T&T: Bow thruster price

[Jim Healy]

Dave,
 
Herewith an alternative for your consideration, in case you were not aware
of it.  Sanctuary is a Monk 36' that is equipped with stern thrusters.  The
action of a stern thruster on the boat is the same as the action of a bow
thruster; i.e., the boat pivots in the water around it's center of rotation.
The action on the human brain is not as straight forward, but now that I'm
used to it, I love it.  Our unit is made by a California company called
Dickson Thruster (www.dickson-thruster.com).  
 
I believe stern thrusters have several significant advantages over a bow
thruster.  First, mine is hydraulic, not electric, so all of the stuff
related to big batteries and heavy duty wiring goes away.  Ours has a common
Vickers hydraulic vane pump that is commonly available everywhere in the
world.  The pump is driven by two common Gates vee belts from an extension
off the crank shaft pulley.  Dickson provides the extension based on your
engine.  The hydraulic pump does not run continuously.  It is fit with an
electric clutch mechanism (similar to automotive a/c clutch, only more
durable) on the pump so that it only drives the hydraulic pump when thrust
is called for.  Again, the clutch is commonly available.
 
Second, the thruster motor(s) live outside the hull, at the stern.  The
propellers thrust laterally.  Mine has two motors which operate in parallel.
The lowest tip of the propellers are set at a depth where they just clear
water streaming off the hull when the boat is under way, so no drag.  This
arrangement leads to two more significant advantages.  One, keeping the
thrusters clean of marine growth is very easy; since there's no tube, access
is *never* an issue.  Two, there's no tube, so no lost rode locker space in
the hull at the bow.  To me, chain locker space is a precious commodity.  
 
Installed cost of the Dickson system is approximately equal to cost of a
Vetus system.  Installation is much simpler.  No fiberglass work, no
structural work, no batteries or high current wiring.  Like other
components, hydraulic tubing is commonly available everywhere.  Uses Dexron
III as hydraulic fluid, available everywhere.  And I should add, my system
is 18 yrs old (original owners installed it).  I have only had to replace
"O" rings on the motor shafts, and at that, only once in the 4 + yrs I've
had the boat.   
 
Operationally, I put my bow where I want it to be, then use bow/spring lines
with the thruster to bring the stern into place.  Boats with a bow thruster
can usually use it to push the bow off a dock.  I back my stern off.  For
me, the most difficult thing to adjust was my brain.  Parts are easy; most
are off-the-shelf standard.  The only thing that Dickson actually makes
themselves is the hydraulic motors.  
 
We have no connection to the company.  Just a very satisfied customer.
 
For your consideration...
 
Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary,
currently at Charlotte Harbor, Punta Gorda, FL
AGLCA # 3767
MTOA # 3436