short scope, something I know you like to use..?
... I can always temporarily dock somewhere else and keep several thousand in my pocket.
This is especially true of twin engine boats.
I have and have seen others in high crosswind situations use a thruster with only one engine and full rudder slide large vessels down long fairways like on rails. Sure some here might be able to, many more might think they are able to...without a thruster and twins or backing snd filling......but most couldn't do that manuever unless you were very confident of single engine work on a twin engine boat coupled with a thruster.
It's a cost-benefit thing. If money is no object, why not go for a 150' yacht with two helicopters?
The point being, if your funding is in any way constrained, as is usually the case in a boat this size, then the question becomes "is it worth it?", not "is it needed?"
For many of us, the answer is a resounding "NO" if we're footing the bill for installation. If the boat came with one, at a price comparable to a boat without one, then I guess I'd take it. I'd try hard not to use it, to keep my skills up.
But there are dozens of safety-related and comfort-related toys I would much rather spend that money on.
This is never an issue with all chain rode Eric, and is a function of the light weight in your rope rode. My boat, by virtue of the windage of the highish bow, flybridge and bimini, etc, always tends to fall off for'd in a breeze, but it is never enough to interfere with anchoring. One suggestion to alleviate this could be to follow the conventional advice with all rope rode of having at least a length of chain equal to the length of the boat, connected to the anchor instead of just the 1 metre I believe is all you use. Gives better chafe protection at same time, and helps keep the rode down with short scope, something I know you like to use..?
This could easily be taken out of context....psneeld wrote;
"Obviously you can do things with a thruster that you can't without one." Reason enough to have them if you've got the money.
This could easily be taken out of context....
I have repeatedly posted that you don't really need one either.....
True enough but also the same goes for a boat there are a lot of things we don't really need by someone else's standards. After single handing a 48 foot boat with twins bow and stern thrusters and a wireless remote system I could go back to a single engine with no icing but given the option and the ability to pay for it not going to happen. My other boat is much smaller and lighter 1800s technology except that it has a single engine and a tiller its name is K.I.S.S. and yes it also works for me.
I have repeatedly posted in thruster threads that you don't have to have one, one makes certain maneuvers and stress free docking more likely, that practicing with or without one is a good idea....
I pretty much agree with with EVERYONE except those that say you DEFINITELY need or don't need them, or have them but RARELY should you use them.
I would think only those few that use those absolutes would have an issue with my posts on thrusters....
Really...am I that hard to understand??????
Thanks...this is one issue I can easily see all sides to....Not hard to understand and no issues did not pay enough attention to your previous posts.