Bow thruster powering

Hi Grace
I really only need the thruster when docking, so i can use 120 v marina power to recharge, and i use the 12 volt windlass at anchor, so the associated battery gets recharged with the rest of the 12 volt batteries, so it works out well. Alternatively, the 24 a.c. charger is small, so i can run it off our inverter, or from the generator. Finally, there are 12 volt to 24 volt chargers available, but I didn't go that route.

Hi Grace, we generally cruise New England in the summer and Bahamas/Caribbean in the winter. We anchor out as much as possible but do go into unfamiliar marinas on occasion. Its almost always my wife and I and we have a lot of experience with the boat and how she handles. That being said, we always make sure someone from the marina is on hand to help with our lines.
If I were single handing I might feel differently, but I still don’t think I’d install a thruster.

Ah, gotcha, so you always have someone with you. Shucks, I was hoping you'd have some top secret tips!

I ordered the book and will keep experimenting. If you pass through Boston, say hello to Goblin!

Grace,

While I originally was looking to buy a boat model like you have, I couldn't find one that met all my criteria. I did find a different 41 footer that has a very nicely installed bow thruster. While I've no idea yet how much I may or may not use it, as I'm honestly more in line with Gino and Carolyn, I can tell you how this system was professionally installed. The engine actually has to separate alternators, one for the house battery banks and one for the bow thruster/windlass. The bow thruster/windlass both run off two batteries under the forward vee birth so they are quite close to both units.

I will give you a great docking tip told to me by Pam Wall. Take a midships line that attaches just aft of the center of rotation of your boat. When you approach a dock you drop it on a cleat or whatever is used to tie boats and you leave the boat in forward at an idle and lock your steering as if you are trying to steer away from the dock. With the line in that position this will force the whole boat to just come alongside holding the boat onto the dock, even if you were initially a bit too far away. With the wheel locked in that position and the engine in idle forward, that combo will hold the boat there so you can easily just step off onto the dock and go about tying off. It's a really slick trick! If you are coming into a slip you use all the time, you can work out the right length of the line and bring the boat into position perfectly every time. Pam explains it much better than I do.

dj

Thanks DJ, for both the install knowledge and the docking tip. That is a great trick and you explained it very well. I have done that maneuver on boats with fin keels, but I haven't been successful so far with my Whitby. Reading through your explanation though is giving me some ideas for improving my technique - experimenting with the location of the midship cleat (it slides on the genoa track) might help.

The one time I tried this singlehanding was turning into a 30 ft slip (they really pack them in here). I discovered I was already in the slip before I could get the line on the cleat. Maybe if I was really savvy I could go forward from the wheel before I finished turning in...? 

I think I'm going to get the new thruster, but still intend to learn as many techniques as I can not to rely on it. I hope you like your 41 footer! What did you end up finding?

Thanks!

Oh one more thing Pam talked about was having like a boat hook attached to the midships line. I don't recall how she had it attached, but she did talk about an example where using it she would just drop it as it stayed attached to the line and then collect it once docked. Don't know if that will be of use to you. I'm also fairly certain Pam Wall's boat is a full keel boat.

I see no reason not to get the thruster. Well, there is the money aspect... But even if you don't use it often and you are working to perfect your docking techniques without, it's a nice back-up....

I found a Belliure 41. Not a well known boat on this side of the pond. It was built in Alicante, Spain. You may have heard of the Endurance 35? They also made an Endurance 38 and 40. Well the Belliure 41 is pretty much an Endurance 41. It's a Peter Ibod design. Lovely lines, stunning interior, all teak decks with NO SCREWS (YEAH), The previous owner was meticulous in maintenance so it has an almost new Yanmar engine (about 500 hours?), oversized standing rigging all replaced a couple years ago, heavy duty off-shore sails, cutter rigged (technically a double head sail sloop), It's a raised deck house, has fore and aft cabins and heads although it has an aft cockpit. It's very well designed for blue water cruising. Both head sails are on new roller furlers, the main is on a boom roller furler. (You did open up a pandoras box asking me, you know... LOL ... so I'm restraining myself)...

dj